Program fosters collaboration between corrections, advocates, communities

A safe return for prisoners and their loved ones, December 2007
While many organizations offer support to former prisoners or to domestic violence victims, few recognize the intersections between the two groups and their concerns. Since 2003 the School of Social Work’s Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community has worked to strengthen programs for intimate partners of former prisoners. Its Safe Return Initiative focuses specifically on preventing domestic violence in communities and families living with newly released prisoners.

Caregivers learn from those with Alzheimer’s

Collaborative learning for dementia care, March 2007
Each week, Wayne Caron or a volunteer from the professional community presents information on dementia. Then the large group breaks into separate subgroups of family caregivers and of those who suffer from dementia. Individuals share stories about their personal experiences, feelings, and concerns that range from coping with multiple illnesses to estate planning.

ACT/SAT prep course for at-risk students

Narrowing the achievement gap one student at a time, August 2005
While the reasons for the achievement gap are many and complicated, a partnership between the college and the Twin Cities chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity has found a concrete way to help students of color improve ACT and SAT scores so that doors to myriad educational choices remain open.