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URC Portfolio
Guided by the priorities identified by the URC Board, URC has conducted over 15 projects since 1995 that have focused on action and social change as a key component of the research process (Israel et al., 1998; Themba and Minkler, 2003). The URC PORTFOLIO contains a matrix of summary information about URC-affiliated projects which are no longer funded and a description of awards, a photo gallery, and a description of Michigan Center for the Environment and Children's Health (MCECH). Data from some of these previously-funded affiliated projects are still being analyzed. Analysis from interventions have shown improvement in health status among the participants, for example, improved health outcomes for children with asthma (Parker et al., in press) and improvements in diabetes management (Twofeathers et al., 2005).
Our research findings also have implications for local as well as broad scale policy change that can positively impact the health of the neighborhoods involved (Keeler et al., 2002; Zenk et al., 2005a, 2005b, 2006).* |
Through its affiliated projects, the URC has:
- provided services to approximately 5,000 community members.
- provided training and employment for over 200 community members for full or part-time positions (e.g., as community outreach workers, survey interviewers, project managers).
- gained positive national and international recognition for the city of Detroit (e.g., disseminated results through over 100 publications, newspaper articles, video programs, and over 350 presentations, posters, roundtables, and/or workshops involving community and University partners at local, national and international meetings and conferences).
- built new relationships, for example linking African Americans and Latinos in the city, as well as the University of Michigan and communities in Detroit.
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 Through the URC's commitment to providing projects that build upon and enhance the resources and strengths of these three communities to eliminate health disparities and improve health and quality of life for children and families, the URC created the Michigan Center for the Environment and Children's Health (MCECH - pronounced "M-Check") in 1998. MCECH was one of eight Centers of Excellence for Children's Environmental Health sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The center was funded for five years. Click here to learn about the center's projects and its impact on southwest and east sides of Detroit. |
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 A 32 minute video, entitled "A Bridge Between Communities: The Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center," was produced in June 2000 by a sub-committee comprised of academic and Detroit community-representatives from the Detroit URC, and directed by one of the Kellogg Foundation Community Health Scholars who worked with the URC in 1999-2000 on this video project. The video tells the story of the history and activities of the URC partnership and highlights the challenges and benefits of conducting community-based participatory research.
For more information about how to obtain copies of the video, please contact Robert McGranaghan, Detroit URC Project Manager, at 734.764.5171 or at rojomcg@umich.edu. |
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*Please see the list of URC publications for information about the outcomes from URC projects.
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