July 25,
2005
Fellows get close look at urban issues
The 2005 Urban Fellows meet with Dan Byer of the South Wedge Planning Committee during a weekly workshop session. |
or the 18 students participating in the 2005 Urban Fellows Program this summer, the city is their classroom. It's there, among Rochester's leaders and residents, the group hopes to gain a clearer picture of life in urban America.
In its fourth year, the program matches students with a local agency or with a specific assignment. This year's projects include literacy activities for children, urban planning for local neighborhoods, a sports education program for Hispanic youth, and a campaign to address teen homelessness, among others.
The fellows, a group made up of University students as well as those from schools across the country, also attend workshop sessions each week led by Rochester faculty members that cover a range of topics such as race, health care, education, and the criminal justice system.
Many of the workshops include visits to health clinics, city organizations, local schools, government offices, and other sites to allow participants to connect with local leaders and see firsthand the impact those issues can have on the lives of residents.
J’Mir Cousar, a Take Five scholar and neuroscience major, spent the summer developing a diabetes support group for primarily African-American patients at Jefferson Family Medicine as well as analyzing quality care issues related to diabetes management.
Cousar says the program provided him with a more complete picture of urban life and made him feel more connected to the Rochester community.
“This program gives you the background, so you learn the history behind urban issues and how complicated those issues can be. At the same time, it helps you realize that you can have some impact on those immediately around you and on the issues affecting local communities,” says Cousar.
Arnab Datta '06 worked as a legislative intern at Rochester's City Hall, where he got a crash course in local government and gained what he describes as a deeper understanding of the challenges facing urban areas.
“The experience has opened my eyes to see how interesting it can be to work in local government, an avenue I'd never considered,” says Datta, who is majoring in political science, math, and philosophy.
“Most people think of local government as trash collection and snow removal, but obviously there are lots of important public policy issues handled locally. This internship has allowed me to really get my hands dirty and to work directly on important legislation.”
The program is a sponsored by a partnership between the University and Leadership Rochester. This year's participants are enrolled at Rochester, Brandeis University, Genesee Community College, Harvard University, St. John Fisher College, SUNY Geneseo, the University of Southern California, and the University of Delaware.
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