Community Research Unit: Five Year Overview

1. Five Year Overview of the Community Research Unit (CRU) Faculty of Arts,University of Regina Created December 12, 2013

2. A Little History Lesson…. 2003 The 2003 Final Report of the Faculty of Arts’ Planning Committee, We Who Serve, made the following recommendation: • C2 We will develop a community research unit out of the Faculty of Arts that will act as a connection between the research needs of the communities that we serve and the research interests of faculty members and students.

3. 2004 • Arts hosted a community meeting on April 28, 2004 at the Unitarian Centre to gauge interest and gather feedback on a “Research for Communities Unit” • A group dedicated to this idea began to form the unit by addressing its focus, structure and members.

4. 2006 • A working group of 4 university members (including the Associate Dean (R&GS as chair) and 4 community members was formed to develop the Community Research Unit.

5. 2007 • Working Group began to meet on a regular basis

6. 2008 • The CRU received an operational budget of $5000/year • Hired a staff coordinator on a year-long term (.80FTE), using Arts discretionary funding • Started our first community-based research projects (completed 2 the first year).

7. 2009 • We were facilitating CBR (community-based research) projects on a regular basis • Planned and hosted our first Arts CARES program • Hosted our “launch” – Making the Links Event September 2009 for university & community folks • Hosted our first strategic planning sessions: lots of talk about funding, formalizing as a type I vs type II unit • Staff coordinator became a permanent staff member under the Dean of Arts Office • The Working Group evolve into a Board of Directors • We established regular (monthly) meetings

8. 2010 • We were formally approved by the Faculty of Arts as a Type II Research Centre (Jan 2010). This meant: • The creation of a Type II Research policy for the Faculty of Arts • The creation of a constitution (evolved from original terms of reference). • Creation of a Director position: Patricia Elliott joined us as our first Director in March 2010. • We created a CSL Committee to plan the 2nd Arts CARES program • We joined a national CES project (through an application process)

9. 2011 • Creation of our Research & Action Fund (funded 3 projects our first year) • Hired our first Arts CARES Student Assistant • Successfully applied for Youth Intern for 6 months • Organized and hosted our first Toolkit Workshop Series

10. 2012 • The CRU (not our researchers) gave our first scholarly presentation at the CACSL conference about Arts CARES • Hosted our first appreciation event • Signed an MOU with RPIRG, formalizing our relationship • Hosted Barbara Holland for the CES project

11. 2013 • Our operational budget was increased to $6000/annually • Trish presented at the CU Expo for the CES project • Hosted our first Spring Celebration & first Community Connections Awards • Updated our constitution • Michelle Stewart joined us as our 2ndfaculty director

12. Collaborative Community Research Projects 2008-2013 2013 • African Canadian Saskatchewan Forum - ACSF • Of Land and Living Skies Community Journal - SOEEA • Regina Cooking Fires Project – Regina Fire & Protective Services • Saskatchewan Living Wage Project – CCPA SK • Student Parent Experiences Research Project – PASS • SCIC's 40th Anniversary History Project - SCIC 2012 • Regina Community Food Assessment - CFSSC • Housing First Project – Carmichael Outreach • Campus Compost Project – RPIRG & Facilities Management 2011 • Ecole Connaught Community School: 100 Years of Community and Education – Ecole Connaught Centennial Committee • Mapping Corporate Power in Saskatchewan – CCPA SK • Saskatchewan Poverty Elimination Public Involvement Program – Poverty Free Saskatchewan • Sheatre's Far From the Heart: Assessing the Impact - Sheatre • REACH Outcomes Measurement - REACH • Bridging the Gap: Regina Landlords and Renters on Social Assistance – Carmichael Outreach & Living Sky Media • Exploring Schools as Community Hubs – Save Athabasca School Committee • Crime-Free Multi-Housing – NCCA, Queen City Tenants’ Association & Regina Police Services 2010 • Voices in Education: An Exploration of Digital Storytelling – Save Our Schools • SACHM Centennial History Project – Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum 2009 • North Central Community History – North Central Community Association • The Cost of Healthy Eating – Regina Food Bank & REACH • The Women of Washington Park Place – Erhlo Community Services 2008 • Court Breach Alternatives – Regina Alternative Measures Program • Building SEED Regina – SEED Regina • North Central Housing Facilitator – North Central Community Association

13. Research & Action Fund 2011-2013 2010/2011 Community Hub for Athabasca School Save Athabasca School Coalition $3,000.00 May 1-August 30, 2011 Bridging the Gap: Creating Dialogue with Landlords Carmichael Outreach Inc $3,000.00 May 1-August 30, 2011 Far From the Heart: Assessing the Impact Sheatre Educational Alternative Theatre (Huron) $3,000.00 May 1, 2011 - March 1, 2012 TOTAL distributed = $9,000.00 2011/2012 Saskatchewan Poverty Elimination Public Involvement Program Poverty Free Saskatchewan $2,000.00 June 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012, extended to Sept 30, 2012 Mapping Corporate Power in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Public Policy Working Group, c/o CCPA - SK $3,000.00 August 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012 Ecole Connaught Community School: 100 Years of Community and Education Ecole Connaught Centennial Committee $3,000.00 November 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012 TOTAL distributed = $8,000.00 2012/2013 Regina Community Food System Assessment and Action Plan REACH & Regina Community Food System Steering Committee $3,000.00 January 1, 2013 - July 1, 2013 Homes First Study Carmichael Outreach Inc $3,000.00 March 21, 2013-August 31, 2013 Saskatchewan Living Wage Project Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Saskatchewan $2,550.00 May 1, 2013 - October 31, 2013 SCIC History Project Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation (SCIC) $3,000.00 May 15, 2013 - December 15, 2013 TOTAL distributed $11,550.00 2013/2014 (year to date) African Canadian Saskatchewan Forum (ACSF): Understanding how to form an enduring organization Uganda Canadian Association of Saskatchewan $3,000 November 27, 2013 - June 30, 2014 Of Land and Living Skies: A Community Journal on Place, Land and Learning Saskatchewan Outdoor & Environmental Education Association (SOEEA) $3,000 December 2, 2013-December 31, 2014 Distributed to date =$6,000

14. 5 Years of Arts CARES (2009-2013) Students: • Total number of student participants = 260 • Total hours of service = 3800 + • Our Students in the past five years: • The top 4 contributing Faculties: • Arts • Social Work • Education • Science • Average age: 24 years old, Median age = 22 years old • 1st and 2nd years students = 60% of total participants Community Partners • Total number of different community partners = 34 * Note that many have participated in multiple Arts CARES programs. Courses: • Total number of different participating courses = 19 * Note that many have participated in multiple Arts CARES programs, and this doesn’t reflect new instructors, or instructors teaching multiple courses • Arts CARES 2014: • 70 students • 11 courses (4 new courses) • 25 community partners (7 new partners)