VISTA members make a full time, yearlong commitment to uphold the program priorities of poverty alleviation, capacity building, sustainable solutions, and community empowerment. VISTA members work to build capacity at community partner sites so those organizations can fulfill their mission with greater efficiency and impact. At Boys and Girls CLub of lexington, VISTA Member Latara […]
Read More… from Program Development Vista with the Boys and Girls Club of Lexington (2018-20)
VISTA Summer Associates complete 3000 hours of hands-on, direct service with community partner organizations, with an emphasis on summer learning and food security. VISTA Summer Associates Breanna Adams (2018) and Tawanna Jefferson (2019) engaged K-12 students to strengthen literacy and math skills during the summer program. Read the final student report delivered to the local […]
We began our project based on our research question: How does aspect and elevation affect native plant species density and distribution on sand dunes located on the central coast of California? To answer this question we analyzed how aspect, slope, and elevation affect the growth of native species found along the rear dune areas of […]
We believe that historic preservation should reflect the diversity of our history and communities, in order to recognize the contributions that underrepresented groups have made to our history and city. Currently, most of the City’s landmarks and historic districts are located in areas of the city which have traditionally had a greater awareness of planning […]
Read More… from Working Towards Equity and Inclusion through Historic District Development
Urban and Regional Planning students studied the current state of the downtown area in Anamosa, Iowa and through research drafted a revitalization plan, Vision Anamosa, for local officials to use as they continue to build upon their current efforts. Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner. Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities […]
Using data collected by the student field crew, Western’s Center for Economic & Business Research collaborated with a local contractor to determine a rough cost estimate for flood proofing measures around the city. (College of Business and Economics, winter 2018) Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner. Sustainable Cities Partnership Contact […]
Update the City’s Stable Neighborhood Action Plan (SNAP) to evaluate neighborhood improvements since creating the original SNAP document in 2005. Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner. Resilient Communities Project Contact Info University Faculty Contact Carrie Christensen Design, Housing, and Apparel Adjunct Professor Local Government / Community Contact Emily Carr Development […]
Urban and Regional Planning students created the Trails economic impact plan that provides research on the benefits of the current trails system in Decorah, Iowa and provides recommendations on how to continue expanding it as well as a presentation displaying research and results, and a poster displaying research and results. Read the final student report […]
Urban and Regional Planning students created The Wellman Sustainability Plan which centers on sustainability-oriented recommendations for the City of Wellman. Recommendations were drafted based on surveys, public meetings, and discussions with local officials. The Plan was a ten-year road map that… Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner. Iowa Initiative for […]
Urban and Regional Planning students examined trends of income inequality in the Iowa City metropolitan area and developed a plan identifying income inequality trends in Iowa City, case studies of similar areas, and strategies for supporting affordable housing in the community; poster displaying results and recommendations; and presentation displaying results and recommendations. Read the final […]