Strengthening Community Partnerships through an Assessment of Residents' Issues and Priorities

Abstract

Effective university-community relationships require input from community residents. This study, conducted as part of Texas Southern University's outreach program, solicits the viewpoints of the residents of Acres Homes on several issues including the community 's needs and priorities. The findings show that the respondents consider job training, youth mentoring and after-school programs, employment opportunities, and demolition of vacant/abandoned buildings as "high priority" issues. The study offers suggestions for follow-up actions by metropolitan universities that seek to be responsive to their communities.