The UT Urban Affairs Center

Projects for 2002 - 2003

Note: click here for more information for the faculty listed below, as well as UAC's on-going services.

The Urban Affairs Center is one of UT's major vehicles for establishing strong and effective linkages between our community, its urban region, and the University. We look to the Center for leadership in helping the University of Toledo fulfill its mission as a premier metropolitan university. For Toledo and Northwest Ohio to be successful in their efforts to promote economic development and improve the quality of life, it must have a strong, engaged university. The Urban Affairs Center is playing an important role in ensuring that UT is a strong engaged university.
Dr. Daniel Johnson, President, University of Toledo
The UAC will promote, support, and/or facilitate locally relevant and nationally recognized scholarly and applied research in the following areas: Community Preservation and Enhancement, Urban and Regional Planning, Economic Development, and Urban Education"
(From the UAC Mission Statement, 04/02).

Community Development and Enhancement

Predatory Lending Study - Dr.’s Baker, Jenkins (both Criminal Justice), Jennings, and Pasupuleti (both Social Work) will conduct a survey of the form, extent, and impact of predatory lending in the Toledo Metropolitan Region.
Partners: Toledo Fair Housing Center, Toledo City Council, City of Toledo, Dept. of Housing, State Representative Jeanine Perry, UT Office of Research.

City Government Re-Organization Activities - UAC Research Associate Sue Wuest will assist with efforts to re-organization of the structure of the City of Toledo.
Partners: City of Toledo, Office of the Mayor

Re-Conceptualizing and re-organizing City of Toledo Dept. of Housing - UAC Research Associate Sue Wuest will participate in the Center for Community Change’s (Washington, D.C) study of the operations, responsibilities, and goals of Toledo’s Dept. of Neighborhoods.
Partners: City of Toledo, Office of the Mayor.

Toledo Ballet Strategic Assessment - UAC Faculty Research Associate Prof. Joel Lipman and UAC Director McGuire will survey the existing audience and the general public regarding the programming and developmental opportunities for the Toledo Ballet.
Partners: Toledo Ballet Association

Expected Impacts of Changes in Welfare Policy and Expenditures - In cooperation with the Lucas County Jobs and Family Service Evaluation Committee, UAC Faculty Research Associate Dr. Lynn Bachelor, UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice, and several graduate students, will create and execute a survey of approximately 700 social service directors in Lucas County.
Partners: Lucas County JFS, Toledo Metropolitan Ministry

Chronicling Domestic Violence - Professor Gabrielle Davis (Law) and Dr. Lois Ventura (Social Work), with support from the College of Law, will collect and analyze data on court cases involving domestic violence issues. They will identify the attributes and patterns prevalent in NW Ohio, and recommend changes to improve the processing of domestic violence cases.
Partners: College of Law, Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, City of Toledo Prosecutor, Toledo City Council, Toledo Municipal Courts.

CATNeT (Coalition to Access Technology and Networking in Toledo) - CATNeT is a coalition of community technology centers providing access for individuals who lack access in their home and/or work place. Led by UAC Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnston, and the CATNeT Board of Directors, we will help to build, house, and mentor the coalition; maintain the technology in the labs; disseminate information on instruction; solicit and secure the donation of computers; and work with them on grants to further strengthen and expand the group. CATNeT is expected to double its operations to over 60 centers during 2002-2003. Key initiatives will include diversifying clients (including to group homes and to mentally and physically challenged individuals), increasing cohesion among the network members, and increasing local visibility. We will use donations and grants to hire a full-time CATNeT Program Manager, CATNeT Program Assistant Manager, and Technical Assistant.
Partners: Fifth/Third Bank, KeyBank, Ohio Community Computer Centers, the 30+ CATNeT Centers, Owens Illinois, State Farm Insurance, Lutheran Homes, Vistula Management, City of Toledo City Council, Chrysler-UAW Training Center, UT University College, The Information Technology Alliance of Northwest Ohio, Ohio Computing Center Network, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Lutheran Home Services, Vistula Management, League of Women Voters, FLOC, Black Data Processors Association, Triangle Fraternity Association of Computing Machinery and Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers.

Terminal Server/Thin Client Network for CATNeT - The UAC will help solicit funds and volunteers to oversee a technical transition to the use of a terminal server/thin client network for their members. With terminal server/thin-client in place all of the CATNeT CTCs will be able to access and share applications on a common server, even though they differ greatly in the scope of services they offer to the public. This sharing of software will save the individual centers the cost of purchasing separate applications, thus allowing them to offer more, and varied, services to their users. UAC Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnston, CATNeT Program Assistant Nathan Sloan, Work-study Intern L. Farrell Minor, and CATNeT Board member Steve Sloan will lead this program.
Partners: Fifth/Third Bank, KeyBank, Ohio Community Computer Centers, the 30+ CATNeT Centers, Owens Illinois, State Farm Insurance, Lutheran Homes, Vistula Management, City of Toledo City Council, Chrysler-UAW Training Center, UT University College.

Reminiscence Theory and Senior Health - With support from the HHS College, UAC Faculty Research Associates Dr. Thomas Tatchell and Dr. Tim Jordan (Public Health) will study of the effects of reminiscence and positive valuing of experience as a factor in the attitude and well-being of selected senior citizens.
Partners: College of Health and Human Services, Toledo Area Office on Aging, Lutheran Senior Services.

Hungarian American Toledo - The UAC, with support raised via the UT Foundation, will publish and disseminate the book Hungarian American Toledo written by Faculty Research Associates Dr. Thomas Barden and Dr. Jack Ahern. This is the second book in our Toledo Community Books series. Profits from these sales will help underwrite the programming at Birmingham Cultural Center and subsequent book's publications.
Partners: Birmingham Cultural Center, Hungarian American Reformed Association (Wash. DC)

Birmingham Cultural Center - The UAC will provide the Birmingham (Hungarian) Culture Center with financial and other assistance to promote the community cohesion and cultural programming of this Center.
Partners: Birmingham Cultural Center

Quintero Cultural Center - The UAC will provide the Quintero (Latino) Culture Center with financial and other assistance to promote the community cohesion and cultural programming of this Center.
Partners: Quintero Culture Center, FLOC

Urban and Regional Planning

Fiscal Impact of Public Service Delivery Systems in Lucas County - Dr. Hugh Hinton (Political Science) and UAC Community Research Associate Michael Beazley (Toledo City Council) will present their report on the equity and problems of public services in incorporated and unincorporated areas of Lucas County early in summer 2002.
Partners: City of Toledo, City Council

Orfield Follow-up Study - The UAC will continue to sponsor and work to underwrite the work of Minnesota State Senator Myron Orfield and his associates at MARC (Metropolitan Area Research Corporation). Using the 2000 Census (and other) data to identify the extent and impacts of sprawl in the Toledo MSA, they will identify resource availability and organizational capacity underlying development patterns, and will propose a strategy for regional partners to more effectively address unplanned land use and sprawl.
Partners: Office of US Representative Marcy Kaptur, Diocese of Toledo, LISC, City of Oregon, Village of Ottawa Hills, City of Sylvania, Nature Conservancy, UT Foundation.

Orfield State Wide Study - The UAC will help underwrite and distribute the State-wide study of Regional Agenda for Community and Stability being created by Myron Orfield. That publication--Ohio Metropatterns--should be available early in 2003.
Partners: Office of US Representative Marcy Kaptur, Diocese of Toledo, LISC, City of Oregon, Village of Ottawa Hills, City of Sylvania, Nature Conservancy, UT Foundation.

Hancock County Needs Assessment - UAC Faculty Research Associates Dr. Reva Allen, Dr. Celia Williamson, and Ms. Martha Delgado (Social Work) will work with Winning Communities Inc. and four Hancock County funding agencies to assess the level and form of social needs in Findlay Ohio and the remainder of Hancock County.
Partners: Winning Communities Inc., Hancock County Community Trust, Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Hancock County United Way.

Lucas County Natural Hazard Mitigation Initiative - UAC Faculty Research Associate Professor Nick Kissoff (Engineering Technology) and Donna Hardy Johnson will lead a team of students and consultants assessing the probability and location of potential natural hazards (floods, tornados, etc.) in Lucas County, and will work with various agencies to help Lucas County and other jurisdictions develop plans to mitigate potential human and property damage from such events. This grant is funded by the FEMA via the Lucas County EMA.
Partners: Lucas County Emergency Management Agency, Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions, City of Toledo Fire and Rescue Department.

Industrial Wastewater Remediation - UAC Faculty Research Associate Dr. Dong-Shik Kim (Chemical Engineering) will examine the pre-treatment of chemical waste in 25 large Toledo firms to determine whether modern methods of bio-remediation might result in a second revenue stream for the firm in the form of waste-recycling, as well as save money for the City via reduced industrial waste in the water treatment plant.
Partners: City of Toledo

TMACOG Growth Strategies Council -UAC Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnston continues to work with TMACOG Growth Strategies Council on various land use and planning issues as well as their annual spring Growth Strategies Day.
Partners: TMACOG, The Metro Toledo Smart Growth Partnership

West Lake Erie Regional Network -- UAC continues to partner with local agencies, governments, and non-profit organizations to form a network to address regional issues through a continuing education program. Issues addressed include urban revitalization and community redevelopment. UAC Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnston will lead our efforts.
Partners: TMACOG, Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, Marcy Kaptur, Midwest Environmental consultants, Monroe County Planning Dept, Neighborhoods in Partnership, Ohio Dept of Agriculture, Ottawa Community Development Corp., Perrysburg Planning and Zoning Dept, Regional Growth Partnership, Sylvania Twp., Toledo City Council, Toledo Lucas City Plan Commission, Toledo Metropolitan Mission, Village of Ottawa Hills, Wood County Planning Dept., LISC

The Metro Toledo Smart Growth Partnership - The UAC will continue to partner with various inner-city organizations (faith-based, CDCs, non-profits) to (1) make sure the inner-city has representation in a regional agenda; and (2) promote Toledo as the core city of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, and is fundamental to the health of the region. This partnership has grown from the Urban Issues Ad Hoc Committee with support from the National Neighborhood Coalition in Washington D.C. UAC Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnston will lead our efforts.
Partners: Toledo Metropolitan Mission, ONYX CDC, CDC Alliance, LISC, Lagrange CDC, Ottawa CDC, Neighborhoods in Partnership, North River CDC, Housing Coalition, Monroe United Methodist Church, National Neighborhood Coalition (Wash. DC)

Economic Development

City Tax Revenue Forecast - Using the formulas developed in his 1999 report to the City Dr. Paul Kozlowski (Finance) will again work with, and produce a report for, the City Council, Auditor, and City administration projecting payroll tax revenues.
Partners: Toledo City Council

Industry Cluster Study - Dr. Neil Reid (Geography), UAC Research Associate Sue Wuest, and Dr. Michael Carroll of BGSU will analyze the current industrial landscape to ascertain the strengths and potential opportunities for focused and concerted economic development activities.
Partners: UT Office of Research, BGSU Center for Public Policy and Analysis, City of Toledo Dept. of Economic Development, UT Office of Research

Preparation and Application of Spatial Data in Comparative International Context - Dr. James LeSage (Economics) will use the ES-202 data a comparative analysis of urban economic dynamics conducted in concert with University faculty in Dijon France.

A Survey of Internet Business Practices and Information Technology Workforce Needs Among Northwest Ohio Corporations - Dr. Paul Fritz (Communication) will lead this study, delayed from last year at the client’s request. He will examine the nature, extent, and form of IT use by non-IT firms in the Toledo MSA.
Partners: ITANO (Information Technology Alliance of Northwest Ohio (ITANO) and Regional Growth Partnership (RGP)

Effects of Changing Bank Ownership - Dr. Paul Kozlowski will complete his study and present his findings (fall 2002), outlining the effects of the loss of local banks on the availability of capital investment in the NW Ohio/SE Michigan region.

Alternative Energy Opportunities - UAC Faculty Research Associates Drs Mark Vonderembse and Subba Rao (MIME) will study the ability of existing firms in NW Ohio to effectively participate in the creation of a bio-fuel "sector" and on the vitality of the photovoltaic industry in the area.
Partners: UT Office of Research

Assessing the NW Ohio Alternative Energy Research Collaborative - UAC Director Dr. Patrick McGuire will assess the effectiveness of the NSF Grant to create Partnerships For Innovation (PFI) in the area of Alternative Energy, and will identify social and regulatory barriers to creating effective dissemination and adoption of such technology.
Partners: UT Office of Research, BGSU, Owens CC, RGP, RTA, Edison Industrial Service Center (EISC), Center for Technology Transfer (CTC), Office of US Representative Marcy Kaptur.

UUP Ohio Economy - Dr. McGuire and Dr. Paul Kozlowski will lead a UUP group assessing the viability of the UUP creating, publishing, and distributing a recurring publication on the status of business and the economy in Ohio.
Partners: UUP

Wireless Computing District - Dr. Patrick McGuire will work with various community partners, including the Regional Technology Authority and SFT Consulting, Inc., will explore the viability and implications of creating a wireless Information Technology district (a 5th “port”—information--along with air, sea, land, and rail) in downtown Toledo, exploiting population and business density to create an economic lure, and to empower downtown businesses.
Partners: City of Toledo Dept. of Economic Development, Toledo City Council, Regional Technology Alliance (RTA),Lucas County, RGP, ITANO, CTC.

Reduced Agricultural Land and Port Viability - We will examine the effect of sprawl in Northwest Ohio on tillable land and by extension that reduction on the economic viability of the Port of Toledo (Sea, Land, and Air) and upon other agricultural production, transit, and processing firms in Toledo Area.
Partners: Office of US Representative Marcy Kaptur.

Urban Education

East Toledo Gear-Up Evaluation - Dr. Jerry Van Hoy (Sociology) and Dr. Lynn Hamer (Social Foundations) will evaluate the impacts of the Gear-up activities on the students in East Toledo Junior and Waite Senior high schools. Among the activities will be surveys of the students’ perceptions, and those of their parents.
Partners: Midwest Educational Research Consortium-- Western Michigan University, University of Illinois-Chicago Circle, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Toledo, Toledo Public School System, East Toledo Family Center, BGSU Center for Innovative and Transformative Education.

MERC Evaluation and Promotion - UAC Faculty Research Associate Svetlana Beltyukova will help to assess local Gear-up programs and write additional grants in support of innovative urban education by MERC.
Partners: MERC, BGSU Center for Innovative and Transformative Education.

TAPESTRIES - Dr. Charlene Czerniak will complete her evaluation of the innovative science and math education program in the Toledo Public schools called TAPESTRIES and issue a report on their findings in late fall 2002.
Partners: Toledo Public School System, BGSU, UT SciMaTech Center.

Educational Attainment among Hispanic Adolescents - UAC Faculty Research Associates Drs. Mary Ellen Edwards (Social Foundations) and Dee Morales (Latino Initiatives) will examine factors influencing Hispanic educational attainment in Toledo’s public and parochial schools.
Partners: Toledo Public School Systems, Diocese of Toledo School System, City of Toledo Hispanic Affairs Commission, UT Office of Latino Affairs.

Ohio High School Transition Initiative - UAC Director Patrick McGuire and Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnson will guide a team of graduate students and consultants, and work with the Bowling Green State University Center for Innovative and Transformative Education, to create a Center of Strength for the Toledo Public School System. This initiative, funded by Knowledgeworks, Ford, and Gates Foundations via Toledo Public Schools, seeks to assure greater and continuous community input into the process of curricular reform and educational enhancement in a traditional urban education system that has under-performed relative to state standards.
Partners: BGSU Center for Innovative and Transformative Education, Toledo Public Schools System, City of Toledo, various CDCs, TPS Parents groups, Toledo Federation of Teachers.

Educational Attainment and Occupational Outcomes for African Americans in NW Ohio - UAC Faculty Research Associate Dr. Carter Wilson (Political Science) will use HEI and ES-202 data to identify relationships between educational courses and content and resulting employment in various racial and socio-economic groups in Toledo. This study will be conducted in concert with the UUP center at University of Cincinnati.
Partners: Ohio Urban League, UUP, Office of the Chancellor OBOR, University of Cincinnati.

GIS Mapping of the Stranahan Arboretum - UAC Faculty Research Associates Dr. Stephen Goldman (Chemistry) and Dr. Jiquan Chen (EEES) will lead a project involving Ms. Sandra Stutzenstein and a student who will use GIS mapping to plot each plant in the Stranahan Arboretum. This will create a database of plants and flora in this lab, and will underlay a website in which the flora and ecosystem of the region is systematically detailed to promote public understanding of the local ecosystem.
Partners: Stranahan Arboretum, Great Lakes Research Center.

Mapping of the Toledo Public Schools - In cooperation with Toledo Public Schools, UAC Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnson will map the service areas of Toledo High Schools, and their feeder Junior and elementary schools.
Partners: Toledo Public School System

Ohio High School Transformation Initiative - In partnership with the Center for Innovative and Transformative Education at BGSU and the Toledo Public School District, we will co-sponsor a project to help bring “small schools concepts” to the TPS facilities building initiative. The UAC will host a consultant, and our staff help develop the basis for on-going community participation to help restructure the educational infrastructure and subsequently the pedagogy, so as to enhance student performance.
Partners: BGSU Center for Innovative and Transformative Education, Toledo Public Schools, Knowledgeworks Foundation, Inc.

Additional Activities

Public Education Activities

Seminars:

What Works? Seminars:

Public Debates and Informational Forum:

Downtown Toledo Walking Tour — UAC Secretary Barbara Burmeister will convene this group as it prepares and conducts weekly tours of the architecture and history of downtown areas throughout the summer. They will also produce a new brochure for both group and self-guided tours of the area—the first revision in almost 10 years.
Partners: Discover Downtown Toledo Tour Guides, Toledo-Lucas County Library

Regional Science Conference - The UAC will work with Dr. Kozlowski as part of the local committee preparing to host the Mid-Continent Regional Science Meeting in Cleveland Ohio in the spring of 2003.
Partners: Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, UUP, Cleveland State University Levin College of Urban Affairs Services

Data Collection, Assembly, Management, Analysis, and Presentation - UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will coordinate the UAC data management services, including data collection, storage, format transformation, and data resource identification.

Data Preparation - UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will assist UAC researchers and other UT faculty and graduate students by obtaining and transforming data for their projects.

Mapping Services - UAC Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnston and UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will continue to create and distribute maps and performing mapping services for clients.

Land-Use Planning Facilitation and Technical Assistance - UAC Research Associates Sue Wuest and Donna Hardy Johnston will facilitate and/or provide assistance to community and governmental groups engaged in Land-use planning.

Organizational Development and Strategic Planning Facilitations - UAC Research Associates Sue Wuest and Donna Hardy Johnston will assist local organizations in rationalizing their organizations and developing strategic plans to advance client’s interests.

Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) - UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will continue in his role as the official UT representative to the ICPSR.
Partners: UT Office of the Provost, ICPSR at The University of Michigan.

UAC Computing Technology Support - UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will maintain and support the Center's computers, databases, web site, and computer-related technology to provide a stable and secure operating environment for the Center's staff and researchers.

Toledo Metronet - UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will work with CATNeT Assistant Manager Nathan Sloan to relocate the Toledo Metronet web sites (including CATNeT) to a new server maintained by CATNeT staff and dedicated solely to the Metronet web sites. This will provide better service for the Metronet web sites and will free needed resources on the UAC server.

Survey Calling Capacity - UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will work to install and expand the use of the new UAC call-center to develop our survey research ability.

Online Survey Capacity - UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will continue to assist UT Faculty and graduate students' in administering surveys online using the UAC web site. This programming and database construction executes surveys beneficial to the local community and increases the data holdings of the UAC.

CATNeT Technical Assistance - UAC Research Associate Donna Hardy Johnson and CATNeT Manager Anne Robinson will oversee and assist CATNeT Assistant Manager Nathan Sloan in securing, enhancing, distributing, and helping to maintain computers in the more than 35 CATNeT labs throughout Lucas, Wood, and Monroe Counties.
Partners; Adalante, Ability Center of Greater Toledo, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc., Alpha Community Project Toledo Area Office on Aging, Aurora Academy, Black Data Processors Association, City of Toledo Dept. of Neighborhoods, Diocese of Toledo, Fifth-Third Bank, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Information Technology of Northwest Ohio, League of Women Voters of Toledo-Lucas County, Lutheran Home Services, Mareda, Inc. Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, Murchison Center, Neighborhoods in Partnership, Northgate Apartments, NorthRiver Development Corporation, Ohio Community Computing Network, Ottawa Community Development Corporation, Seniors, Center, Inc., SkyBank, State Farm Insurance, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Toledo Metropolitan Mission, UAW-Chrysler Ohio Training Center, University of Toledo African Studies, Urban University and Neighborhood Network, Vistula Management, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, US. Dept of Housing and Urban Development, The Flora Family Foundation, Owens Illinois, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s office, ITANO, RTA, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

Electronic Publication and Inventory of UAC Research - UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will revise and update the UAC website, posting UAC research papers and news articles, maintain the advisor and other contacts, and posting information on Center projects. Paper copies of UAC reports are also available upon request.

Student-Support and Related Activities

UUP Network Participation

UUP Housing Network - Dr. Samuel Aryeetey-Attoh (Geography) will serve as UAC Representative to the UUP Housing Network.

UUP Urban Education Network - Dr. Laurie Dinnebeil and Dr. Carter Wilson (Curriculum and Political Science respectively) will serve as UAC Representatives to this UUP Network.

UUP GIS Network - Dr. Peter Lindquist (Geography) and UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice will serve as the UAC representatives to this UUP network.

UUP ES-202 Network - Dr. James LeSage (Economics) and UAC Data Manager Gregg Rice served as the UAC Representatives to this UUP network.

UUP Business Publication Group - Dr. Paul Kozlowski (Finance) and Patrick McGuire will serve as the UAC representatives to this group. Dr. McGuire will be a member of the editorial board.

UUP Smart Growth Coalition - Building on our various planning & sprawl initiatives, and the Service Delivery analysis, we will propose to the UUP that we create and lead a state-wide network on Smart Growth. UAC Research Associates Sue Wuest, Donna Hardy, and Dr. Patrick McGuire.

Additional Public and Community Activities of Center Personnel

Donna Hardy Johnston serves on the Ottawa CDC Board; Hostelling International-Toledo Area Board; Toledo Int’l Hostelling Guesthouse Board; Coalition to Access Technology and Networking in Toledo (CATNeT) as Board Chair; Fannie Mae Advisory Council of Toledo-NW Ohio; Advisory Council Fulton County Environmental Assessment Study; United Way Achieving Well Being Council; Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments’ Growth Strategies Council; and is a member of the Metro Toledo Smart Growth Partnership.

Patrick McGuire serves on the Executive Committee of TMACOG, Executive Committee of the Toledo Design Center, BGSU Partners in Context and Community Advisory Committee, Toledo Public Schools Community and Preservation Committee, the UT Committee on Research Centers and Joint Appointments, the UT Committee on Community Outreach, OBOR Chancellor’s Committee on Urban University Programs, & UT Outreach Partners.

Anne Robinson: Board of Directors of Upstage Downtown Theater for Urban Development, and Hostelling International Toledo, and Member of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now

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The University of Toledo
current as of apr. 2007 | email: uac@utnet.utoledo.edu | rss
Urban Affairs Center, Mail Stop #404, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606
Tel 419.530.3591, Fax 419.530.3548