What We Do

Since its inception in 2004, the Jim Walter Partnership Center has tripled in size and developed multiple training intitiatives for the community.The following are the current core programs offered by the JWPC:

• Community Leadership Training

  Grassroots Leadership Program: Funded by the University Area CDC; a free 4-week leadership program offered to youth and adults committed to bettering their communities. We teach leadership skills and empower people to create community projects. Grassroots leaders assess personal and community assets, learn team building, effective communication, project and meeting  management, and resource development/grant writing.  Classes are offered in English and Spanish. Since 2004, we have trained over 250 community members.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      R.OA.R Youth Mentorship and Civic Engagement  is a leadership training component of the JWPC funded by the University Area CDC.

  The Youth Mentoring and Community Engagement program  is designed to assist youth in the community in a step by step process of peer-to peer mentoring for the sake of youth mobilization by strengthening the voice of youth within civic and community-based organizations and non-profit leadership. To date, there have been approximately 62 participants who have completed the program.Curriculum developed by Dr. Robin Ersing and Peggy Dorvil.

• International Capacity Building Training

  Cooperative Association of States for Scholarship (CASS): a partnership with Georgetown University and funded by USAID, CASS is a 6-month capacity building and nonprofit leadership training program designed to teach adults from Central America and the Caribbean skills necessary to develop and strengthen youth serving organizations in their countries. Since July 2007, we have graduated 54 delegates from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

• Youth Tutoring and Mentoring

  College Link: Funded by the Children's Board of Hillsborough County;  A partnership with Hillsborough County School District that provides tutoring and mentoring services to at-risk students in 4 middle and high schools who are often the first in their families to attend college. Since 2006, we have assisted over 800 students.

• 2008 Annual Summary & Evaluation Report:

  On November 18, 2008, Jim Walter Partnership Center held its annual board meeting to provide the JWPC Advisory Board with a summary report on the programs & initiatives of the center. This year end review of the organization enables the board to access the impact of the programs and initiatives that the center has carried out in the University & the communities it serves.

The following are additional core services the JWPC provides:

• Applied Research and Program Monitoring & Evaluations provides opportunities for faculty to conduct community-based research and data analysis in areas such as anti-crime, affordable housing, project evaluation and monitoring, community health & education, community development, economic & business development, best practices, hurricane recovery & mitigation, and globalization. Student interns gain valuable experience putting their learning into practice to meet community and economic development needs. Over 25 student researchers have been involved in JWPC research and evaluation projects.

• University Partnership: a collaboration between JWPC and the University of Florida Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing, serving as the first step in building a statewide network. The University Partnership provides a forum for the private sector, community, and government to discuss and develop comprehensive strategies in community development, affordable housing, and economic opportunities for residents of blighted-neighborhoods.