by Becca Morrison

Staff Writer

Calvin recently received a $400,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which will be used to fund development in Burton Heights.

Every year, The Community Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC), a branch of HUD, looks for colleges interested in becoming actively involved with their surrounding communities. For too long, colleges have seen community work as fertile ground for future generations. HUD's goal is to change the out-of-date mindset of continuous research to partnering with the community. The grant is for three years. In the first year, HUD grants the largest sum, decreasing the sum of the grant each year to ensure continuation.

Calvin is one of the 16 colleges and universities nationwide to receive the full grant sum, with 7 other colleges receiving second and third year grants. According to Steve Timmermans, Project Director and Executive Assistant to the President, Calvin is the only Christian college to receive this grant.

``Every college has a chance,'' Timmermans said. ``COPC wants to see the college's outreach history. The colleges have to follow specifications. You have to convince COPC that you have a great plan to meet the criteria. This is easy for Calvin because we have our Service Learning Center.''

The idea to apply for the grant was introduced last fall by Burton Height's Garfield Development Corporation. Timmermans thought it over with colleagues and drafted an application. From January to May numerous meetings were held to get the faculty's input.

Timmermans started by going to the Calvin Departments that have histories of community based service learning, such as the Nursing Department, Economics/Business, Spanish, Education and Sociology Department. Other departments are interested and looking to get involved as well.

With this grant money, Calvin will be able to become further involved in the Burton Heights Community and Businesses. Specifically seven organizations will participate. The Garfield Development Corporation, the Garfield Park Neighborhood Association, the Burton Heights Business Association, The Burton Clinic, the Health Intervention Services, the Buchanan School, and the Neighborhood Business Specialists.

Ideally, these organizations would include all the Burton Heights businesses. But with the recent rise of ethnic diversity in Grand Rapids, many businesses are new and the owners have other immediate needs to get on their feet. By Calvin faculty and students volunteering their time, it will free up the new business owners so they can better integrate into the Burton Heights Community.

``In 1990 Burton Heights was 61 percent white, 26 percent Hispanic and 17 percent black. A decade later it's 63 percent Hispanic, 21 percent white and 12 percent black. That sort of shift in demographics provides an interesting opportunity for COPC. There are struggles there, to be sure, but also many opportunities. This has the potential to be one of the most satisfying partnerships Calvin has ever had,'' Timmermans said in a recent Calvin News.

It is also noted that although the Burton Heights area is small, 1.6 miles from north to south and 1 mile east to west, it is a great place for COPC to invest the grant because it has ``well-established neighborhood and business associations, yet faces many challenges.''

The new core curriculum that was put into effect this fall requires cross-cultural involvement. Timmermans says that this is the key reason for pursuing this grant.

``The biggest part of this grant will be used to free up faculty in the summer to work closely in the neighborhood,'' Timmermans said. ``They will then develop a syllabus with the service project requirement.''

The money will be given to the faculty. In the summer, they will work closely with the community to ascertain their various needs. They will reconfigure the curriculum to include community service as part of the class requirements.

``Benefits go both ways. The students learn, and the businesses--profit and nonprofit--get helped.'' Timmermans said.