St. Catherine University’s “Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?: A History of Housing Inequality in Ramsey County,” project has been recognized as a first-prize winner of the 2024 Uniservitate Global Service-Learning Award by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). This prestigious award highlights exceptional service-learning opportunities at Catholic higher education institutions, showcasing the global impact of projects like “Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?”
The project, launched in 2017, is a collaboration between St. Kate’s and Mapping Prejudice, a team from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Together, they delve into the histories and impacts of housing discrimination, segregation, and racism in the Twin Cities. This initiative has been a highly collaborative effort involving faculty, staff, community organizations, and over 1,600 students over the past seven years.
The team at St. Kate’s, led by the Office of Scholarly Engagement and spearheaded by D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch, has been instrumental in driving this project forward. Sophie Hunt, PhD, director of Community Work and Learning, has played a key role in integrating the project into community-engaged learning courses. The faculty team, including professors Kristine West, Rachel Neiwert, and Liz Allen, along with student co-authors, have a forthcoming article in the Journal of Urban Health, highlighting the enduring relationship between racially restrictive housing covenants and health and wellbeing.
Student involvement has been a crucial component of “Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?” from the start. Students from various disciplines have contributed to research, presented papers at conferences, and partnered with community organizations to collect oral histories and offer public presentations. This collaborative approach reflects the values at the core of St. Kate’s, emphasizing scholarly inquiry, interdisciplinary research, and a commitment to community and social justice.
The Uniservitate Award recognizes winners in different global regions, with recipients receiving a cash prize and the opportunity to participate in the Uniservitate Global Symposium in Rome, Italy. D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch and Victoria Delgado-Palma will represent St. Kate’s and “Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?” at the symposium, showcasing the impactful work done around racial injustice in housing and the institution’s commitment to caring for all neighbors without distinction.
In conclusion, “Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?: A History of Housing Inequality in Ramsey County,” project at St. Catherine University exemplifies the power of collaborative, community-engaged research in addressing social issues and promoting justice. This award-winning initiative serves as a testament to the university’s dedication to scholarship, service, and the pursuit of a more equitable society.