April 16 Community-University Forum seeks common ground

Grand Forks residents will find common ground at the Community-University Learning Forum in downtown Grand Forks on Saturday, April 16.

The event is being organized by the UND Center for Community Engagement, which links faculty and students to the community through teaching and research projects, and is being planned by a committee made up of community organizations, faculty, and students.,

The forum is intended to bring the community and university together around the theme of “Common Ground” to discuss topics on the minds of residents of Grand Forks, according to Lana Rakow, Center Director, and to provide opportunities for community members and UND faculty and students to learn from and with each other.

Sessions will begin at the Empire Arts Center at 9 a.m. and additional discussions will be held at other downtown locations, concluding with a final comedy improvisational performance by Nine and Numb at 1 p.m. at the Empire Arts Center. Topics about Grand Forks under discussion will include population changes, historic preservation, economic opportunities, natural resources, neighborhood support, political decision-making, social issues, arts and imagination, communication, and UND graduate retention.

Registration will be available at 8 a.m. at the Empire Arts Center April 16, but registration is encouraged in advance at www.communityengagement.und.edu. The event is free and open to the public.

Members of the planning committee include UND students Ben Feeney, Lindsey Granrud, Alex Radtke, and Tanner Rusch. Community representatives are Pat Berger (United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Area), Pete Haga (City of Grand Forks), Alek Krumm (Global Friends Coalition), Stacey Majkrzak (Grand Forks Downtown Development Association), Kristi Mishler (Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region), Emily Montgomery (Empire Arts Center), Cynthia Schabb (Global Friends Coalition), Brian Schill (Grand Forks Public Library), Carol Weiler (Near North Neighborhood Association) and Wendy Wendt (Grand Forks Public Library). Other UND program representatives are Rebecca Gottberg (UND Humanities &Interdisciplinary Studies), Narda Hamilton (UND Center for Community Engagement), Heather Helgeson (UND Nonprofit Leadership Program), Marcia Mikulak (UND Anthropology), Kay Powell (UND Center for Community Engagement and UND Leadership), Lana Rakow (UND Center for Community Engagement), and Brian Schill (Honors Program).