Spring Break Challenge.
Build a prize-winning, community-based assessment project in one week!
Every other year, students from SPH, Social Work, Dental Medicine, and Sargent College work as a team and compete to build a prize-winning, community-based assessment project in one week. The objective of the challenge is to give public health students the opportunity to work as a professional public health consultant with the Blackstone Community Center and Lenox-Camden Housing Development. To achieve this, each team sought input from public housing residents and other community members on the best ways to remove barriers to using the services at the Blackstone Community Center. The final product of the challenge included recommendations to increase engagement in neighborhood health and wellness programs. Student participants presented their reports to a panel of BU deans and community leaders. The directors of Blackstone Community Center intend to address the recommendations made by our students as they plan for the future.
Collaborative Problem Solving. Partner with students from SPH, Social Work, and Sargent College. Seek input from public housing residents and other community members on the best ways to remove barriers to using the services at the Blackstone Community Center.
Build Skills. Make an Impact. Conduct key informant interviews, facilitate focus groups, perform a needs and asset assessment, and produce qualitative research. You will present your team findings to a panel of BU deans and community leaders.
The winning team will receive a cash prize and the opportunity to present their work to a broader audience!
The final oral presentation and a written report will include:
- Summary of qualitative assessment findings
- Sustainability recommendations for current and future programming
- Reflection on the experience
Check out these final projects from previous Spring Break Challenge participants:
- One South End Team Report
- Parental Involvement and Sustainability: Recommendations for the Blackstone Community Center
- Improving Guardian Involvement in and Sustainability of Health and Wellness Programming at Blackstone Community Center
- Parent Involvement and Sustainability of Youth Health and Wellness Programs at the Blackstone Community Center
- Get on UP: Community partnership consultation with BYCF’s Blackstone Community Center and BHA’s Ruth L. Barkley Housing Development