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This component encouraged active participation of a local college or university in working with the wellness villages on community health issues. This collaboration provided community participants with necessary expertise, better access and understanding of the ways in which academicians can support community efforts. Academic support activities included a lecture series at a community college on Native American health issues, research and data collection training for youth, and internship positions in community-based organizations for college students.

Accomplishments:

• Wellness Villages established and retained several partnerships with local colleges and universities that brought in resources to the communities.
• Academic institutions were able to work at the community level and successfully implemented programs addressing grassroots needs. These included: nutrition and fitness programs, computer education, science and math exposure projects, research on community issues and agricultural techniques.
• Hundreds of young people became familiar with academic institutions, their locations, role in community, admission policies, financial support and significance of campus life. This, in turn, provided visibility for academic institutions in their efforts to close the “town and gown” divide.

Challenges:

• The level of bureaucracy in colleges and universities and the communities’ inexperience in dealing with the complexities involved with developing partnerships with academicians were initial barriers to developing productive working relationships. However, once a “champion” within the college or university was identified, partnerships were developed.
• Community organizations often lacked full understanding of the costs associated with working in partnerships with colleges and universities. Negotiating budgets proved cumbersome and slowed the process in the beginning stages of the partnerships.

Lessons Learned:

• To reach the goals of the wellness village, it was important to identify a “champion” within the college or university and to find the department within the college that best fits the work of the wellness village.
• Community colleges proved valuable partners and made important contributions to community health.
• Large research institutions were eager to work with communities but, in the absence of graduate students, had difficulty sustaining a presence in the community.