"Outreach Slam" highlights U of M College of Design's connections to Minnesota

What: U of M College of Design “Outreach Slam”
When: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12
Where: 33 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Ave. S., St. Paul

The U of M College of Design (CDes) is hosting a first-ever public “Outreach Slam” 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at 33 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Ave., St. Paul, to highlight the importance of the college’s work to the people and communities of Minnesota.

The slam will feature faculty and staff who will have five minutes (strictly enforced) to present their current outreach effort. At the end of the presentations, the audience will select the best presentation. The author of that presentation will receive $1,000 in professional development funds and the runner-up will receive $500.

“The Outreach Slam demonstrates to the university the depth and breadth of the outreach and engagement that the college undertakes to benefit the people of the state, and it shares and connects the work of individuals to their colleagues, opening doors to innovation and collaboration,” said Brad Hokanson, CDes associate dean for research and outreach.

Representative participants and topics include:
• Tasoulla Hadjiyanni (Interior Design): Toward culturally sensitive housing
• Eunice Haugen and Jeanne McElvain (Goldstein Museum of Design): Museum digitization project, outreach and teaching
• Virajita Singh (Center for Sustainable Building Research): Sustainable design in the community
• Becky Yust and Lyn Bruin (Housing Studies): Healthy homes in Hennepin County
• Jim Lutz (Architecture): Reconstruction efforts in Haiti
• Jeff Crump (Housing Studies) and Bill Conway (Architecture): Foreclosures
• Billy Weber (Center for Sustainable Building Research): Sustainable affordable housing creation
• Rebecca Krinke (Landscape Architecture): Mapping of Joy and Pain public art project