WHAT: SCYP Salem End of Year Celebration 

DATE: June 4, 2024

TIME: 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. Drop in anytime to celebrate the partnership.

• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Students final project poster session from two classes - Safe and Connected Salem: Bicycle Transportation Options and Equity and Park Assets.
• 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Program Remarks and Open House

WHO: Elected Officials, City of Salem staff, University of Oregon leadership, faculty, and students 

PLACE: Center 50+, 2615 Portland Rd NE, Salem, OR 97301

BACKGROUND

Through year-long partnerships, the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) helps communities solve the problems of today and lay the groundwork for a sustainable, livable future—all while helping students prepare for the workforce through applied learning. Over the 2023-2024 academic year the City of Salem partnered with SCYP to complete over 20 courses directed at high priority projects for City Council and the Salem community. For more, see https://sci.uoregon.edu/sustainable-city-year-program-salem.

In Salem, University of Oregon students and faculty studied and made recommendations in SCYP courses that included journalism, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, nonprofit management, planning, public administration, and Portland State University engineering. Final reports from each class will continue to be added and are made available to the public. The City of Salem last worked with SCYP in the 2010-2011 academic year, making them the first repeat city to partner with SCYP. SCYP hosts the final reports and media from that year. 

“This is such a great partnership between the City and the University of Oregon,” said Salem Mayor Chris Hoy. “The ideas and collaboration these students bring to the City are instrumental in helping us tackle a variety of local problems. I’m grateful for their help and insight.”

This SCYP and City of Salem partnership is possible, in part, with support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as former Congressman Peter DeFazio, who secured federal funding in FY23 for SCYP through Congressionally Directed Spending and the US Department of Education. With additional matching funds from the City of Salem, the partnership allowed UO students and faculty to study and make recommendations on city-identified projects and issues.

“UO’s SCYP is a proven model of success, using the drive and expertise of students and faculty to discover solutions that move Oregon communities to a clean energy future faster,” Sen. Merkley said. “The entire Salem community will continue to benefit from being an idea-sharing hub over the past school year that provided students with tangible, real-world learning opportunities to make the city more sustainable and resilient to climate chaos.”

“As a proud U of O Law School grad, I’m always gratified when my alma mater extends its statewide reach with timely on-the-ground offerings like these in Salem focusing on the climate crisis and equity,” Sen. Wyden said. “I’m glad the teamwork with our delegation has produced this big win for Salem and the university combining their creativity to develop sustainable solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing our state and country.”

The partnership will end with a celebration event with leaders from Salem and the University of Oregon, faculty, students, local elected officials, and community members. A poster session of final projects from two spring courses, Topics in Bicycle Transportation and Equitable Urban Parks, will occur for the first hour of the event for the community to interact and ask questions regarding the student’s work. Formal remarks will feature speakers from both entities, including UO faculty and students highlighting each project, proposed recommendations, and outcomes. Following formal remarks, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with UO faculty and students in an open house format to learn more about how the courses will help create long-term value for the Salem community.

“Students provide excitement, energy, and innovation,” said Salem resident and University of Oregon senior Sulwyn De Crouzuc. “A year of SCYP classes is going to be extremely beneficial for City staff to have access to a wide range of potential solutions and new ways of thinking about complex community issues.”

ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE CITY YEAR PROGRAM:

Established in 2009, SCYP is now in its 14th year of partnerships with Oregon communities. SCYP partnerships connect University of Oregon students with local communities to implement real change drawing directly from community-identified issues. Through hands-on learning, SCYP harnesses the innovation of students and faculty to offer communities unique perspectives and ideas. Communities emerge from SCYP partnerships with increased community outreach, expanded conversations, and cutting-edge solutions, while students emerge better prepared to enter the workforce. For more, see: https://sci.uoregon.edu/.

ABOUT THE CITY OF SALEM:

The City of Salem is Oregon’s second largest city (179,605; 2022) and the State’s capital. A diverse community, Salem has well established neighborhoods, a family-friendly ambiance, and a small town feel, with easy access to the Willamette riverfront and nearby outdoor recreation, and a variety of cultural opportunities. Salem is in the midst of sustained, steady growth. As a “full-service” city, it provides residents with services such as police and fire protection, emergency services, sewage collection and treatment, and safe drinking water. Salem’s vision is a safe, livable, and sustainable capital city, with a thriving economy and a vibrant community that is welcoming to all. The City’s mission is to provide fiscally sustainable and quality services to enrich the lives of present and future residents, protect and enhance the quality of the environment and neighborhoods, and support the vitality of the economy. 

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

Community partnerships are possible in part due to support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as former Congressman Peter DeFazio, who secured federal funding in FY23 for SCYP through Congressionally Directed Spending.