Trinity center for neighborhoods - Connecting a small liberal arts collegeto its neighborhoods

In this article, the authors describe a college organization created to est ablish a partnership between Trinity College faculty and students and four community organizing groups. Through this organization, the Trinity Center for Neighborhoods, the research skills of faculty and students are used to gather information identified by the community as essential before these co mmunity groups can effectively plan and argue for change. Since 1995, more than 45 applied research projects have been completed In addition to descri bing the organization and the actions taken as a result of the research, th e authors review the basic assumptions underlying the structure they have b uilt, a structure that has allowed them-a small liberal arts college and th e surrounding neighborhoods-to work together successfully.