Weiss Urban Livability Program

Former Fellows and Community Projects

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(*Indicates Senior Fellow)

2006-2007

The 2006-2007 Weiss fellows performed a series of community projects. These included: helping the Blue Urban Bikes bicycle sharing program increase its reach to historically underserved populations, protecting areas around the Bolin Creek from invasive species, volunteering at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, helping to set up and organize a job fair through the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate Program, and attending a leadership meeting for Durham CAN (Congregations, Neighborhoods, and Associations). The final report is comprised of a reflection on the projects from each fellow through the lens or his or her discipline and background.

2006-2007 Weiss Community Projectspdf icon

2005-2006

The 2005-2006 Weiss Fellows investigated the topic of home energy efficiency, with a focus on how the issue affects low-income households. They created a final report to describe their findings and to suggest a future research study.

Energy Efficiency in Homes Reportpdf icon

2004-2005

Based on the input from Rusch Hollow’s future residents, and the guidance provided by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County staff, 2004-2005 Weiss Fellows worked to design a site plan for a community-oriented recreational space that will contribute to the short- and long-term vitality of the neighborhood. They created this plan with attention to the budgetary and logistical constraints faced by their group, and with particular attention to ensuring that next year’s Senior Weiss Fellow is able to turn the plan into reality.

Rusch Hollow project report 2005pdf icon

2003-2004

Fellows talked with community members and conducted research in the North Carolina Collection of Wilson Library to discover aspects of local history and unique places in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro/UNC community. They then created a web site that highlights these aspects of urban livability in our local community.

Chapel Hill and Carrboro: A Unique Place to Live

2002-2003

Creation of the Pamphlet “A Guide to Bikeways of Chapel Hill and Carrboro” containing a map of bike-safe routes in the area and a list of bicycle safety tips. A bike helmet collection drive was conducted and the helmets donated to the local police department for distribution to area children.

A Guide to Bikeways of Chapel Hill and Carrboropdf icon

2001-2002

For the tenth anniversary of the Weiss Urban Livability Program, the fellows researched the history of the Weiss program. Interviews of past Weiss fellows and the Weisses themselves were conducted and the results compiled into a presentation in honor of the Weisses. All former fellows, and members of the community, were invited to attend the celebration, entitled, “A Decade and Counting: The Weiss Urban Livability Fellowship.”

2000-2001

A Case study of the recently constructed Southern Village community, a planned, “new urban” environment, using focus groups, surveys, and interviews, and the organization of a community forum, “Southern Village, From Planning to Perceptions” to disseminate information.

1999-2000

A project entitled, “Work and Home: An Urban Livability Study of the University as Community,” in which Fellows went out and spoke with members of the UNC-Chapel Hill campus community about issues of urban livability, public transportation, and community. The community members were also invited to document their experiences in photography that was later displayed in a public exhibition.

1998-1999

A project entitled, “Visualizing Urban Livability at the Turn of the Century,” that distributed disposable cameras to individuals living in a variety of neighborhoods, asking them to photograph aspects that made their neighborhoods unique and interesting places to live. The photos montages for each neighborhood were displayed in a public exhibition.

1997-1998

More than 60 Durham junior high school students were recruited to answer the question “What makes a Good Neighborhood?” using photographs to document the aspects of urban livability in the places they live. The students also discussed the difference that a college education can make. The photographs were displayed at the Durham County Library.

1996-1997

1995-1996

1994-1995

1993-1994