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COPC is funded by the Office of University Partnerships from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. This grant is awarded to universities across the nation in an effort to connect university “intellectual talent” to the community in order to “tackle the complex socioeconomic issues facing the neighborhoods.” Link to University Partnerships HUD

UTEP’s participation through the Center for Civic Engagement in the COPC initiative revolves around mobilizing students and community partners for Housing and Economic development.

COPC at UTEP is composed of three initiatives:

One Stop Shop for Nonprofits
  This partnership facilitates collaborations among multiple partners to increase civic capacity building among nonprofits and public schools. Training and technical assistance are offered along with the participation and input of students through service-learning tasks and faculty participation.

Partners:
• Nonprofit Enterprise Center
• El Paso Collaborative for Economic and Community Development


Women’s Fund
  Partnership to disseminate findings of study about the women of El Paso and to develop a women’s fund for El Paso women.

Partners:
• Women’s Fund of El Paso
• Bowie Magnet School for International Business and Public Affairs


Policy-Performance- Virtual Think Tank
  Community-based think tank to link policy reports, connect policy-makers, activists, and academics to generate policy questions to strengthen leadership and nonprofit professionalism.

Partners:
• El Paso Planning Department


 
   
Policy Roundtables    


Policy roundtables are part of the Policy-Performance-Virtual Think Tank initiative. They are established in order to employ a trialogue, discussion among activists, policymakers, and academics, both students and faculty members, in an effort to discuss important issues concerning our community.

Policy Roundtables 2004
• Tax Abatements- March 17th, 2004
  Speakers:

Guillermo Martinez, Research and Evaluation Program Manager for Region 19-Head Start Program

Mathew McElroy, Associate Director of the Institute for Policy and Economic Development


 

• US Visit Program –  June 17, 2004
  Speakers:

Kathleen Walker, Partner of the Kemp Smith law firm’s Labor, Employment and Immigration Departments, Ms. Walker’s primary practice involves the areas of immigration, cross-border transactions and customs. A recipient of the National Advocacy Award for AILA, Ms. Walker testified before the House and Senate Immigration Subcommittees for AILA regarding the Homeland Security Bill.

Ouisa Davis, A graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Denver College of Law, Ouisa D. Davis is an attorney and the Executive Director of Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, Inc., an immigration legal aid clinic serving the indigent and low income immigrant community of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, Texas. Ms. Davis, also a guest columnist for the El Paso times, is a tireless, widely-known advocate for immigrant rights.


• The Reality and Impact of Nonprofits in El Paso- September 8, 2004
Do nonprofits have an impact in El Paso? Are there too many nonprofits? Are nonprofits competing? How difficult is it to bring money to El Paso?

  Speakers:

Frank Rene Lopez, Executive Director of the Paso del Norte Community Resource Center, Mr. Lopez is also an Assoc. Professor at Texas Tech University School of Law.  He has donated thousands of hours advising and volunteering with several community and non-profit organizations both in legal and accounting capacities for over 14 yrs.  He has played key roles in establishing various non profit organizations and most recently the Community Resource Center.

Mark Alvarado, Neighborhoods Liaison for the City of El Paso with over 13 years of public service, Mr. Alvarado has worked for many grassroots organizations, among which are the Boys and Girls Club of America and The YMCA. Mr. Alvarado has also volunteered for many non-profit service organizations within the scope of poverty, at-risk youth and health services. Community-organizing, grantwriting and program development sit at the heart of Mr. Alvarado’s service.


Upcoming in 2005

• March- The Lives of Women in El Paso



If you have a suggestion for our next Policy Roundtable, please write to: cce@utep.edu