COVID-19 has affected the way we all go about daily life, and the leadership team at The Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) was no exception. 

However, Director Ellen Szarleta and Assistant Director Amanda Smith forged onward, continuing to foster excellent community programs.

"We've actually had more interest from folks who are out of the area participating," Smith said of CURE's Senior University program. "Folks who have been on our mailing list that moved out of the region…now they're participating again because they can do it via Zoom." 

In fact, the restrictions as a result of the pandemic have increased participation across all CURE programs. Community members young and old are taking advantage of virtual programs. What used to be a program attended by 20 people now has an attendance of more than 140 participants. 

CURE's mission is to continue to make such programs accessible, not just to university students and faculty, but to the Northwest Indiana community as a whole. To that goal, the team at CURE has utilized YouTube, Facebook, and partnerships throughout the community to get more eyes on their programs and those they support. 

"CURE is the vehicle for fostering community-university partnerships," Szarleta said. Over the years, the organization has cultivated numerous programs in addition to Senior University, including a community garden and an archive of community engagement activities, known as Collaboratory.

Although Collaboratory showcases many of CURE's programs and activities, it is dedicated to much more than that. "[Activities in Collaboratory] aren't all just CURE activities," Szarleta stressed. "Those are activities that other units on campus are also doing."

Szarleta and Smith both identify Collaboratory as one of CURE's most significant milestones. However, this archive is far from the only landmark in CURE's history. 

"We were part of the first cohort group of universities across the country to actually participate in an initiative that is focused on facilitating universities' work as anchors in their community," Szarleta said.

They said Collaboratory is a major part of facilitating this work. "One [objective] is to share the work that the community and the university are doing together," Szarleta said. 

CURE has had lots of success in the present day, despite COVID-19 throwing a wrench in the original plans. But rather than get caught up in that success, Szarleta and Smith are still looking to the future.

Senior University and Adult Education courses are in the works for January 2021, as are numerous studies concerning regional bike trail development and the effectiveness of town halls.

But more than anything, the CURE team looks forward to fostering a greater sense of partnership between their organization and the community. "Think of us as a resource, not just for the campus, but for the entire community," Szarleta said. 

The core of Szarleta and Smith's work is collaboration, engagement, and above all else, community participation. "If [a project] resonates with the community, I want them to call us," Szarleta added.

At the end of the day, CURE is more than just an outreach program. The organization is dedicated to not only raising awareness of community issues, but promoting other projects designed to make Northwest Indiana a better place. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, CURE has turned lemons into lemonade.

An All-Inclusive Archive of Community Outreach Collaboratory is more than just a listing of CURE's accomplishments. Rather, it shows the many successful projects undertaken by university faculty, students, and Northwest Indiana community members. Szarleta said Collaboratory is about promoting what the community is doing and providing them with resources to do it successfully.  Projects associated with health and wellness, education, economic development, and more can all be accessed through Collaboratory. "We want to encourage people to use it to find community projects they can be involved in," said Szarleta. Promoting Lifelong Learning in Northwest Indiana Technology, society, and the workforce is ever-changing. With more advancement comes a greater need for lifelong learning. CURE strives to answer that call. Between Senior University and a plethora of Adult Education programs, there are always opportunities to expand one's horizons. Registration is currently underway for programs that begin in January. Szarleta said CURE designed its programs as a response to a regional need for workforce development and career preparation. As the need arises for particular training, CURE strives to be a convenient solution for working adults.  Retirees won't miss out on educational programs either. Through Senior University, participants can learn more about emerging technology, setting up an email account, and much more. "The mission is to provide educational, social, and engaged learning opportunities to seniors," Smith said.