Karen Thurber

Karen Thurber’s breadth and depth of commitment connecting WSU to

Ogden City has been remarkable over the last seven years. Her

knowledge of Ogden’s community organization and their needs has

helped facilitate the civic engagement of over 30 projects. Additionally,

she has been the Manager of Services for Homeless Families at Your

Community Connection, Development Director of Ogden Weber Applied

Technology College, and Senior Project Coordinator for Ogden City

Community and Economic Development where she managed the 10 year

Enterprise Community Initiative, School to Work Program, Operation

Weed and Seed, HUD Consolidated Planning Process, Fair Housing and

Sustainable Ogden Initiative.

East Central Neighborhood Land Use Study: (2003) Geography

Department: Upper division students undertook a lot by lot

evaluation of land use in this 80 block neighborhood, providing

current data and assisting the Ogden City IT Division to input the

correct data into its system. Students also developed creative

solutions to deteriorated sections of the neighborhood, presenting

them to the Citizen Advisory Committee. Result: Ogden City had

an updated land use data base and valuable recommendations to

help develop the City’s 2005-2010 East Central Revitalization Plan.

Community Benefit; More than 70 properties and vacant lots have

been redeveloped in the East Central area, including new

construction, renovation, infrastructure improvements and

enhanced public spaces.

Weed & Seed New Site Community Research Projects: (2000 & 2005) School of Social Sciences, Sociology Department.

Research Methods students, along with students from the Foreign Languages Department, designed surveys and administered

them, on-site, in two of Ogden’s highest crime neighborhoods. Result: 2000 – Ogden City received Weed and Seed

recognition status, including a $1.1 million grant over 5 years, leveraged by over $40 million in community investment. 2005 - A

comprehensive view of the level of resident concerns about crime and drugs. Community Benefit: The original Weed and Seed

Site remains largely crime-free, with increasing investment, especially along Jefferson Avenue. Ogden City used the results of

the second student to apply for a 2005 Department of Justice grant.

Fair Housing Awareness and

Education Research Project: (2004-

05) School of Social Sciences, Social

Work Department: This one-semester

project involved an entire class

researching the level of awareness and

understanding of federal and state Fair

Housing laws among residents, real

estate agents and housing providers.

Result: Ogden City used the findings to

develop an “Analysis of Impediments to

Fair Housing” in 2005 and obtain a large

federal grant to increase education,

particularly among Hispanic residents,

about their Fair Housing rights.

Community Benefit: As of February

2008, more than 5,000 residents have

directly learned about their fair housing

rights, avoiding exploitation and

discrimination.

Tip-a-Cop Program Evaluation / Re-branding Project: (2002-03)

School of Social Sciences, Psychology Department: Numerous

students were involved in this project for more than a year to evaluate

the effectiveness and perceptions of the anti-drug “Tip a Cop” program

in Ogden’s inner-city neighborhoods and to help the program “re-brand”

itself to be more effective. Result: A new, comprehensive media

campaign resulting in an increase in calls to the hotline and successful

investigations of over 600%. Community Benefit: Reduction in drug

related crime and an increased awareness among residents of Ogden’s

highly impacted East Central neighborhood

Nonprofit Conference Research

Project – 2001 – Goddard School of

Business / MBA Program: Two MBA

students developed and implemented a

study of nonprofit community within the

United Way of Northern Utah’s service

area. Result: A framework for

undertake nonprofit capacity building

training. Community Benefit: Annual

non-profit conferences held in 2004,

2005 and 2006, plus three smaller

training sessions with a total enrollment

of over 500.

“Karen’s brain is a database filled with

professors’ interests and community

needs. She is a master at getting people

together…students feel her enthusiasm

and become eager to collaborate.” --Alicia Giralt (Nominator)

Weber State University

Committed Community Partner

Utah Campus CompactA Sample of More than 30 Community Involvement

Projects 2001-2007