Center for Urban Redevelopment and Education (FAU-CURE) is a state-authorized
applied research and community outreach center, housed in the College
of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs (CAUPA). Through the
visionary efforts of then-State Senator Matt Meadows and his Broward
legislative collegues, and with the spirited support of FAU President
Anthony J. Catanese and CAUPA Dean Rosalyn Carter, The Center was
established in 1993. Its mission is to collaborate with non-profit,
government, and grassroots civic organizations to help achieve the
Quality of Life goals of low- and moderate-income communities in Southeast
Florida, particularly in the university's four-county service area
(Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie).
The "motto" of FAU-CURE is "Empowering Communities One Resident
at a Time." FAU-CURE reaches out to communities and offers programs
and services "on site" in those communities, thus bringing the university
closer to the people. (Complete list
of Projects & Publications)
FAU-CURE's mission implies
collaborating with agencies and groups to enhance their capacity
for decision-making and problem-solving. The philosophical cornerstone
of FAU-CURE's programs is capacity building. Special emphasis is
placed on the capacity of non-profit organizations for cost-effective
program and services delivery. Capacity-building, through non-credit
training, community outreach and community-oriented research, is
the cornerstone of FAU-CURE's "modus operandi." Capacity-building
is aimed at providing individuals and organizations with the knowledge
and skills they need to analyze and understand the issues that need
to be addressed, and to make informed decisions leading to feasible
strategies/plans to address critical issues. Based on its mission
and strategy, FAU-CURE currently offers
specific programs in microenterprise, environmental leadership
training, homeownership, Fair Housing training and community economic
advocacy through the Minority Economic Think Tank (METT).
FAU-CURE
is staffed by full- and part-time professionals who demonstrate
a deep sense of dedication and commitment to sustainable change
in their service communities. FAU-CURE programs are funded by leveraging
public, private and philanthropic funds on an ongoing basis. Specific
FAU-CURE programs also benefit from the dedicated expertise of FAU
faculty such as Drs. Jay Mendell and Ron Nyhan of the Department
of Public Administration, Dr. Jaap Vos of the Department of Urbanand
Regional Planning, and Dr. Rupert Rhodd of the Department of Economics.
As we move forward in our service to our community, we continue
to count on our loyal partners and invite new, interested entities
to join us in raising the service and outreach performance bar in
our communities.
