City of Ramsey: Where the Heartland Begins

Report completed by students enrolled in JOUR 8202: Genration and Selection of Communication Strategies, taught by Steve Wehrenberg in spring 2018.This project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Despite Ramsey’s rich history, it is often confused with Ramsey County (located on the opposite side of the Twin Cities metro area) or the neighboring community of Anoka. Ramsey has a central brand, but it is often not used to its full potential. Students in JOUR 8202: Generation and Selection of Communication Strategies, taught by Steve Wehrenberg, worked with City staff and used various methods to gain resident feedback on the aspects of Ramsey valued most by residents. The students used this information to develop a unique branding strategy that will not only help people distinguish Ramsey from other communities, but will also attract new residents and businesses to the city. The students’ final report is available.This project was supported by the Resilient Communities Project (RCP), a program at the University of Minnesota whose mission is to connect communities in Minnesota with U of MN faculty and students to advance community resilience through collaborative, course-based projects. RCP is a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA). More information at http://www.rcp.umn.edu

Organics Recycling in the City of Ramsey

Report and survey results completed by students enrolled in PA 5712: Science To Action, taught by Steve Kelly in spring 2018.This project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The state of Minnesota is requiring municipalities to have a plan to divert 75% of waste from landfills by the year 2020. Many municipalities, including the City of Ramsey, are looking to organics recycling as a means to reach this goal. Students in PA 5712: Science to Action, taught by Steve Kelley, examined how organics recycling programs have been implemented in other cities. The students interviewed waste hauling companies, municipalities, and Ramsey residents to better understand how these programs work, and the willingness of Ramsey residents to participate in them. The group outlined business models the City of Ramsey could adopt that would facilitate organics recycling programs through the public, private, or non-profit sectors. The students’ final report and survey results are available.This project was supported by the Resilient Communities Project (RCP), a program at the University of Minnesota whose mission is to connect communities in Minnesota with U of MN faculty and students to advance community resilience through collaborative, course-based projects. RCP is a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA). More information at http://www.rcp.umn.edu