Dr. Gerald Benjamin
CRREO Director & Associate VP
for Regional Engagement
» Read more about Dr. Benjamin
About CRREO
CRREO conducts and publicizes research on regional topics; creation/direction of select institutes that focus on specific topics of regional interest; outreach to local governments, non-profits and for-profit organizations to initiate reforms and enhancements to best service their constituents; work to foster community collaboration.
One key aspect of CRREO’s mission is to bring key regional concerns to the attention of citizens and policymakers to support their informed discussion of the public policy problems facing the Hudson Valley. Quality information will help us to work together to develop our own, local solutions and advance the need for changes at the state level.
Extra! Extra! Read All About It... CRREO Featured in Legislative Gazette Insert!
In the April 30 edition of the Legislative Gazette, a weekly newspaper dedicated to covering state government politics, there was an insert highlighting SUNY New Paltz entitled "A Degree...and an Education". The insert highlights CRREO on pages 6 and 7, and describes some of the work we do. You can download the full insert by clicking Here, or by clicking on the image of the insert to the left.
Discussion Brief #9: Food Insecurity in Ulster County
NEW PALTZ – The Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach (CRREO) at SUNY New Paltz has released its ninth discussion brief, “Food Insecurity in Ulster County.”
As families in the Hudson Valley shop and prepare to gather for the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, SUNY New Paltz Professor Sue Books reports in a newly released CRREO discussion brief that a significant number of county residents are living in poverty, suffering economic hardship, or experiencing “food insecurity.”
Books, a professor in the Department of Secondary Education at SUNY New Paltz concludes, “We are living side-by-side in two worlds. Some of us shop for food regularly and conveniently in a range of venues, from full-service groceries to local farm stands. Others must obtain food wherever and however they can in a shadow system of food pantries, soup kitchens, and food distributions.”
CRREO Plays a Role in Redistricting
Every 10 years in the United States a census is taken. In New York census is used to redraw legislative district lines to reflect changes in population, and ideally demographics, in the state.
CRREO has been playing an active role in the redistricting process by creating alternatives to the plans proposed (and accepted) by the legislators themselves, as well as analyzing and commenting on the process and outcomes of redistricting throughout the state. Some of our work has been published in newspapers throughout New York State.
Click Here to see CRREO's Work on Redistricting in New York State
Regional Well-Being
New Regional Well-Being Website!
The Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach (CRREO) has released the first annual Regional Well-Being Report. The Regional Well-Being Project was launched by CRREO in 2008 to identify agreed-upon values and goals and to develop ways of measuring the Mid-Hudson Valley communities' broadly-accepted social, economic and environmental character, and allow the tracking of change through time. The research team and community advisory group assembled for this endeavor includes members of the CRREO staff, New Paltz faculty and students, and a diverse group of community leaders.
The first report on measuring Regional Well-Being, which includes a Regional Well-Being Index, was released on June 2, 2010. Regularly appearing follow-up reports will be central to the continuing work of CRREO. Through these efforts we seek to inform decision making in the region, focus its efforts, identify opportunities, highlight successes and bring attention where improvement is needed.
The project is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education, obtained with the assistance of New York’s United States Senator Charles Schumer.
Press:
- WAMC Public Radio, June 2, 2010:Study looks at the regional well-being of the Hudson Valley
- Poughkeepsie Journal, June 3, 2010: Mid-Hudson gets good rating for 'well-being'
- Times Herald-Record, June 3, 2010: Mid-Hudson region's strong, weak points scored
- Mid Hudson News, June 2, 2010: Mid-Hudson rates in middle of “Well-Being” index
- Daily Freeman, June 3, 2010: Regional Well-Being Report ranks Ulster tops, Dutchess No. 2
