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.
Communicating Student Research at SUNY New Paltz to State and Local Elected Officials
by Maureen Marrow and Kt Tobin-Flusser, published in The Council for Undergraduate Research Quarterly, Volume 33 Number 2, Winter 2012.
" The Wisconsin Idea " of bringing university resources to bear in support of communities has long been a part of the public university mission (McCarthy 1912). As such, our elected leaders need to understand this important function of universities. These political leaders also often hold the purse strings and can influence the amount of funding for undergraduate research programs. This session will focus on ways that both public and private colleges can increase awareness about and engagement with undergraduate research among elected officials. Panelists will provide concrete examples of how students can connect with legislators by presenting at state capitols, how student research has informed and impacted state legislation, and how undergraduates can work collaboratively with elected leaders at the local level."
Download the Article Here
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.
Local Government Leadership Institute - Leading the Way: Changing Course to Avoid Your Own Fiscal Cliff
June 19, 2013 | Student Union Building | SUNY New Paltz
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli in partnership with CRREO
The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) will discuss the current state of local governments, the new fiscal stress monitoring system and present the initial fiscal stress scores for local governments with fiscal years that ended on December 31, 2012 providing participants with OSC's insights into the choices and factors that contribute to fiscal stress and present new products and tools to assist local officials, including a new fiscal stress self assessment tool. Panelists will also share vision and strategies for coping with fiscal stress and focus on local actions that can help alleviate the strain.
Register at http://wwe1.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/lgli/2013/newpaltz/registration1.cfm
Cost: This event is free and participants will be provided a locally-sourced breakfast, lunch, & refreshments.
More about the Local Government Leadership Institute.
June 13 - 14, 2013: EPA Region 9 Leadership Workshops for Local Water Systems
(First Day: 9AM-5PM, Second Day: 9AM-12PM, College Terrace | SUNY New Paltz)
Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) in partnership with CRREO
This one and a half day workshop will:
• Introduce a decision-making process to justify conclusions and recommendations,
• Provide the skills to understand and better manage interactions with staff, board, or community,
• Introduce tools to help reduce conflict and plan for the future,
• Improve abilities to turn dry numbers into a compelling story and message that will motivate audiences, and
• Help create the key elements of an effective outreach plan to build the story and take it to the community.
Scott Cuppett, Hudson River Estuary Program will be the June 13 lunchtime speaker, "Regional Watershed Management Approaches in the Hudson River Estuary."
Audience: This training is for drinking water systems serving 10,000 or fewer customers, water system managers, municipal decision makers, elected officials, town managers, and mayors. Participants may be able to obtain 9.5 hours of continuing education, as well as DOH training hours. Certificates of completion are available upon request.
For more information and registration visit www.efcnetwork.org/upcoming
To download the brochure, CLICK HERE.
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
