Town Gown Advisory Board update
Binghamton University convened its second Town Gown Advisory Board (TGAB) meeting Feb. 27, with 32 participants and a large contingent of community members in attendance. The meeting focused on shared ideas between town and gown and how various leaders can continue to work together to further common goals. There is a great deal shared between the University and the city of Binghamton as we have mutual commitments to positive community engagement from both our students and citizens, respect for all people and education for all in our community.
At the meeting, the TGAB highlighted the great work of the Broome County HEARS program and also acknowledged that the program would receive a National Award at the NASPA Conference in March. The joint effort Mentor Program between Binghamton University, the Mayor’s Office and the local school district schools was also highlighted. The joint effort between the Safe Streets organization in the community as well as the Neighborhood Heritage and Sustainability Project led by the University, the city and the community was also highlighted. Our new Binghamton Campus Community Coalition was also highlighted as it joined forces with the Underage Drinking/Dangerous Drinking sub-committee to address some of the issues associated with drinking alcohol.
All of the sub-committees – Underage Drinking/Dangerous Drinking, Transportation and Parking, Safety, Student Housing, and Promoting and Cultivating Positive Community Engagement – presented their ideas to the TGAB. After all ideas were heard, the sub-committees were instructed to now transform their ideas into formal proposals to be forwarded to the executive committee for review.
The TGAB is intent on working from a common core of values and expressing ideas to promote positive change and overall improvement at the University and in the community where both intersect. Through its meetings thus far, it has been made clear that the University is willing to help the city and the city is willing to help the University.
The next meeting will be scheduled for early May when all of the sub-committees will submit their formal proposals.