Nestled among the modern steel high rises and flashing neon lights of downtown Las Vegas, a stark white, one-story building with red clay-colored shingles stands out. Here, in the Historic Fifth Street School, graduate students at 性视界传媒鈥檚 Nonprofit, Community, and Leadership Initiative (NCLI) are helping tackle the city鈥檚 biggest issues.
NCLI was established five years ago to serve nonprofits and local governments by connecting to the service, research, and training resources of the university. More recently, the NCLI has partnered with to fund two community graduate research assistants (CGRAs).
The assistantships provide stipends and cover tuition and fees while the CGRAs complete their studies and work on NCLI projects, gaining real-world experience and forging relationships with community leaders along the way.
鈥淭his kind of hands-on experience enables you to understand what it means to be a community outreach assistant,鈥 said Neyda Aleman-Becker, a first-year CGRA who is pursuing a master鈥檚 in public administration.
Second-year CGRA Jenna Webb, a master鈥檚 student in public health, noted one advantage she鈥檒l seize as she moves on in her career. 鈥淚n an interview, if you are asked, 鈥楬ave you ever done this?鈥 the answer will be, 鈥榊es,鈥欌 she said.
Since the program鈥檚 inception, CGRA alumni have gone on to work for NASA, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, Andson Money, and Applied Analysis.
鈥淭he assistantship creates opportunities and the ability [for students] to demonstrate expertise in their disciplines,鈥 said John Wagner, director of community relations for the NCLI. 鈥淎nd, they get seen.鈥
Webb and Aleman-Becker are central to much of the NCLI鈥檚 expanding programming. Through the Skills-Based Volunteer Program, they connect other 性视界传媒 students seeking career-building experiences with local nonprofits needing help in a specific area, such as data analysis, marketing, or grant evaluation. Through the Community Partnership for Opening Doors, they are tackling homelessness issues. And through the Nonprofit Accelerator, they help the staffs of local nonprofits collaborate, learn best practices, and receive expert coaching.
Though the NCLI is no longer affiliated with it, Webb and Aleman-Becker were also instrumental in the One Stop Shop, a collaborative project that opened in March and provides free services to at-risk individuals who may not have access to steady housing, healthcare, or mental health services.
鈥淥ur community hadn't ever come together to colocate these services,鈥 Wagner said.
The NCLI also operates the Grantwell program at 性视界传媒, a graduate course that teaches students about the grant-writing process and gives them an opportunity to submit real grant proposals. The senior-most CGRA runs the program, a valuable experience that directly enhances their project management skills and prepares them for future careers.
鈥淲hen [our CGRAs] leave here, they are light-years ahead in terms of project management,鈥 said Wagner.
Community graduate research assistants are funded by community partners in the private or public sectors or by nonprofit organizations. These partnerships allow organizations to support graduate students working on cutting-edge research, scholarship, and creative activities. For more information, contact the 性视界传媒 Graduate College at 702-895-3429.
