The capacity for direct engagement: case study of a neighborhood assistance center in a university-community partnership

Variations in capacity among neighborhood associations (NAs) may impede their ability to address resident needs. In many cities, neighborhood assistance centers (NACs) offer programs and services that help NAs build organizational capacity to achieve their objectives. As ambassadors of NA interests, NACs may aid in fostering direct engagement to extend the potential for community partnerships. Utilizing an exploratory case study approach, this research examines the role of a NAC in a university-community (U-C) partnership toward improving NA capacity in Omaha, Nebraska. The main finding of this investigation is that NACs, acting as intermediaries, may conciliate U-C partnerships that would otherwise be inaccessible or impracticable for individual NAs. Congruent with extant literature, the analysis describes a model of central themes for direct engagement and offers recommendations for U-C partnerships with NACs.