Barnard Alliance Fosters Neighborhood Involvement Through Morningside Lecture with Historic Preservationist Andrew S. Dolkart
If college students know more about their local communities, research suggests they are more likely to get--and stay--involved in them. As a result, a unique alliance of Barnard departments has joined together to sponsor the first in a series of annual talks called, "The Morningside Lecture."
Andrew S. Dolkart, professor of Historic Preservation at Columbia University, will give the first lecture on the neighborhood of Morningside Heights Wednesday, October 26, at 7:00 p.m. in the James Room of Barnard Hall. Representatives from local organizations will be on hand to provide additional information about community involvement. The free event is open to the public and the Barnard community.
The lecture was the collective idea of representatives from Barnard's New York City Civic Engagement Program (NYCCEP) --founded in 2003 to help Barnard use the city's resources in a systematic, thoughtful way, and to educate students to become active, engaged citizens and leaders of a global community--as well as Barnard's General Counsel Office, Public Affairs department, and the Department of Urban Studies.
"By bringing this lecture to Barnard, our hope is that the students will be more aware of the local socio-political issues of Morningside Heights," said Will Simpkins, Associate Director of the NYCCEP in the Office of Career Development. "We want to bring the Barnard community into the same room as our neighbors to discuss the issues and future of Morningside Heights."
Simpkins said he hopes the event will help foster a more active relationship between students, faculty and staff and residents of Morningside Heights, which is also one reason they selected Professor Dolkart to provide the first lecture. Dolkart's extensive background provides a valuable perspective on community involvement.
Dolkart, the James Marston Fitch Professor of Historic Preservation, is a graduate of Columbia's historic preservation program. He has been active in historic preservation in New York City for over 25 years, both as a staff member at the Landmarks Preservation Commission and as a freelance consultant. He has worked extensively with neighborhood groups on preservation efforts and has completed scores of National Register nominations, Landmark Commission designation reports, and historic resource surveys for environmental reviews. Dolkart has also written extensively about the architecture and development of New York, including the award-winning Morningside Heights: A History of Its Architecture and Development and the Guide to New York City Landmarks . In addition, He has curated exhibitions, is a board member of several local preservation groups, has been interviewed for many documentaries, and is well-known for his architectural walking tours of New York.
Continual updates on the Oct. 26 Morningside Lecture will be posted on www.barnard.edu/nyccep .
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