The University District Community
Get Involved with the U District
Get involved with the University District by emailing the Carlson Center's U-District Liason, Shannon Smith, at advocate@u.washington.edu or email the University District Service Providers directly at: info@udsp.org. You can also learn more about young adult homelessness by registering for the UDSP Alliance Homelessness 101 & 201 trainings .
Learn more about the U District
The University of Washington is surrounded by a vibrant urban community that has changed dramatically over the last few decades. The historical University District community is home to a variety of business professionals by day, with a strong foundation of residents in single family homes as well as a large transitional population comprised of students and youth. The U District has a lively Farmers Market as well as a plethora of restaurants, shops, and arts and entertainment venues which create a city-wide draw for Seattle residents. The last few years have become increasingly dynamic as the University District continues to evolve. UW growing pains paired with a variety of social, political and economic struggles have served as a catalyst for renewed collaboration among University District groups and the UW.
Many University of Washington staff and faculty have worked with various community members and organizations to help ensure that the University District continues to thrive while maintaining a strong sense of community. The Carlson Center has made the University District one of its current and future priorities. The U District represents a tremendous opportunity for students to engage with their local community. Collaborations also provide opportunities for the U District to benefit from the resources and expertise that comes with the University of Washington. We believe that it is our responsibility as a member of the U District community to be responsive and increasingly involved in our own neighborhood. The Carlson Center has partnered with the University District Service Providers (UDSP) to create and develop the Community Liaisons program. In addition, the Carlson Center has assisted Community and Environmental Planning (CEP) with a variety of community projects, and increased the range of service learning opportunities in the U District.
