Our History

The Fitz Center for Leadership in Community builds on a strong history of leadership, partnerships, and shared investment in the power of community at the University of Dayton. Even before the Fitz Center’s establishment in 2002, the University of Dayton demonstrated a strong history of community-focused collaboration.

1965

Campus Ministry Service Clubs and the University of Dayton Summer Appalachia
Program (UDSAP) formed.

1974

Strategies for Responsible Development established. Strategies for Responsible Development continued through 1997.

1985

CityLinks Neighborhood Conference created to connect neighborhood leaders.

1989/1990

Service breakout trips and plunges and CLASP Community Leadership and Service began. CLASP Community Leadership and Service continued through 1995.

1994

Rubicon House and SWEAT, Inc. AmeriCorps program began. SWEAT, Inc. AmeriCorps program continued through 2001.

1995-1997

Center for Social Concern, Leaders in Building Community Course (LBC), and INCLUDE
established.

2000

Genesis Project serving the Brown Street Neighborhood and the Program for Christian Leadership (PCL) started; Center for Family and Community Research was formed in 2000 from a combination of the Center for the Study of Family Development and the Social Science Research Center.

2001

ETHOS program for Engineering Students developed.

2002

Fitz Center for Leadership in Community established.

2004-2005

DECA, Semester of Service Program, and Neighborhood School Centers began.

2005-2006

Dayton Civic Scholars, Rivers Institute and River Stewards started.

2008

River Summit and Graduate Community Fellows developed. Graduate Community Fellows continued through 2012.

2009

Service Learning Strategic Plan final report written and REAL Dayton delivered.

2010

Ohio’s Great Corridor Association formed.

2011

Community Asset Bus Tours began; UD received the President’s Honor Roll for  Community Services for the first time.

2012

Civic Engagement in the Marianist Tradition Workshop held.

2013

RiverMobile introduced to educate children on the aquifer and Miami Valley watershed.

2014

YESS AmeriCorps program and Community Partnership Interns developed.

2015

University receives Carnegie Community Engagement Classification; Hanley Sustainability Institute and Urban Farm Initiative begin; Federal Work Study Community Interns awarded.

2016

New Partnership on Health and Community Well Being and Fitz Center for Leadership in Community Strategic Plan created; Dayton Corps/AmeriCorps grant with the City of Dayton begins.

2017

University for the common good strategic vision released.

2018

Neighborhood School Centers strategic plan process underway.