All posts in “University of Northern Iowa”

Open Letter to President Nook Regarding UNI Homecoming Parade

12 October 2021

 

To: President Mark Nook

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

 

Dear President Nook:

On behalf of the neighbors, businesses, and community on College Hill, the College Hill Partnership wants to convey our surprise and disappointment in relocating the UNI Homecoming Parade for 2021. 

Our organization was founded on the desires of previous Northern Iowa President, Ben Allen, to bring all stakeholders to the table to talk through issues and events that impact College Hill and the entire community.

The College Hill Partnership has fostered this partnership by participating in UNI Homecoming Committee and through events on College Hill during Homecoming week.  Another way the CHP has been a partner with UNI was to join the University in advocating for measures to keep the community safe during a pandemic. This was an effort many other organizations and leaders were unwilling to do. 

Building a solid and healthy community is not just important to our city; it is vital to the success of the University. We know the student experience is not limited to campus. With the Hill being a prominent gateway between UNI and the rest of Cedar Falls, we see the role of College Hill as essential when attracting and retaining students. The Hill needs support from UNI to continue our efforts to promote our city and community. The Homecoming parade is just one way our organizations have worked together in the past to achieve this goal.

We have heard from many community members, including business owners, neighbors, and other College Hill supporters, of their disappointment in the relocation of the parade.  This iconic event has been a valued tradition to the Hill. The parade and its long 100-year history have been an important symbol of the excellent working relationship between UNI and College Hill.  We hope in future years, the University will consider the importance of the parade to our neighborhood. We urge the University to return the UNI Homecoming Parade back to College Hill.

Regards,

 

Kathryn Sogard, Executive Director

College Hill Partnership

on Behalf of the Partnership Board Of  Directors

October 13, 2021 / Comments Off on Open Letter to President Nook Regarding UNI Homecoming Parade 1962

August 2021 College Hill Parking Update

Here is what you need to know:

1. Parking changes which include paid lots are effective immediately. 

2. Both Lots, 22nd Street West (L shaped lot on behind Sidecar Coffee, Chad’s Pizza, and includes diagonal parking in lot North of Octopus) and 22nd St Street East South (Behind The Other Place) will require payment to park (through Park Smarter App, or Kiosk)

3. If you are interested in purchasing a parking pass (this pass can only be used for 22nd Street East South Lot) you can do so here: https://www.thepermitportal.com/IPS

4.  There will still be “Free” Parking (15 minute, 1 hour, 2 hour, & day parking on the Hill).  This includes alternating street parking (which is all day), street parking (on College, W 22nd, & W 23rd, and parking lot parking.  Those lots are 22nd Street East North (2 hour), 23rd Street East (1 Hour), 20th Street East (2 Hour). 

Are you looking for more long term options?

Check out the Parking Permit Option for Lot 22nd Street East South. Parking Permits cost $35/month (as of 8/5/2021) and can be purchased by going to https://www.thepermitportal.com/. (Instructions on how to purchase are shown above.)

Or know that there will still be FREE (2+ Hour) street parking on the bordering streets of the Hill. We just encourage you to check signage before you park as many times there are alternating days.

To learn more about the pay by visit method & how to uses Park Smarter App:

Check out brochure above or head to https://smartcity.ipsgroup.com/cedarfalls/. To download the Park Smarter App head to the Apple Store, Google Play Store, or https://www.parksmarter.com/.

Remember if you are going to be using the Smart Park App, or Kiosk you will need to know:

  • Your license plate number
  • Enforcement of all parking on and near the Hill is enforced Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm
  • You can use pay stations or download the Park Smarter App to your smart device

For more information about parking system please check out https://smartcity.ipsgroup.com/cedarfalls/. Please note there have also been changes to the parking system in the Downtown District. For more information about parking changes there head to https://www.cedarfalls.com/1513/Downtown-Parking.

Have feedback or opinions on the new parking system? We’d love to hear them. Head to our feedback form (https://forms.gle/Ewar72Wfb7EevF37A) and submit either with our name or without to pass along your feedback to the College Hill Partnership Board of Directors and our partners at the City of Cedar Falls.

August 5, 2021 / Comments Off on August 2021 College Hill Parking Update 1142

Guest Blog: Illuminate Art & Light Festival Creative Mind, Taylor Hanson

Illuminate Art and Light Festival Creative Minds 

Guest Blog By: Grace McGovern

The Illuminate Art and Light Festival will give the public an opportunity to explore larger-than-life projections and view temporary installations. The Cedar Valley will be lit-up with inspiring, challenging, and thought-provoking creative projects created by artists right here in the Cedar Valley. But who are these incredibly talented artists, and what inspires them to create these challenging and astonishing creative projects? Well, let me introduce you to Monica Sanguino, Indonesia Fulcher, and Taylor Hanson, three of our extremely talented artists working with the Illuminate Art and Light Festival Projects Team to bring these inspiring and thought-provoking creative projects right to your backyard on College Hill.

Taylor Hanson

Taylor Hanson is from Adel, IA. As long as she can remember, creating art has always been important to her. She has had many people in her life that have impacted and influenced her art practice.

Previously in Taylor’s work she has only used software, methods, and technology that she has experience with or felt like she had a firm handle on. This festival has given her the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and help make someone of her wild, out of reach ideas come to life.

“Generally I hope that my work can become larger than myself, where it connects to a greater human experience, creates sensations of its own, or reflects each individual’s narrative that they bring to the viewing experience.”

Taylor has been working with the projects team to create an inspiring project for the Illuminate Art and Light Festival. She has been interested in the ways that technology and how her art practice will come together for this event. She is thinking a lot about new ways she can use projected light and how to get viewers involved in her work.

“Making art has become important to my lifestyle. There are discoveries and failures that come through making the process that are important to my growth as an individual. The lessons that I have learned about myself and about various processes are very personal to me and should go without the viewers ever knowing.” – Taylor Hanson

You can find Taylor’s work at the Illuminate Art and Light Festival on College Hill near the Center for Social and Behavioral Research building.

The Illuminate Art and Light Festival will be held free to the public on May 14 and 15 between 9:30-11:00pm on College Hill. Learn more about the event and its artists at hiloartslab.com. Can’t wait to see you there!

Grace J. McGovern , is a student at the University of Northern Iowa with an IDS of Advertising and Visualization.  She is also in Pi Sigma Epsilon and serves as their VP of PR. 

May 13, 2021 / Comments Off on Guest Blog: Illuminate Art & Light Festival Creative Mind, Taylor Hanson 1008

Guest Blog: Illuminate Art & Light Festival Press Release

Inaugural Illuminate Art and Light Festival 

College Hill Partnership, Hi-Lo Arts Lab, Interactive Digital Studies at the University of Northern Iowa, & the Hearst Center for the Arts 

May 14 & 15 9:00-11:00pm Cedar Falls, IA – College Hill Area hiloartslab@gmail.com 

April 19, 2021 – The first ever Cedar Valley Illuminate Art and Light Festival will be held May 14 and 15 between 9:00-11:00pm. This fun, creative event will be happening right in your backyard in Cedar Falls around College Hill, the University, and the Hearst Center. 

In 1643 Lyon, France was stuck by the plague. The town promised that if they were spared, they would pay tribute, and ever since, on December 8th, a procession makes its way to the Basilica of Fouriére to light candles and give offerings. As we ourselves are in the midst of a deadly pandemic, we are in need of a guiding light out, something to look forward to, and to be reminded of the beauty and magic that make life so wonderful. 

The Illuminate Art and Light Festival will give the public an opportunity to explore larger-than-life projections and view temporary installations. The Cedar Valley will be lit-up with inspiring, challenging, and thought-provoking creative projects. This festival is organized as a collaboration between the Interactive Digital Studies Practicum at the University of Northern Iowa and Hi-Lo Arts Lab and is sponsored by the College Hill Partnership. 

“Projection events are common across the country but haven’t yet made their way to the Cedar Valley until now,” said Dana Potter, the founder of Hi-Lo Arts Lab and professor at the University of Northern Iowa. “We may be a little late to the game, but we are kicking it up a notch with advanced technologies. Responsive audio/visual installations, dynamic video poetry, and interactive live-video feeds. Most excitingly, everything is made by people who live and work in the area. We are showcasing work for us, by us as we need community now more than ever.” 

This event will be free to the public. We will be following social distancing guidelines and sanitation stations will be onsite.

About Guest Blogger: Grace J. McGovern , is a student at the University of Northern Iowa with an IDS of Advertising and Visualization.  She is also in Pi Sigma Epsilon and serves as their VP of PR. 

May 6, 2021 / Comments Off on Guest Blog: Illuminate Art & Light Festival Press Release 1511

Guest Blog: Illuminate Art & Light Festival Creative Mind,  Indonesia Fulcher

Illuminate Art and Light Festival Creative Minds 

Guest Blog By: Grace McGovern

The Illuminate Art and Light Festival will give the public an opportunity to explore larger-than-life projections and view temporary installations. The Cedar Valley will be lit-up with inspiring, challenging, and thought-provoking creative projects created by artists right here in the Cedar Valley. But who are these incredibly talented artists, and what inspires them to create these challenging and astonishing creative projects? Well, let me introduce you to Monica Sanguino, Indonesia Fulcher, and Taylor Hanson, three of our extremely talented artists working with the Illuminate Art and Light Festival Projects Team to bring these inspiring and thought-provoking creative projects right to your backyard on College Hill.

Indonesia Fulcher

Indonesia Fulcher was born and raised in California, but has been living in Waterloo, IA for the past 14 years. Ever since she was a kid, she loved drawing and painting, however, she did not start taking art seriously until she was in high school.

“My work is my way of speaking.” Said Indonesia. “I am always thinking about my past and how that can affect my future. I like to provoke emotions in a way like being overwhelmed, nervous, excited.” Her art reflects who she is and what is around her. It is inspired by her experience through life, but also from other perspectives. “Just recently I have noticed that my work has started conversations. Not on a serious matter, but more of their own stories; such as ‘This reminds me of my grandfather’.”

When asked who inspires her, she could not just pick one person. Her family has had a big impact on her art, but so have her professors and employers.

Indonesia has been working with the projects team in creating a project for the festival. She has been experimenting with the projects and knows that she wants to include some of her printmaking at the festival, along with what she has learned at workshops with the projects team.

“My art is really personal to me. Coming from a very scrambled childhood, this gave me a way to use those memories and move forward, focusing on the next generation in the family. I do try to find some ironic humor when I am making work. My art gives me the opportunity to learn; about myself, others, objects, and the space we live in.” – Indo Fulcher

You can find Indonesia’s work at the Illuminate Art and Light Festival right off of College Hill by Mohair Pear.

The Illuminate Art and Light Festival will be held free to the public on May 14 and 15 between 9:30-11:00pm on College Hill. Learn more about the event and its artists at hiloartslab.com. Can’t wait to see you there!

Stay tuned for our next guest blog to learn more about artists Indonesia Fulcher, and Taylor Hanson.

Grace J. McGovern , is a student at the University of Northern Iowa with an IDS of Advertising and Visualization.  She is also in Pi Sigma Epsilon and serves as their VP of PR. 

April 26, 2021 / Comments Off on Guest Blog: Illuminate Art & Light Festival Creative Mind,  Indonesia Fulcher 827

Guest Blog: Illuminate Art & Light Festival Creative Mind, Monica Sanguino

Illuminate Art and Light Festival Creative Minds 

Guest Blog By: Grace McGovern

The Illuminate Art and Light Festival will give the public an opportunity to explore larger-than-life projections and view temporary installations. The Cedar Valley will be lit-up with inspiring, challenging, and thought-provoking creative projects created by artists right here in the Cedar Valley. But who are these incredibly talented artists, and what inspires them to create these challenging and astonishing creative projects? Well, let me introduce you to Monica Sanguino, Indonesia Fulcher, and Taylor Hanson, three of our extremely talented artists working with the Illuminate Art and Light Festival Projects Team to bring these inspiring and thought-provoking creative projects right to your backyard on College Hill.

Monica Sanguino

Monica Sanguino was born in Mississippi and moved to Waterloo, IA at a very young age. She has been creating since she was young. “A vivid childhood memory I have is drawing all over the driveway with chalk.” Said Monica. “I created all of these images of people I knew as flowers for hours.”

At the beginning of college, Monica focused on drawing and painting, but wanted to expand her creative portrayal. She moved into performance arts and video by creating visuals using her body and the earth through video. She fell in love with creative freedom. Most recently, she has been working in soft sculptures that emulate the female body. Her main purpose behind these performances is understanding the body, while also including bigger soft sculptures as an appendage.

“I want my work to convey my own experience as a woman, while also taking up space in the earth.”

Monica has been working with the Projects Team to create an incredible creative experience for the Illuminate Art and Light Festival. She has mainly been experimenting with new media that includes different programs from a more technical aspect. Monica said, “It’s been a learning experience that I am excited to incorporate into my own style of work for this festival.” She is grateful to have the projects team bring some of her ideas to light, while also helping with the technological side of things.

“My artwork means everything to me. Art has been an important part of what makes me a sane person. It’s therapeutic, exciting, sad, disappointing, happy, and so much more. I’ve learned about myself through my art practice, while also changing the way I view the world entirely.” – Monica Sanguino

You can find Monica’s work at the Illuminate Art and Light Festival off of 23rd St. behind the UNI Bookstore.

The Illuminate Art and Light Festival will be held free to the public on May 14 and 15 between 9:30-11:00pm on College Hill. Learn more about the event and its artists at hiloartslab.com. Can’t wait to see you there!

Stay tuned for our next guest blog to learn more about artists Indonesia Fulcher, and Taylor Hanson.

Grace J. McGovern , is a student at the University of Northern Iowa with an IDS of Advertising and Visualization.  She is also in Pi Sigma Epsilon and serves as their VP of PR. 

April 26, 2021 / Comments Off on Guest Blog: Illuminate Art & Light Festival Creative Mind, Monica Sanguino 1181

OUR CEDAR FALLS IMAGINE COLLEGE HILL – Virtual Design Charrette Oct 3rd-8th

 

We hope you will join us for Imagine College Hill Charrette Week Oct 3rd – 8th.

 

What is the Virtual Design Charrette?

A virtual community design charrette focuses on the College Hill area and surrounding neighborhoods. Events will take place on-line, beginning with a Hands-On Visioning session on Saturday morning and wrapping-up with a Work-in Progress presentation the following week.

There will be several other opportunities for public involvement via the web, including daily studio updates, topical presentations, questions and surveys, and opportunities to virtually “drop-in” to the studio to talk with members of the design team. All are encouraged to participate. This effort will lead to a new College Hill Vision Plan, followed by updates to the zoning code for the area.

How Do I Participate?

Check https://ourcedarfalls.com/ for more details and the weblink for each virtual activity.

Important Dates:

  • October 3: 9:00 am – 11:00 am. The week will start with a virtual Hands-on Community Design Workshop on Saturday morning. Participate from the comfort of your own home (or any other location you choose with an internet connection!) City residents will gather virtually to share their ideas about the future of College Hill. The workshop will include on-line facilitated small group discussions. People will share their aspirations for the future — using words and images to discuss topics like urban design; walkability; character and scale of new buildings; areas for change; and areas for protection. Facebook EVENT – With Zoom Information
  • October 5: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm; October 7, Noon – 1:00 pm. Virtual Design Studio. “Drop” by at scheduled times to chat with the design team!! The design team will work remotely all week, building on the ideas from the Hands-On Community Design Workshop, exploring and testing options, getting feedback, and creating drawings and visualizations to help us imagine the future of College Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. The studio will be “open” at several times during the week and you are welcome to “stop by” and ask questions about the teams work.  October 5th Facebook Event – With Zoom Information, October 7th Facebook Event – With Zoom Information
  • October 14: 5:30 pm. Wednesday evening, Charrette Week activities will conclude with a “Work-in-Progress” presentation during the Planning Commission meeting. The design team will share the preliminary work on the College Hill Vision Plan. Facebook Event- With Zoom Information

Why is this important?

 

Because you want…

  • a vibrant neighborhood center that provides a wide variety of goods, services, and activities for students and the larger community;
  • the edges of College Hill to transition to your neighborhoods in a positive way;
  • walkable neighborhoods with a variety of housing types for people of all ages;
  • your children to inherit a Cedar Falls that is a great place to live, work, and play;
  • a community that is designed to manage the growth pressures of today and tomorrow,
  • a chance to express your opinions on College Hill and future developments.
 
We hope you will join us for this exciting event to help shape the future of College Hill.  Again, for more details head over to https://ourcedarfalls.com/. And if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at collegehillpartnership@gmail.com.
September 29, 2020 / 1 7627

Guest Blog: UNI Fraternity & Sorority Life

FSL Overview:
Fraternity & Sorority life provides UNI students with meaningful student engagement experiences, develops leadership skills and contributes to student learning. The Greek community promotes living by the four pillars which untie all Greek-letter organizations: Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Friendship.
 
We are seeking leaders, doers and creators to join our organizations. If that’s you or you know of someone, complete an interest or referral form at bit.ly/fslatuni or register for recruitment!
 
Check out our promotional video: https://youtu.be/hAWNfyc03q0
 
For more information about UNI Fraternity & Sorority Life:
 
Instagram @UNIFSL (instagram.com/unifsl)
Facebook @UNIFSL (facebook.com/unifsl)
 
Heading to UNI this Fall?  Check out the UNIFSL Quick Guide to life in Cedar Falls (check out the highlighted businesses on College Hill).

We love having guest bloggers to highlight elements of our community & neighborhood.  Our friends at UNI Fraternity and Sorority Life provided us with some information about their programming and highlighted some College Hill Businesses.  Big thank you to Taberie Van Boening for this information. If you would like to be a guest blogger (please reach out to us at collegehillpartnership@gmail.com)
August 12, 2020 / Comments Off on Guest Blog: UNI Fraternity & Sorority Life 2820

College Hill COVID-19 Update

You Asked & We Answered!

We have been working hard to get a DATABASE (CLICK HERE) out to you College Hill LOVERS. This information will help you support your favorite College Hill Businesses during this time.  We know this ever changing situation for you and for College Hill Businesses and we want to help you through it.

We are going to be working to update this DATABASE (CLICK HERE) on an as needed basis to make sure you know what is happening on College Hill. Because this is an ever changing situation we have chosen to use Google Docs to be able to make changes promptly (we know it isn’t the prettiest). We realize Google-Docs isn’t for everyone.  If you would like updated pdfs sent to your email just below contact us at collegehillpartnership@gmail.com and we would be happy to get updates as soon as we can!

Wait There Is More…

We know that if you love College Hill you love our community.  So we wanted to provide you with additional form of links to community sites.  These sites have updated information regarding COVID-19 and our community.  Form located HERE.

A big THANK YOU all of our community.  You have come together to support your neighbors, friends, and all of us on College Hill. And for that we want to say thank you. It is so awesome to see the amazing community we have here in the Cedar Valley.

COLLEGE HILL BUSINESSES- If you need information updated on this database please email collegehillpartnership@gmail.com so we can get them updated asap. We hope to help you serve your customers, clients and community!

March 22, 2020 / Comments Off on College Hill COVID-19 Update 1538

41st Annual College Hill Arts Festival — June 21-22nd

41st Annual College Hill Arts Festival

Friday, June 21st & Saturday, June 22nd

Head to the Hill for the 41st Annual College Hill Arts Festival on the corner of College Street and West 23rd Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Friday, June 21st and Saturday, June 22nd view artwork from 75 Artists.  Artists come from far and wide to display their ceramics, fibers, glassware, graphics, jewelry, paintings,  sculptures, and more.  Special musical performances during the entire festival.

Stay On the Hill

Local favorite La Calle Food Truck will be present along with many other local food vendors, and community clubs serving delicious foods.  Make a day out of heading up to the Hill and enjoy everything from a cup of Sidecar Coffee or a donut from Icon Donuts in the morning to all of the nightlife College Hill has to offer.

Check out the amazing selection of beers at our local bars such as Octopus, The Library, and Social House.  Want to rest your feet?  And you can take a break and grab something to eat in the newly rennovated Other Place or grab a smoothie to go at the Smoothie Bar, The Shakery or looking for something else sweet check out Insomnia Cookies.

Award Winning Festival

“The College Hill Arts Festival has been named to Sunshine Artist magazine’s list of ‘100 Best Fine Arts & Design Shows’ in the United States for nearly the last decade. Gary Kelley’s Festival posters have won many National contests and awards. In addition, the College Hill Arts Festival was named the “2006 Event of the Year” by the Cedar Valley Tourism Bureaus.”

More Details

For more information including all artists attending please head to the College Hill Arts Festival’s Website.

We hope to see you at the 41st Annual College Hill Arts Festival June 21th-22nd.

Times for CHAF:

  • June 21st, 12-8 pm
  • June 22nd: 10-5 pm

Head to the College Hill Arts Festival no ticket required.  Parking around College Hill is free.  Handicapped parking is located in UNI lot East of Bartlett Hall near the food vendors at the Festival.

May 16, 2019 / Comments Off on 41st Annual College Hill Arts Festival — June 21-22nd 3519