The University Community Collaborative (UCC) and the College of Liberal Arts Office of Community Engagement recently celebrated the retirement of UCC’s founding executive director, Barbara Ferman.
Dr. Ferman joined the faculty of the Political Science Department at Temple in 1992 after earning her Ph.D. from Brandeis University and serving on the faculty at the Illinois Institute of Technology. An expert on urban politics, she authored several books on local governance, neighborhood politics, and education.
In 1997 Dr. Ferman founded the University Community Collaborative. Through its focus on youth empowerment and leadership development, UCC has reached hundreds of young people since its inception. Over the years Barbara raised more than $7 million in grant funds and donations to support this work.
“When I started UCC in 1997, I had no idea that it would be a 28-year journey. During that time, I was privileged to meet and collaborate with many amazing people and organizations who contributed to making it a remarkable journey,” said Dr. Ferman.
Through after school and summer programming, the UCC prepares and mobilizes high school and college-age youth to use their voices for social change: the organization’s long-term goals revolve around developing social justice leaders who will take their training into the nonprofit, public, and private sectors where they can influence what policies and decisions are made and how programs and services are delivered, with an eye towards what is fair and just for all individuals.
“To use the oft quoted cliché, ‘It takes a village,’ and I have been fortunate to be part of such a vital, energetic, and loving one. You have enriched my life in many ways. While I will no longer be the executive director of UCC, I will stay close, lending my support to this village in any way that I can.”
Following Dr. Ferman’s retirement, UCC will move to a new home in the College of Liberal Arts Office of Community Engagement, led by Director Heather Lewis-Weber. The incorporation of UCC into the College of Liberal Arts will ensure UCC’s long-term sustainability and reflects the college’s commitment to Community Engagement.
Reflecting on the transition, Heather Lewis-Weber said, “What Barbara has built from scratch over the past thirty years is nothing short of incredible. Her hustle, her drive, and her eye for talent has allowed this work to flourish and change countless lives. There are some big shoes to fill here, but thanks to her efforts, we’re going into the UCC’s next chapter with fresh energy and an incredible team. We’re excited to see what the future holds.”
Barbara has poured countless hours into building and strengthening UCC, and her legacy has left a lasting imprint on our community and the lives of so many individuals. While UCC’s work will continue, the impact of Barbara’s nearly three-decade commitment to the organization will surely be felt for many decades to come.
For more information on UCC, visit uccollab.org or email us at ucc@temple.edu
Please visit this webpage to donate to UCC.