June  04 , 2026 

More than 300 leaders from across the South Bend–Elkhart region gathered at Notre Dame on June 2 for the 2026 President’s Community Leaders Breakfast. The event featured a panel discussion, "Building Bridges: Strengthening Our Community Through Partnerships," with University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan, Notre Dame Law School Dean G. Marcus Cole, and Kristin Valentino, director of the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic. Moderated by Tim Sexton, associate vice president for public affairs, the conversation explored how collaboration among community partners is driving progress across the region.

Notre Dame's new podcast, The Link, shines a spotlight on the people, partnerships, and projects connecting campus and the South Bend–Elkhart region. Hosted by Tim Sexton, associate vice president for public affairs at Notre Dame, the podcast will be released every other month, with episodes running 15–30 minutes, roughly the length of a walk along the trail. The first episode, “Let’s walk: The story behind the Link Trail,” looks at how the trail came together. Sexton is joined by Jeff Jarnecke of Visit South Bend Mishawaka and Jitin Kain of the City of South Bend to discuss the vision, planning, and collaboration that brought the project to life. Some of the music featured in the podcast is provided through a partnership with the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Notre Dame’s iNDustry Labs is helping strengthen the South Bend–Elkhart region by connecting local businesses with University expertise, student talent, and emerging technologies. Through initiatives focused on workforce development, digital transformation, and industry partnerships, iNDustry Labs is creating new opportunities for companies to innovate while helping students gain real-world experience. One of iNDustry Labs’ recent examples of collaboration is with Southwire’s local manufacturing site, based in Bremen, Indiana.

A new grant from the National Endowment for the Arts is helping bring Notre Dame students and community members together through printmaking, creativity, and shared storytelling. Through a partnership between Notre Dame's Institute for Social Concerns and the St. Peter Claver Catholic Worker, participants are exploring themes of justice, dignity, and belonging while creating artwork inspired by the lives and writings of Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. The project highlights how the arts can foster meaningful connections, amplify community voices, and strengthen the bonds between campus and the region. 

What began as a research project for a Notre Dame graduate student has evolved into a unique partnership between Notre Dame Dining and the Robinson Community Learning Center. By bringing together adult English language learners, dining staff, and students through shared meals and cultural exchange, the initiative has created opportunities for language practice, relationship-building, and deeper cross-cultural understanding. The project demonstrates how academic research can extend beyond the classroom to strengthen community connections and create meaningful learning experiences for everyone involved.

"Beyond ND" highlights ways the University of Notre Dame is engaged with, invested in, and committed to the region through partnerships with community businesses, government, educators, and organizations. The University's Office of Public Affairs produces this newsletter. Read more at publicaffairs.nd.edu.

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