January  15 , 2026 

Community partners are invited to participate in the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial, a six-month international arts festival led by Notre Dame’s Arts Initiative and rooted in collaboration across the region. The biennial is a call to explore interdependence through the arts and to build it together in practice. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to propose co-produced projects in partnership with Notre Dame or a local collaborator, with funding available up to $20,000, along with planning and promotional support. Applications are open now through February 16. Proposals are encouraged for ideas that bring people together and invite meaningful public engagement through the arts.

Each Wednesday afternoon at the Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC), students are welcomed by Buck, a certified therapy dog who has quickly become part of the after-school rhythm. The 5-year-old golden retriever now supports nearly 100 students participating in tutoring and enrichment programs. Staff say Buck’s steady presence has transformed the space, helping students slow down, regulate their emotions, and arrive at learning more centered and focused. With his gentle energy, Buck has become a simple but powerful source of comfort and connection for the RCLC community.

A new partnership among the University of Notre Dame, Northwestern University, and the Valinhos Foundation will expand access to mental health support for youth in St. Joseph County through a three-year initiative focused on brief, evidence-based care. Led locally by Notre Dame’s Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, the St. Joseph County Universal Wellness Project will train local providers and offer youth free, anonymous digital tools designed to help address mental health challenges and connect them to additional resources when needed.

Colfax Corner is a new downtown project that will transform the former South Bend Tribune building into a research and innovation hub designed to support high-skill jobs and long-term economic growth. The development will anchor the city’s Innovation District, creating modern space for collaboration, learning, and entrepreneurship while helping connect downtown South Bend more closely with the energy and talent coming from Notre Dame.

Students in Notre Dame’s Philanthropy and the Common Good course put learning into action in the fall semester, awarding $50,000 in grants to local nonprofits. The experiential course empowers students to study philanthropy by practicing it—researching community needs, evaluating proposals, and making real funding decisions that have immediate local impact. Recipients included Camp Kesem Notre Dame, Green Bridge Growers, A Rosie Place for Children, Hannah's House, and Corvilla.

Through a partnership between Notre Dame's English department and the Institute for Social Concerns, creative writing workshops were offered at the St. Joseph County Jail for the first time. Over two six-week series, 42 incarcerated men and women participated in workshops led by Notre Dame faculty and fellows, reading literature, writing poetry and memoir, and sharing their work in a supportive, collaborative setting. Following the successful pilot in the fall, the institute’s carceral engagement staff are planning another set of workshops in the jail this spring.

"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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