By Ali Ord - Alan Lytle
Lexington, KY – The UK Gaines Center for the Humanities is hosting Omar Blaik, former senior vice president of planning, design, and construction for the University of Pennsylvania. He's credited with improving relations between the school and neighboring West Philadelphia. Gaines Center Acting Director Lisa Broome Price says Blaik will offer his opinions on how Lexington, and UK, can grow together.
"We will need to think about space in a really meaningful way because the university certainly needs to grow but our geographic area is of course limited, so we will need to think carefully and creatively about that. I know that universities and cities will want to put their heads together so that they are truly working in partnerships as opposed to working against one another."
During a recent visit to Lexington, Blaik met with Mayor Jim Gray, area neighborhood representatives, and university officials. He's expected to share his thoughts, and take questions on Lexington's town and gown issues. Blaik's presentation gets under way Wednesday evening at 6 in the Lexington Public Library Theater.
The Gaines Center will host a follow-up panel discussion on university - community engagement models on Wednesday February 23rd at 6 p.m. in the W.T. Young Library Auditorium.
Both events are free and open to the public.