University Health Park Annual Food Event Sparks Community Connections
Lansing, Mich. –– The second annual University Health Park Street Food Connect event, held on Wednesday, May 10, was more than just a food truck festival. It was a vibrant display of placemaking in action, aimed at strengthening relationships and fostering collisions between individuals working in and around the University Health Park. Hosted by the Michigan State University Research Foundation (MSU Research Foundation) and McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital, the event drew a considerable crowd to celebrate National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week.
Jeff Smith, Director of Real Estate at the MSU Research Foundation, emphasized the event's significance, saying, "One of our objectives at the MSU Research Foundation is to facilitate connections between academia and industry. This event was an excellent example of how we can create a more connected community. By bringing together healthcare professionals, industry professionals, and university students, we're fostering collisions that promote innovation and growth."
The event showcased some of the best local food vendors, including M I Vegan, La Fajita, Ellison Brewery & Spirits, and Everything is Cheesecake, serving delicious plant-based cuisine, authentic Mexican street food, BBQ chicken, and a variety of cheesecake flavors.
Representatives from McLaren Greater Lansing expressed their appreciation for the event. "The past few years have been challenging for everyone, especially those in the healthcare industry," said Lynn Griffor, Chief Experience Officer at McLaren Greater Lansing. "This was an excellent opportunity to take a break, enjoy some good food, and celebrate all we've accomplished together."
In addition to MSU Research Foundation and McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital, other event partners included MSU Federal Credit Union and TechSmith.
Anum Mughal, Placemaking Manager at the MSU Research Foundation, expressed her support for the event, stating, "The purpose of this event is to create a buzzing community. This involves tapping into the resources in our own backyard, cultivating new social connections that strengthen relationships among people working in and around the University Health Park, and broadening its benefit to local small businesses."
The University Health Park is a modern healthcare and research campus developed by the MSU Research Foundation. It's located on 110 acres in Lansing, providing access to clinical services and serving as a hub for healthcare education and research. As part of the food truck event, the outside of the Alliance building was enhanced with brand-new picnic tables, built by the MSU Research Foundation facility team themselves. This initiative was aimed at making the area more inviting and encouraging people to connect with each other.
The University Health Park Street Food Connect event was open to the public, and attendees were encouraged to bring their friends, colleagues, and family. The event was a huge success, bringing individuals from different backgrounds together to appreciate each other's hard work and strengthen the sense of community in the University Health Park.
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About the Michigan State University Research Foundation
The Michigan State University Research Foundation (MSU Research Foundation) was established in 1973 as an independent nonprofit committed to the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies invented by MSU faculty, staff, and students. Today, the MSU Research Foundation is focused on enhancing research, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, and facilitating economic growth at MSU and across the state through its subsidiary organizations—Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures, and Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III—and select real estate holdings.
About McLaren Greater Lansing
McLaren Greater Lansing is a tertiary teaching facility with 240 acute care beds, located in Lansing, Michigan on the southern edge of the Michigan State University campus. McLaren Greater Lansing moved to the new hospital building located at the new healthcare campus in Spring 2022. Among its services are a Level III Trauma Center/Emergency Department, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute, comprehensive cardiac programs, medical/surgical units, and state-of-the-art women and children’s health services including a modern birthing center.