The Center for the Study of Social Issues was created in 1996 as part of the commitment of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to be an engaged institution as defined by the Kellogg Commission. The Center’s mission is to enhance the vitality of the community, as well as the research and instructional activities of the University, through interdisciplinary collaborative work that engages faculty and community partners. This paper briefly describes the elements of effective collaboration and how those elements contributed to the emergence of a successful partnership with the City of High Point, North Carolina. The potential of a university-community collaboration to benefit children and families has been evidenced through community-based initiatives such as a neighborhood outreach center, a youth violence reduction effort, and a program to enable at-risk youth to obtain a GED while learning a marketable skill.