In September 2003, Chancellor Tomlinson-Keasey presented a Pledge of Commitment to the communities of Merced County and the Central Valley to work together to promote and advance economic and educational opportunities for all people in our area.  The Community Partnership Alliance (CPA) of Merced is a group of business, civic, and nonprofit leaders organized to plan and act on the objectives presented in this Pledge.  For over a year now, leaders across Merced have been working to prepare our community to make the most of the existing and upcoming opportunities created by our new UC Campus, including special outreach to underserved people and communities.  The Chancellor's Pledge and the UC-Community collaboration represent unique and powerful models of how local communities and universities can work together toward common goals and community improvement.