Author: Jes Beals

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Neighborhood IDEA Conference Call for Proposals

~ NOW ACCEPTING PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS! ~

Photo of Heather Williams presenting at the 2019 IDEA conferenceFor the last four years 130 citizens have gathered each March for the Neighborhood IDEA Conference.

The Muncie Action Plan, Shafer Leadership Academy and The Office of Community Engagement at Ball State University are partnering once again to support the development of neighborhood leaders.

Do you have an idea you would like to share at the conference or a topic you want to see discussed?

The fifth annual Neighborhood IDEA Conference is scheduled for March 7, 2020 at Ivy Tech’s recently renovated downtown Fisher Building. Over 100 of Muncie’s most active local leaders will gather to listen, learn and meet like-minded individuals to share ideas and best practices.

We are taking submissions through December 6, 2019

Submit a proposal!

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Partnering with the Whitely Community to Establish an Understanding of Community and Police Interactions

Student holding a survey

Students administered surveys to Whitely residents to develop an understanding of their overall perceptions of citizen-police interactions. They also interviewed representatives of the local police department to understand community engagement protocols. Students produced a manual that can be used to help citizens understand citizen and police engagement. A day-long forum was held highlighting the stories from The Facing Project, the findings of the survey, and face-to-face dialogues between the Whitely community and police/city officials.

Faculty Mentor: Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Department: Criminal Justice and Criminology
Community Partners: The Facing Project, Whitely Community Council
Students: Demetrius Bilbrey, Kurtis Bowsher, Logan Boyer, Dakota Carlton, Arica Crenshaw, Rachel Ginn, Eliot Gonzalez, Kyle Hyde, Devin Ice, Justin Martinez-Beckmann, Derek Meneely, Zachary Milam, Camryn Page, Melaja Prentiss, Billy Rollings, Dakota Stalbaum, Benjamin Tritch, Alivia Varvel, Jakhari Wilbert, Dana Woodworth

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Developing Healthy Neighborhoods

Many neighborhoods throughout Muncie are working to make the places they live great. With a little support and guidance, their efforts can also contribute toward making the places they live a little healthier. In this immersive learning project, students helped community members develop a Healthy Neighborhood designation program to promote better overall health and wellness in Muncie neighborhoods.

Materials: Play everywhere card pack | Play everywhere card pack# | Neighborhood Designation and Award Structure

Faculty Mentors: Jane Ellery
Departments: Kinesiology
Community Partner: Building Better Neighborhoods
Students: Alexandra Dremonas, Nicole Dubicki, Kylie Hagarty, Julia Price, Ashley Syferd

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Spring 2019 Ball State Immersive Learning Projects

Ball State faculty, students, and community partners worked together this spring on a number of immersive learning projects in and around Muncie.

Bringing in and Branching out: Recruiting Employees and Building Community Connections (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Peggy Fisher, Department of Communication Studies
Community Partner:  Open Door Health Services

The Children Facing Challenges Literature Project
Faculty Mentor:  Carolyn Hitchens, Department of Elementary Education
Community Partner:  Wes Del Elementary

Cultural Identities and Community Engagement
Faculty Mentor:  Ruby Cain, Department of Educational Studies
Community Partners: Human Library Fort Wayne, Muncie Public Library, Purdue University Fort Wayne, It is Well With My Soul, Whitely Community Council, Industry Neighborhood, Fort Wayne Urban League

DANCE! Muncie After School (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Melanie Swihart, Department of Theatre and Dance
Community Partner:  Muncie Community Schools

Developing Healthy Neighborhoods
Faculty Mentor: Jane Ellery, Department of Kinesiology
Community Partner:  Building Better Neighborhoods

Energy Assessment for Small Commercial Buildings in Muncie
Faculty Mentor:  Sherif Attallah, Department of Construction Management
Community Partner:  Muncie Chamber of Commerce

Healthy Moms, Healthy Communities:  Understanding Perceptions and Evaluating Maternal Opiod Treatment in Muncie
Faculty Mentor:  Caitlyn Leonardson-Placek, Department of Anthropology
Community Partner:  Suzanne Gresham Center

Immersive Learning Video Project (Second Harvest Food Bank)
Faculty Mentor:  Tim Pollard, Department of Telecommunications; Suzanne Plesha, Office of Immersive Learning
Community Partner:  Second Harvest Food Bank

Making Housing Advocates with the 8-12 Coalition
Faculty Mentor:  John West, Department of Urban Planning
Community Partner:  Building Better Neighborhoods, Habitat for Humanity

Muncie Neighborhood Visual Identity Design (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Shantanu Suman, School of Art
Community Partners:  Building Better Neighborhoods, Muncie Action Plan

Partnering with the Whitely Community to Establish an Understanding of Community and Police Interactions
Faculty Mentor:  Kiesha Warren-Gordon, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Community Partners:  The Facing Project, Whitely Community Council

Philosophy for High School Students (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Sarah Vitale, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Community Partner:  Muncie Central High School

Purple Cow: Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary Care for Children (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Stacey Allred, Department of Elementary Education
Community Partner:  Kidz Korner Child Care Center

Second Harvest School Pantries Study
Faculty Mentor: Melinda Messineo, Department of Sociology
Community Partner: Second Harvest Food Bank

Serious Game Design with Minnetrista (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Paul Gestwicki, Department of Computer Science
Community Partner:  Minnetrista Cultural Center

Tips and Tactics on Prevention of Human Trafficking
Faculty Mentor:  Ronald Dolon, Department of Social Work
Community Partner:  A Better Way

Unmasked: Recovery and Redemption
Faculty Mentor: Juli Metzger, Department of Journalism
Community Partner: Ball Brothers Foundation

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2019 IDEA Conference Resources

2019 IDEA Conference Resources

Take a look at some of the great presentations and materials from this year’s conference:

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School Safety, Data-Driven Evidence- Based Findings, and Recommendations

The project was three-pronged and involved conducting school security audits, mentoring at-risk students, and the observation of the work of School Resource Officers (SROs). Students generated items for an audit instrument, planned and carried out their mentoring activities, and provided observational analyses of their SRO time. The product for this project was a formal presentation to the community partners.

Faculty Mentors: Bryan Byers
Departments: Criminal Justice and Criminology
Community Partners: Muncie Community Schools, Burris Laboratory School
Students: TJ Brown, Elizabeth Cassady, Andrew Chapman, Joel Donovan, Paige Eacret, Daniel Etchison, Samantha Kridler, Lindsey Rainbolt, Mario Rodriguez