Category: Projects

Community-neighborhood projects

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Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders: Character and Leadership Devlopment at the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie

At the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie, leadership and character development are paramount. This immersive learning project put this important program in to action through developing a leadership curriculum for the club teens. This program is comprised of five session including self-awareness, teamwork, conflict management, social media presence, and goals and values. Through interactive learning experiences, the content is tied in to leadership development as it relates to the club members. The teens will also complete pre and post-tests to determine effectiveness of the program. The ultimate goal is to have this content become part of the Boys & Girls Club of America development data base.

Faculty Mentor: Peggy Fisher
Department: Communication Studies
Community Partner: Boys & Girls Club of Muncie
Students: Jasmine Cash, Margaret Ernst, Jacob Griffin, Allison Grime, Meranda Herbert-Reich, Robert Higgins, Oana Nae, Lea Newman, Siduri Purnell, Samantha Starcher

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Assessing Heat Leaks in the 8twelve Target District

Getting heat leaks information of a building is critical in revitalizing the 8twelve target area in Muncie. Traditionally this information is obtained inside the building by a trained thermographer using thermal cameras, which is time consuming and costly. In this project, students from Ball State University obtained thermal infrared (TIR) images from outside without disturbing homeowners during the winter season by using FLIR ONE units attached to students’ own smart phones. These TIR images were integrated with existing online GIS maps to provide both homeowners and the public the heat leaks information of buildings in the target neighborhood of 8twelve coalition.

Faculty Mentor: Jason Yang
Department: Geography
Community Partner: Muncie 8twelve Coalition, ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Students: Austin Berry, Cody Blevins, Elizabeth Carpenter, Alex Darland, Drew Duncan, James Foster, Garrett Fuelling, Mitchell Grime, Olivia Jesse, Kyle Kedra, James Longwith, Kyle Marsh, Tim Martin, Clara Neurauter, Caitlin Stankovich

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Advancing ecoREHAB Through Story and Strategy

Having emerged from a 2009 immersive studio within Ball State’s architecture program, ecoREHAB has long supported real-world learning for students through projects to transform abandoned properties into inviting, affordable homes. As the Muncie nonprofit seeks to expand its reach and reputation, students within Ball State’s College of Communications, Information, and Media developed an integrated, measurable marketing and communications strategy; gathered and shared compelling stories about the organization’s impact through various approaches and platforms; developed a logo and marketing pieces; and enhanced the organization’s web and social media presence and visual identity.

Faculty Mentors: Kate Elliott, Paul Gestwicki
Departments: Journalism, Computer Science
Community Partner: ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Students: Claire Bauserman, Liz DiGennaro, Sarah Foster, Casey Fox, Shannon Greeley, Taylor Groce, Keenan Hutchinson, Lily Jablonski, Grace Koppenhofer, Sydnee Kuebler, Rachel Marquell, Tyler Moore, Kelly Nash, Cameron Nichols, Abby Quigley, Erika Raine, Mackenzie Schroeder, Kaitlyn Sumner, Leslie Thomas

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Abandoned Housing Policy Analysis

An excess of abandoned housing currently exists within the City of Muncie. The presence of this abandoned housing creates a number of problems for nearby residents and also for the city as a whole. Policies, intended to reduce the quantity of abandoned housing in the city, have not had as a large an impact as had been hoped. This project team gathered evidence first about the problem and its impacts in the community and then developed a limited number of policy alternatives, estimated their likely impacts, and made policy recommendations for consideration by the community partner.

View the report (pdf)

Faculty Mentor: Chip Taylor
Department: Political Science
Community Partner: Muncie Redevelopment Commission
Students: Carly Acree-King, Joshua Arter, Allison Badgero, Derick Brady, Travis Casper, Julia Chanen, Amy Combs, Aaron Davis, Jessica Fields, Nathanial Law, David Nickel, Jessica Nickel, Alex Rodriguez, Greta Slater, Aaron Tellez, Gage VanDine, Jes Wade

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Spring 2017 Ball State Immersive Learning Projects

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

Abandoned Housing Policy Analysis
Community Partner:  Muncie Redevelopment Commission
Faculty Mentor: Chip Taylor, Department of Political Science

Advancing ecoREHAB Through Story and Strategy
Community Partner:  ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Faculty Mentors:  Kate Elliott, Department of Journalism; Paul Gestwicki; Department of Computer Science

Assessing Heat Leaks in the 8twelve Target District
Community Partner:  Muncie 8twelve Coalition
Faculty Mentor:  Jason Yang, Department of Geography

Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders:  Character and Leadership Development at the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie
Community Partner:  The Boys & Girls Club of Muncie
Faculty Mentor:  Peggy Fisher, Department of Communication Studies

Maring-Hunt Community Garden Pavilion
Community Partner:  Maring-Hunt Library, Thomas Park/Avondale Neighborhood Association
Faculty Mentor:  Pam Harwood, Department of Architecture

Minnetrista Neighborhood Action Plan
Community Partner:  Minnetrista Neighborhood Association
Faculty Mentor:  Lisa Dunaway, Department of Urban Planning

Rehabilitating Houses
Community Partner: Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity
Faculty Mentor: Janet Fick, Technology

Story Maps from and for “South-of-the-River” Neighborhoods in Muncie
Community Partners:  Forest Park Neighborhood Association; Thomas/Avondale Neighborhood Association
Faculty Mentor:  Jörn Seemann, Department of Geography

Sustainable Food Production: Integrating Collaboration within the Community
Community Partner:  Muncie Food Hub
Faculty Mentor:  Gerry Waite, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies

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Shafer Leadership – Community Needs Assessment

Shafer Leadership Academy partnered with this immersive learning project to enumerate the current leadership needs and capacity of the Muncie community. Through gathered need and capacity data, students conducted secondary source research and surveys. The data gathered will help the Shafer Leadership Academy to design appropriate programming and seek relevant funding. In addition to developing research skills, the project team connected with and increased empathy for the Muncie Community and learned about the value of community leadership.

Faculty Mentor: Melinda Messineo
Department: Sociology
Community Partner: Shafer Leadership Academy
Students: Drew Apanavicius, Emmalie Hodge, Audrey Meade, Casey Misner, Zoe Sutton