Tag: Education

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Muncie Action Plan CenterPoint Scholars initiative update!

CenterPoint Scholar class of 2024 group photo

MAP has been providing neighborhood leadership skill development since 2010 through the Neighborhood Leadership Council. In October 2023, MAP received a generous grant from CenterPoint Energy to create a new program to train ten individuals in grassroots advocacy. The program began with a competitive application process in January 2024 and an announcement of Scholars at the March 2024 IDEA Conference.

The CenterPoint Scholars attended a weekend retreat at Hueston Woods in April to set the framework for the year-long program and to build connections between participants. Scholars are participating in monthly trainings (Mar. 2024 – Mar. 2025) on topics that include project management, conflict resolution, and trust building while working towards the completion of projects that will positively impact our city’s neighborhoods.

The 2024-2025 CenterPoint Scholars are Alexis Dishman (Western Woods), Bernice Graham (Whitely), Christah Brantley (McKinley), Gracie Scholl (Thomas Park/Avondale), Judah Smith (Halteman Village), Marquiese McClendon (Southside), Napoleon Price Jr. (South Central), Patricia Akins (Industry), Rheaunna Jones (Carlton), and William Thomas (Thomas Park/Avondale).

Learn more

Presenter, Partner, and Supporter logos
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‘Terrific’ friends come together for community reading project

A person in a green and white shirt sits on a low chair reading to children gathered around in an arc around him on the floor
Longfellow Elementary School student Isabella Foster reads Charlotte’s Web to Longfellow Principal Gerry Moore and her schoolmates A’Nyiah Shannon and Rashaud Hill.
Longfellow Elementary School student Isabella Foster reads Charlotte’s Web to Longfellow Principal Gerry Moore and her schoolmates A’Nyiah Shannon and Rashaud Hill.

“Some pig’ really brought the community together in September.
“Charlotte’s Web” was the focus of a community-wide reading initiative, culminating in Muncie Civic Theatre’s production of the classic tale at Southside High School. 
The initiative, designed to get kids excited about reading, was led by a team of executives from Muncie Civic Theatre, Heart of Indiana United Way, Muncie Community Schools, and Muncie Public Library.

Highlights:

  • Every third and fourth-grade student in Muncie Community Schools received a free copy of the book, thanks to support from Northwest Bank and Altrusa Foundation. 
  • Muncie Public Library locations offered audiobooks – in several languages – available for families to check out and listen to together. 
  • Muncie Civic Theatre offered four free daytime school matinees for MCS students, sponsored by Meridian Health Services. 
  • Muncie Community Schools students made “Charlotte’s Web”-themed art and prepared special songs that were part of the Civic Theatre performance.  
  • Muncie Civic Theatre provided free performances of the play for families participating in this community read initiative.  
  • Muncie Altrusa Club volunteered to read “Some Pig,” an early-reader picture book version of “Charlotte’s Web,” to elementary students. 
  • Several childcare centers and after-school programs worked on crafts, activities, and games they shared with each other and families to build interest and fun around the story.  
  • Muncie Civic Theatre presented “Charlotte’s Web” at Southside Middle School.
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Past Event: Community ESL Classes

screen cap of esl flier

Ball State’s Intensive English Institute is working with Jacqueline Hanoman at the Ross Community Center to offer FREE ESL classes to the community!

October 5, 2021 to December 17, 2021
Ross Community Center
1110 W. 10th Street

Class size is limited to 8 students for each class.
Please register before October 5, 2021
by calling: 765.747.4741

For more information, check out the flier in English | Arabic | Chinese | Spanish

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Promoting Dual Language Immersion

Screenshot of video showing a laptop screen advertising dual language education

In this project Advanced Spanish students collaborated with elementary schools to promote their dual language immersion (DLI) programs. Students explored the state of bilingualism in the U.S. and the benefits of programs like these to enable students in developing proficiency in both Spanish and English, strengthening academic learning and achievement, and cultivating intercultural sensitivity. The final community products included ten-week virtual reading/mentoring sessions in Spanish for 2nd graders, design and production of promotional materials to promote the benefits of dual language immersion programs, and Spanish translations of several procedure and policy documents for DLI programs to make more materials accessible to Spanish-speaking families. Blog Post | Digital Showcase 

Spring 2021 Semester

Faculty Mentor: Chin-Sook Pak
Department: Spanish
Community Partner: Muncie Community Schools
Students: Dani Allen, Rachel Armstrong, Madeline Backs, Jazmin Castillo-Soto, Bethany Elmore, Rebekah Hoffer, Amanda Huynh, Denise Jacquez, Jacob Newlin, Elizabeth Rieth, María Sanchez Cisneros, Darla Thomas, Peyton Thompson, Carl Torrence, Amy Wyse & Jerome Zirnheld

Fall 2020 Semester

Faculty Mentor: Chin-Sook Pak
Department: Spanish
Community Partners: Muncie Community Schools, West View Elementary
Students: Rachel Armstrong, Bethany Elmore, Bailey Fields, Joely Gause, Rebekah Hoffer, Denise Jacquez, Jordan Kasuboski, Cecilia Lambertson, Alexandra Martin, Justin Persinger, Maddie Ramsell, Elizabeth Rieth, Abigail Shaw, Grant Sturgis, Darla Thomas, Peyton Thompson, Jerome Zirnheld, Jenni Cruz, Edgar de Santiago, Karina de Santiago, Rosa Gonzalez, Stephanie Gutierrez, Hannah Hyde, Denise Jacquez, Lauren Lara, Diana Martinez, Daisy Mendoza, Alina Murrugarra, Ashley Navarro Rodriguez, Blanca Ortiz, Yatzari Perez-Muñoz, María Sanchez Cisneros & Isabelle Wright

 

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Capturing “The Big Idea”

Sociology Capstone students administered a survey at 35 different “The Big Idea” school pantries within the eight counties of East Central Indiana. “The Big Idea” is a Second Harvest Food Bank program designed to encourage kids to dream big about their future goals and stories, and for families to encounter resources and relationships with a welcoming school staff that helps them foster big dreams. The purpose of the survey was to measure the degree to which “The Big Idea” has been successful in assisting families to connect with schools. The students also provided a chance to elevate participant voices and find stories about the program.

Faculty Mentor: Melinda Messineo
Department: Sociology
Community Partner: Second Harvest Food Bank
Student Team:Maegan Ackerson, Roseanna Barber, Grace Brenner, Phillip Brooks, Haley Cook, Emajh Donaldson, Margaret Fishbeck, Erica Fox, Gillian Gray, Lauren Kren, Kristen Leffler, Lilly McElwee, Ty Miles, Jasmine Moehn, Karissa Nance, Dana Northam, Sarah Rice, Jayla Robinson, Tia Sharp, Cassidy Stigall, Carrie Tackett, Catherine Teague, Madelyn Troy, Shelby Vaughn, Braxton Williams, and Amadi Wisdom

View inside Big Idea room Child's water color painting of a girl's face surveys arranged on a table

 

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Fall 2019 Ball State Immersive Learning Projects

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

Beneficence Records (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Daniel Porter, School of Music
Community Partner:  Indiana Public Radio

Campus Sexual Assault and Rape Culture in the Age of #MeToo 
Faculty Fellow:  Jill Christman, Department of English
Community Partner:  Jana’s Campaign and The Facing Project

Computer Science for Middle Schoolers (CS4MS) (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Dave Largent, Department of Computer Science
Community Partners:  Burris Laboratory School, Muncie Central High School, Northside Middle School

i-Made (Indiana Made) Muncie:  Custom Fabricated Design-through-Production (ongoing)
Faculty Mentor:  Kevin Klinger, Department of Architecture
Community Partners:  Indiana Hardwoods (IHLA), Midwest Metals, Minnetrista, Mobile Market

The Junior Producers Club
Faculty Mentor:  Christoph Thompson, School of Music
Community Partners:  Boys and Girls Club, Buley Community Center

Makerspaces as an Opportunity to Cultivate and Reinforce Cultural Identity in Post-Industrial Cities 
Faculty Fellow:  Laura Romano, Department of English
Community Partner:  Muncie Arts and Culture Council

Muncie Micro-Cinema
Faculty Mentor:  Maura Jasper, School of Art
Community Partner:  Muncie Arts and Culture Council

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

Preserving the Past and Looking Toward the Future:  Historic Preservation and Digital Storytelling for a Muncie Landmark Church
Faculty Mentor:  Peggy Fisher, Department of Communication Studies
Community Partner:  St. Mary Church

Reconstructed Early Language and Literacy Learning: Addressing school readiness through critically conscious listening centers
Faculty Mentors:  Emily Hoffman, Department of Early Childhood, Youth and Family Studies; Kristin Cipollone, Department of Elementary Education
Community Partner:  Huffer Memorial Children’s Center

Resiliency Plan for Muncie
Faculty Mentor: Michael Burayidi, Department of Urban Planning
Community Partner: City of Muncie

Sitting at the Feet of our Muncie Elders:  Stories of Resistance and Resiliency
Faculty Mentor: Darolyn “Lyn” Jones
Community Partner: Westminster Village, Muncie Delaware County Senior Center, Moth Danner and YART (Yard Sale for Art).