Tag: spring 2019

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Tips and Tactics on Prevention of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is considered modern day slavery. Human trafficking is both a criminal act and human rights violation that affects individuals and communities worldwide. Human trafficking is believed to be the third largest criminal activity in the world. It is an increasing concern and social workers require training on the latest knowledge to provide informed services. The students who participated in this immersive learning experience gained an in-depth, hands-on knowledge of the real-world concerns of human trafficking victims. They also gained a new respect for the collaboration of agencies that are providing service for human trafficking victims. With the community partner, the students researched and developed a training manual and protocol to assist social workers in supporting human trafficking victims.

Spring 2019

Faculty Mentor: Ronald Dolon
Department: Social Work
Community Partner: A Better Way
Students: Madeline Bailey, Kiabeth Barrera, Mary Burns, Marlena Cox, Christina Davidson, Blair Earnest, Shawntia Gramelspacher-Zehr, Kerri Hogue, Sydney Husar, Alyse Jenkins, Katherine Jenkins, Mariah Jenks, Karlee Miller, Jackie Nordmann, Monica Nowicki, Alaina Parks, Taylor Petruska, Emma Pierson, Joseph Polizzotto, Jessica Reed, Rylee Reed, Alyssa Romack, Kelsey Spridgeon, Mackenzie Stahl, Kaitlin Stephens, Emma Stevens, Marla Summers, Yula Sung, Kirstynn Wampner, Kathryn Watson, Kristin Weaver

 

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Second Harvest Food Bank Video Project

Second Harvest Food Bank’s mission is to provide food, education and advocacy for people experiencing food insecurity. Most people in the area are familiar with Second Harvest’s hunger-relief and food banking activities, but the organization offers a range of lesser known programs and services that focus on the root causes of food insecurity and assist people in becoming more financially independent. This digital media project was Phase I in a series of projects that will explore how digital media assets, especially video, could help Second Harvest prioritize and promote its continuum of programs and, in doing so, help to attract more clients, volunteers and supporters in the future.

Faculty Mentors: Tim Pollard, Suzanne Plesha
Departments: Telecommunications, Immersive Learning
Community Partner: Second Harvest Food Bank
Students: Miguel Arteaga, Troy Baker, Emma Brashear, Matthew Carson, Daniel Clements, Courtney Correll, Randal Dorsett, Malorie Gill, Briana Hale, Colton Howard, James Johnson, Lauryn Jones, Sean McGarry, Sherill Osborne, Nikolas Risser, Mariana Rodriguez

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Second Harvest School Pantries Study

Sociology Capstone students partnered with Second Harvest to conduct face-to-face interviews to gather program evaluation data regarding community member needs and to measure the impact that school pantries are having on student and family engagement.

Faculty Mentor: Melinda Messineo
Department: Sociology
Community Partner: Second Harvest
Students: Adriana Arthur, Katrina Brown, Katina Clark, Whittney Coffman, Julia Conn, Jazmin Deshazer, Laura Drascic, Sam Fields, Sara Garland, Tonya Gregorash, Jennifer Harkcom, Jaze Harris, Stacey Hodges, Griffin Janosky, Devaugn Jones, Drea Kolkinn, Amber Levi, Kerrigan Mccormack, Katie Morris, Sam Mulholland, Emily O’Lena, Malik Paeham-Dunner, Sarah Powell, Ian Quasat, Shelby Sims

 

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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