Tag: Wellness

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Healthy Moms, Healthy Communities: Understanding Perceptions and Evaluating Maternal Opioid Treatment in Muncie

In the United States, opioid prescriptions and subsequent use are on the rise, particularly among pregnant women. Opioid-addicted women, however, face numerous obstacles in receiving care. These obstacles are shaped by cultural and environmental factors surrounding them, such as access to transportation and community-wide stigma that often exacerbates addiction. In this immersive learning project, students worked with the Suzanne Gresham Center to learn about the opioid epidemic in the Muncie community. Students conducted interviews with community members, learned how to analyze qualitative data, and developed an educational product that provides the community information on the opioid epidemic among pregnant women in Muncie.

Faculty Mentors: Caitlyn Leonardson-Placek, Jennifer Wies, Jean Marie Place
Department: Anthropology, Nutrition and Health Science
Community Partner: Suzanne Gresham Center
Students: Kendall Brophy, Lydia Egan, Genevieve George, Gwyneth Harris, Sage Hatcher, Shelbie Hathaway, Natalie Hudanick, Alejandra Ibarra, Courtney Johnson,
Mikayla Kauffman, Kathryn Loving, Dana Northam, Victoria Petriskey,
Rhyan Radabaugh, Wambui Watene, Mia Williams, Anuoluwapo Adeboje, Kyle Basicker, Beau Carpenter, Grant Coil, Lauren Cooper, Jacob Dragt, Amanda Gray, Maurita Greene, Helen Helfer, Kahleigha Johnson, Charlee Krugler, Jacob Mccoy, Erin Miller, Jala Miller, Sarah Mueller, Brittany Novak, Katherine Porter, Olivia Porter, Emily Riordan, Payton Sanders, Kayla Scott, Erin Simons, Alexus Sturdivant, Kimiko Thomas, Destony Warner, Raeshawn Weeks,

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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).

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Unmasked: Recovery and Redemption

In 2016, a class of Ball State students examined the use of meth in Delaware County. “Unmasked: The Stigma of Meth” resulted in www.stigmaunmasked.com, a website with original content that included a 30-minute documentary, and a 40-page magazine. The focus of the work was on Muncie couple and recovering addicts Brian and Rhea Graham. In 2018-19, a new cohort looked at the growing recovering community of addicts in Delaware County and throughout Indiana. “Unmasked: Recovery and Redemption,” reported on what has changed for the Grahams, as well. There was a focus on recovery and rehabilitation. We heard from addicts in search of recovery and the obstacles they face, including funding for residential treatment. We talked to experts in the field of addiction and endeavored to create a resource guide for recovering addicts and their families and friends. The report included stories, web videos, audio reports, and photography to update the existing website and a second edition of the Unmasked Magazine. The project culminated in mid-April with a “Story Walk,” an interactive event with sources and artifacts from student research to interact with the public.You can also check out the great work they’ve done so far!

Spring 2019

Faculty Mentor: Juli Metzger
Department: Journalism
Community Partner: Ball Brothers Foundation
Students: Noah Adamek, Olivia Adams, Camille Breck, Bailey Cline, Summer Davis, Lauren Delorenzo, Loren Dent, Mary Freda, Shelby Jones, Michelle Kaufman, Samantha Kupianinen,
Robbie Moscato-Goodpaster, Patrick Murphy, Brenton Roy, Christian Sarber, Paige Washington, Emily Wright

 

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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