Category: Projects

Community-neighborhood projects

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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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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