Marie Mackintosh appointed Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Community Engagement at IU Indianapolis

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Teresa Francis

We are pleased to share that Marie Mackintosh has been appointed Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Community Engagement and will begin her new role on December 8, 2025. Marie brings more than 15 years of experience leading collaborative initiatives in education, workforce development, and systems innovation. In this role, she will oversee the university’s Office of Community Engagement, which will transition to the Office of Workforce and Community Engagement.

Marie Mackintosh. *Photo by Faith Blackwell Photography.*

Marie most recently served as President and CEO of EmployIndy, Indianapolis’s workforce development organization, where she led a $25 million enterprise connecting residents to high-quality jobs and businesses to skilled talent. During her tenure, she guided the organization through a period of post-pandemic transformation, strengthening its financial and operational foundation while advancing equitable, career-connected opportunities for thousands of Hoosiers.

Her leadership helped deliver more than 3,300 job placements, $5.5 million in wage gains, and engagement with over 700 employers across the region.

Prior to joining EmployIndy, Marie held senior roles with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development where she developed statewide strategies to prepare Indiana’s workforce for more than one million projected job openings.

As Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Community Engagement, Marie will advance IU Indianapolis’s mission by driving workforce readiness and strengthening community partnerships. She will lead strategies that align academic programs with employer needs, leveraging our strengths in education, research, and outreach to expand talent pipelines and strengthen the workforce that powers our city and state.

Following the retirement of longtime vice chancellor Amy Conrad Warner on October 31, Margie Smith-Simmons, senior executive advisor to the chancellor, will provide interim leadership for the Office of Community Engagement until Marie begins her new role on December 8. We are grateful for Amy’s many years of leadership and service to IU Indianapolis and the Indianapolis community.

IU Indianapolis Season of Giving 2025: Join us in supporting families this holiday season

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Teresa Francis

Season of Giving. Sharing holiday joy since 2000!

’Tis the Season of Giving once again! The IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement invites faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners to share holiday cheer with families in our community by joining the 2025 Season of Giving program.

Now celebrating 25 years, the Season of Giving continues to grow. IU Indianapolis partners with Christamore House and Hawthorne Community Center to brighten the holidays for families across Indianapolis. Last year’s program was our most successful yet, nearly doubling our reach to support 233 children and parents from 63 families. Read more about the success of the 2024 Season of Giving.

Hawthorne Community Center staff (left) and Christamore House staff with donated gifts (right).

This year, we’re aiming even higher—our goal is to support 100 families through the generosity of IU Indianapolis faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners.

IU Indianapolis faculty, staff, students and the Season of Giving team in action—dropping off, sorting, and preparing gifts for families in the 2024 season.

Here’s how it works:

IU Indianapolis faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners are invited to sign up as sponsors by Monday, November 10. Most sponsors participate as part of a team—such as a department, school, or student organization—but individuals are encouraged to join too! When registering, sponsors will be prompted to indicate how many people they would like to sponsor.
Sponsors are paired with families identified by Christamore House and Hawthorne Community Center and receive wish lists for each family member. Lists may include toys, clothing, and household items.
Sponsors shop for gifts. Each sponsor is asked to spend a minimum of $75 per person.
Collection Day is Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Taylor Hall, Room 104.
Gifts are delivered to Christamore House and Hawthorne Community Center to distribute to families.

Many groups find Season of Giving a meaningful way to celebrate the holidays and support neighbors in need.

Why become a sponsor? Watch the video to learn more.

Visit our website to learn more about the 2025 Season of Giving. Together, we can make this holiday season brighter for even more families in our community. The deadline to sign up as a sponsor is Monday, November 10, 2025. Sign up today! For more information, contact Richard Bray at richbray@iu.edu or season@iu.edu.

From Survival Jobs to Sustainable Careers: How Community-Based Organizations Empower Newcomer Youth

Posted on September 30, 2025 by jrboehm

By Silvia Garcia, Director of Research and Assessment, IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement

New Skills: Development, occupation, knowledge, training, motivation, goal

What is the secret to helping youth who are new to the United States successfully transition from school to the workforce? A recent study confirms it is about much more than just job training. It is about “barrier-busting”—a holistic approach that addresses a person’s fundamental needs to create a stable foundation for career growth.

Silvia Garcia (top) and Nidhi Arun (bottom)

In March 2024, Silvia Garcia, Director of Research and Assessment in the IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement, and Nidhi Arun, a Policy Analyst in the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, received a grant from the William T. Grant Foundation to investigate how local organizations in Marion County, Indiana, support newcomer youth aged 16 to 24 in their transition into stable jobs. Their findings highlight the indispensable role that community-based organizations (CBOs) and ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs)—organizations that support specific ethnic groups—play in building Indiana’s future demographic and economic strength.

The study sample included three immigrant-serving CBOs and three ECBOs in Marion County. In-depth interviews were conducted with organizational staff, workforce development leaders, and newcomer youth from Haiti, Afghanistan, Burma, and Latin America.

Here’s a look at the most impactful findings and recommendations from the research.

Key Takeaways

Organizations are employing promising strategies to support their young clients and families, ensuring that clients receive ongoing support throughout their training. These include:

Holistic and Culturally Responsive Support: All participating organizations provide comprehensive wraparound services—including food, housing, transportation, and legal aid—recognizing that stable employment is impossible without basic needs being met. CBOs use culturally responsive practices, such as hiring staff from the communities they serve and providing materials in multiple languages, to build trust and ensure services are accessible.
Youth engaged in learning in a computer lab.
Building Pathways to Better Jobs: Through one-on-one employment coaching or staff support, organizations help youth build resumes, practice interviewing, and understand American workplace culture. They also actively build relationships with employers to advocate for their clients and some follow up after program completion to ensure that youth not only find a job but also retain it and advance in their careers.
Building Bridges to Opportunity: A crucial role of these organizations is building, bridging, and linking social capital—connecting youth with people and institutions outside their immediate community. CBOs and ECBOs connect individuals with employers through job fairs, job shadowing, and coaching, thereby opening doors to upward mobility.
Creating opportunities for family-sustaining careers: Some organizations offer structured career pathways that guide individuals through education and training for in-demand, family-sustaining careers, such as construction and welding.

Youth hone their woodworking skills as part of hands-on training.

The research identified several core challenges that define the experience of newcomer youth seeking employment in Marion County.

The “Any Job” vs. “Career” Dilemma: The research uncovered a fundamental conflict between a youth’s urgent need for any job to meet financial pressures and the organization’s goals of guiding them toward a sustainable career. While most organizations focus on a long-term approach, newcomer youth may see this as too slow and turn to less stable, informal work.
The ‘Social Capital Paradox’: Young newcomers overwhelmingly find their first jobs through informal networks of family and friends (bonding social capital). While this provides quick access to “any job,” it often traps them in low-wage jobs with little room for advancement. In contrast, CBOs work to build connections to broader networks (bridging and linking social capital) that lead to more stable careers. This more strategic approach can feel too overwhelming for youth facing urgent financial and social pressure.
Illustration of social networks and connections, reflecting how community-based organizations help newcomer youth build bridges to opportunity.
A Major Awareness Gap: A primary barrier to success is that most young newcomers do not know that CBOs and their employment services exist. One youth, after living and working in Indiana for four years, was shocked to learn about the free career support available, stating, “I couldn’t believe that anyone had this kind of help. And it’s free!”
Critical Gaps in Services: There is a significant lack of employment programs targeting youth under 18, especially those who are not in education or working (opportunity youth). Those who arrive late to their school years are also underserved, as they may have missed opportunities to develop job skills during their time in school. Furthermore, key strategies such as bridge programs, career pathways, work-based learning (WBL), employer engagement in training, and entrepreneurship training are underutilized by most organizations, resulting in significant service gaps.
Systemic Barriers for CBOs: The organizations doing this vital work face their own hurdles. They are chronically underfunded, which limits their ability to expand services. Restrictive funding streams, requiring a work permit for eligibility, exclude many newly arrived youth. Finally, youth services are often “siloed,” with poor coordination between education, workforce, and social service systems, making it incredibly difficult for a young person to navigate services.

Key Recommendations

Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated, cross-sector effort. CBOs cannot do this alone. Here is how university and community partners can help.

1. Tailor Programs for Younger Youth: It is critical to develop programs that specifically address the needs of the 16-24 age group. This includes creating flexible educational and work opportunities for those who may have missed out on technical education programs in high school.
2. Boost the Entire Support System: Work must be done to break down silos. Funders, government agencies like EmployIndy, educational institutions, and CBOs must collaborate to build an integrated, client-centered system. This means sharing data, coordinating services, and aligning funding to create a smoother, more effective pathway for newcomer youth. Policies should prioritize increased and more stable funding for the community-based organizations that serve as a critical safety net.
  Hands representing the collective stewardship of partners working together to uplift and guide newcomer youth.
3. Invest in Targeted Outreach: Organizations need support to conduct proactive outreach. This includes working with community liaisons and ECBOs to meet newcomer youth and their families where they are and engage them in available services.
4. Expand Promising Programs: Funding and technical assistance should focus on expanding programs that have given promising results. This includes:
  - Bridge Programs: More access to High School Equivalency preparation, vocational English (English classes that include specialized vocabulary needed to succeed in a specific trade), and digital literacy courses to prepare youth for career training.
  - Work-Based Learning (WBL): Creating more pre-apprenticeships, internships, and job shadowing opportunities to provide invaluable hands-on experience and expand work connections.
  - Career Pathways: Pathways programs are a recommended workforce development practice as they guide individuals to family-sustaining careers aligned with local labor demand. They are vital for youth and opportunity youth who face barriers to traditional routes.
  - Youth Entrepreneurship Training: Developing dedicated programs for youth interested in starting their own businesses, a growing trend among immigrant communities.
5. Integrate Mental Health and Mentoring: The psychological toll of transitioning to a new country and workforce is immense. Employment programs should incorporate trauma-informed care approaches and practices and provide mentoring opportunities to support the well-being and engagement of newcomer youth.

As a next step to strengthen community-university collaborations, the key findings of this study will be shared with participant organizations, not just to report what was learned, but to engage in meaningful discussions and ensure the findings and recommendations resonate with their on-the-ground expertise. International migration is an important pillar of Indiana’s long-term economic and demographic survival strategy. Investing in community-based organizations and aligning systems, ensures that the next generation of Hoosiers is equipped to contribute fully to the state’s economic and civic life.

An enduring partnership: IU Indianapolis and Martindale-Brightwood

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Teresa Francis

Martindale-Brightwood community at PreEnact Polk Stables festival.

For generations, the Martindale-Brightwood community, located northeast of downtown Indianapolis, has defined itself by resilience, pride, and strong community connections.

Home to families, churches, and locally owned businesses, the neighborhood has long been a place where residents support one another and work together for the well-being of the community. Today, Martindale-Brightwood is home to roughly 13,000 residents across four neighborhoods – Hillside, Oak Hill, Ralston Hovey Arsenal, and Brightwood.

IU Indianapolis has stood alongside Martindale-Brightwood, not as an occasional visitor, but as a consistent partner in the neighborhood’s work to shape its own future.

A partnership built on presence

Gina Fears

When Gina Fears came to Martindale-Brightwood in 2015 as a community builder, she noticed something inspiring: IU Indianapolis had already been there for years, and they hadn’t left. Today, she remains connected to the neighborhood where she grew up as peer innovation manager at Mental Health America Indiana’s Stanley W. DeKemper Training Institute.

“Don’t come to be the savior,” Fears said. “Bring resources and wisdom, and let residents save themselves.”

Khaula Murtadha (top), Latosha Rowley (middle), and Amy Conrad Warner (bottom)

Fears recalls meeting Khaula Murtadha, former associate vice chancellor for community engagement, and Latosha Rowley, program manager in the Office of Community Engagement, at Joyce Kilmer School 69 (then an IPS school), where they guided parents, mentored them, and helped them support their own children’s learning. “Coming from an education family, that was impressive,” Fears said.

Fears highlighted that Amy Conrad Warner, vice chancellor for the Office of Community Engagement (OCE), often steps in at key moments to encourage partners and acknowledge what she learns from the relationship. “Even when she is not sitting in the room with us when we’re having these conversations…we know that she is behind us,” Fears said. That steady presence has been the foundation for a genuine relationship between the community and the university. “It’s not about IU being here every day, it’s that OCE has become part of our core bank of resources. When we need support or information on education, leadership, or other needs, they’re the first number we dial. And it works both ways, the relationship is truly reciprocal.”

This relationship opened the door to collaborations across schools and neighborhood initiatives, including, in 2010, support for full-service community schools at IPS Joyce Kilmer School 69, Frances Parker School 56, and James Russell Lowell School 51. These efforts were led by Nicole Oglesby, director for P-16 educational alliances at OCE; Mary Studley, former full service community school coordinator at OCE; and Monty Hulse, community builder who collaborated with OCE on family engagement at IPS Schools.

Brendan Maxcy, faculty member in the School of Education (left), Mary Studley (center), and Nicole Oglesby (right) at a Martindale-Brightwood Community Conversation.

Roger Jarjoura (top) and Sue Hyatt (bottom)

Fears also connected with Roger Jarjoura, then a criminology professor and community engagement fellow at IU’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), who was involved with the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, bringing “outside” IU students together with “inside” incarcerated students to learn side by side.

Through Jarjoura, Fears met Sue Hyatt, professor emerita of anthropology in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis and cofounder of the university’s Inside-Out chapter. Before coming to Martindale-Brightwood, Fears served as interim executive director at Dove Recovery House for Women, the largest women’s recovery home in the state, where she and Hyatt partnered to bring Inside-Out to women in recovery and IU students. Through that relationship, they later extended the program to PACE (Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry), whose Recovery Resource Center in Martindale-Brightwood supports individuals in recovery and those returning from incarceration. PACE became another meaningful site for Inside-Out, fostering connections as individuals in recovery and IU students learned together, deepening understanding and empathy across lived experiences.

Bradley Ray (top), Dennis Watson (middle), and Dong-Chul Seo (bottom)

These relationships eventually connected Fears to Jesse Brown, now a City Council member for Martindale-Brightwood. “He had been a student in the Inside-Out class at Dove House. It warmed my heart to see the long-term impact of those earlier connections,” she said.

Fears calls research her “love,” which has led to further campus collaborations. She worked with Bradley Ray, former director of the Center for Health & Justice Research (CHJR) within the IU Public Policy Institute (PPI), in collaboration with Dennis Watson, former associate professor of social and behavioral sciences in the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, on opioid-related policy and practice in Indiana. She is also part of a study with Dong-Chul Seo, professor at IU Bloomington’s School of Public Health, in partnership with Overdose Lifeline, focusing on overdoses in Black communities, including the 46218 ZIP code encompassing Martindale-Brightwood. “These connections help bring resources and findings back to the Martindale-Brightwood community,” Fears said.

Quality of Life Implementation Plan

The Martindale-Brightwood community recently completed a two-year process developing the 2025–2030 Quality of Life (QOL) Plan, a resident-led roadmap for sustainable development over the next five years. Certified by the City of Indianapolis, the plan identifies ten pillars, from Arts and Culture to Youth and Neighborhood Engagement, that together map out a vision for a thriving community.

Martindale-Brightwood QOL Plan 2025-2030

The plan reflects the voices of hundreds of residents, business owners, organizers, faith leaders, and stakeholders who shaped the neighborhood’s shared vision.

Fears noted the partnership with OCE has been like a “big brother, big sister. They’ve been teaching the entire time, supporting activities, lifting up pieces of wisdom, and inviting residents to participate in community development from their own perspective.”

The long-term engagement of OCE, alongside educators like Aster Bekele, founder and executive director of the Felege Hiywot Center, helped support new pillars in the QOL Plan. The Youth Engagement pillar, written by young people themselves, includes a five-year roadmap. Bekele said, “They even signed the plan for the city’s approval. It’s exciting! It’s not just adults coming together; youth are part of shaping the plan, too.” Alongside it, a Neighborhood Engagement pillar emphasizes that residents remain central to guiding development and shaping priorities.

Bekele added, “Partnership is a huge part of helping the youth! It takes a village, and each of us becomes a partner.” She noted that key collaborations for the Felege Hiywot Center have included Indiana University and Purdue University, whose anthropologists, researchers, and graduate students have provided impactful research and peer mentoring for the students.

Adults and youth from Felege Hiywot Center sharing harvest and participating in community activities.

PreEnact Polk Stables: Celebrating the certified Quality of Life Plan and community leadership

On August 27, community members, city officials, and partner organizations gathered at the historic Polk Stables to celebrate the City of Indianapolis’ certification of the neighborhood’s 2025–2030 Quality of Life Plan. The PreEnact Polk Stables festival included interactive theater, art, neighborhood history walks, and networking.

Tysha Hardy-Sellers, a longtime leader in the neighborhood, received the inaugural Tysha Hardy-Sellers Excellence in Leadership Award, an honor created in her name that will be given annually to an outstanding leader in the Martindale-Brightwood community. Reflecting on the honor, she said, “My mission was to contribute to the community alongside others who saw Martindale-Brightwood as a wonderful, beautiful place.”

Tysha Hardy-Sellers (left, at the microphone) accepting her award, with Gina Lewis Alexander (middle) and Gina Fears (right). Photo courtesy of David Dixon/Indianapolis Recorder.

Fears noted, “This award reflects the neighborhood’s relationship with OCE. It grew out of the many conversations we’ve had about leadership and the lessons we’ve learned from OCE’s example.”

For community leaders like Shonna Majors, Executive Director of the Brightwood-Forest Manor Community Center (BFMCC), events like PreEnact Polk Stables capture the spirit of Martindale-Brightwood. “This event today is a great reminder of the art culture that represents the Martindale-Brightwood area,” she said. “The pre-enactment brings the history to life.”

At the event, Felege Hiywot students from KIPP Indy Legacy High School, Martindale-Brightwood’s first high school, presented the youth’s research on the root causes of violence and shared two creative projects—a podcast, The Young Revolution, and a short film, Sound of Love—demonstrating their leadership and commitment to positive change. Bekele emphasized, “Listening to students and letting them guide their own learning is at the heart of what we do. We provide resources and support, but they make the decisions and learn by doing.”

Highlights of the PreEnact event in Martindale-Brightwood, where neighbors and community leaders came together to reimagine the neighborhood through theater, music, and art.

Pascal Glock, a visiting artist from Paris, France, shared his project All That Is Under Our Feet, created through his fellowship at the Harrison Center for the Arts. Blending community urban archaeology with storytelling, Glock unearthed marbles, Monopoly houses, plates, and other artifacts while talking with residents about what grounds them and what they see as their foundation. He transformed these discoveries and conversations into songs and a record, accompanied by a booklet of images, reflecting Martindale-Brightwood’s past and present. “Martindale-Brightwood has never been about sadness—there is so much vibrancy and fun history here,” said Lynn Kinslow, Community Engagement Manager at Edna Martin Christian Center.

Pascal Glock (left), a visiting artist from Paris, shares songs from his project *All That Is Under Our Feet*, while a community member (right) dances to the music inspired by Martindale-Brightwood’s stories and artifacts.

MB7 and the momentum of a new plan

The Martindale-Brightwood 7 (MB7) highlights seven priorities from the QOL Plan that capture the community’s vision for long-term change. These priorities range from revitalizing key corridors and expanding youth and family supports to strengthening food access, entrepreneurship, neighborhood communication, and recovery resources.

Fears recalled how partnerships helped move these priorities forward, including paving 25th Street with City-County Councilor Zach Adamson and OCE’s support. “We were able to get the main strip of 25^th street, fully paved and worked on. That was one of the seven items,” Fears said.

She emphasized that MB7 was about more than physical improvements: “It was really about lifting pieces from the plan to showcase this neighborhood and also to shift the mindset of residents and those who represent the neighborhood. There was a brand-new sense of pride in these seven things we had.”

MOVE: collective impact and shared leadership

When the community recognized the need for unified leadership, One Voice Martindale-Brightwood, the umbrella neighborhood association, formed MOVE, a coalition of four neighborhood organizations—Martindale-Brightwood CDC, Oasis Christian CDC, Stop the Violence Indianapolis, Inc., and Edna Martin Christian Center—to secure funding, create programming, and advance the QOL Plan.

Richard Bray presenting in Martindale-Brightwood.

“OCE was right there all the time, having conversations and advising,” Fears said. Over time, MOVE evolved into a collective impact model, bringing together residents, service providers, and health partners. “OCE staff including Richard Bray, co-facilitated meetings, provided guidance, and connected resources from stakeholders in the community,” she added.

“It’s just good to see things evolving and that we’re still growing, and that we’re still reaching to help the community. Because community is never going to go away. I think that’s important, when you talk about collective impact,” said Gina Lewis-Alexander, who served as vice president of One Voice.

Leaders in Martindale-Brightwood

For nearly 80 years, the Edna Martin Christian Center has been an anchor in Martindale-Brightwood, trusted as the place where community needs and partnerships take shape.
“In Martindale-Brightwood’s relationship with OCE, the Edna Martin Christian Center serves as the pass-through,” Fears said. “Whatever flows through the Center reaches the entire community, making it a central hub for programs, resources, and partnerships.”

Today’s partnerships rest on foundations built by longtime leaders. Under Tysha Hardy-Sellers, who served as president and CEO for many years until 2019, and Barato Britt, who first served as Youth Director and now leads the center, Edna Martin has expanded opportunities for families. The late Pastor Frank Alexander who led Oasis of Hope Baptist Church for 40 years and also directed Edna Martin, and Gina Lewis Alexander, who led Oasis Christian CDC for 24 years, shaped housing, youth employment, and family resources in the neighborhood. In recognition of Pastor Alexander’s service, a portion of 25th Street now bears his name. His successor, Pastor Myron C. Duff, Sr., also a former OCE staff member, continues this legacy.

Left to right) Barato Britt, Pastor Frank Alexander, Gina Lewis Alexander, and Myron Duff in service to the Martindale-Brightwood community.

Other “Greatriarchs,” respected leaders named in the QOL Plan, such as Juanita Smith, Shirley Webster, Peggy Storey, Linda Minter, Frankie Cissel, Pat Ladd, and many others, rose from a rich tradition of leadership. “These leaders built the relationships and infrastructure that make today’s work possible,” Fears said.

The Harrison Center’s Greatriarch project highlights stories of Martindale-Brightwood residents and community stakeholders.

Impact across generations

Fears pointed out how the landscape of education in Martindale-Brightwood has shifted over the years. When the partnership with IU began, there was no KIPP high school. Now, IU continues to be a resource as the community works within the education zone around the school. “It’s just moving from generation to generation, that’s another impact,” she said.

While participating in a panel at the 2025 IU Community Engagement Conference, held at IU Bloomington (IUB), Fears’ granddaughter, then a student at IUB and now at IU Indianapolis, attended along with other students from Martindale-Brightwood. “They came because they heard Ms. Gina would be there,” Fears recalled, “but what they really heard was Indiana University, including OCE, and all the work being done in the community. That moment spoke to the passing down of leadership.”

Gina Fears (far left) joins a panel of community partners sharing insights from their university–community collaborations during the IU Statewide Community Engagement Institute’s session, “Grounded in Community: Insights from Partners on Collaborative Impact.” (Photo by: Jeni Waters, Indiana University)

The power of enduring partnerships

With the 2025–2030 QOL Plan as a guide, Martindale Brightwood is building on strengths such as youth engagement, collective leadership, and long-standing partnerships.

Map showing the four Martindale-Brightwood neighborhoods.

Fears emphasized that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment: “We need every partner we’ve ever worked with, and new ones too. We need fresh energy, every resource we can bring together, and deeper engagement from the community and our partners, including the university. That’s how this plan will stay alive and evolve. It’s not just about completing the strategies and goals written in the document, it’s also about discovering new opportunities and doing even more than we imagined.”

Fears reflected on the importance of long-term relationships, noting that they are more than simple connections. “In education, in community building, in supporting residents, the strength is in the length of the engagement. Short-term resources can be helpful, but it’s the long-term partnerships that truly make the difference. When you’ve worked together over time, you understand each other’s strengths, needs, and ways of working. You can bring resources that fit naturally without forcing them. There’s tremendous strength and benefit in partnerships that endure.”

The enduring partnership between IU Indianapolis and Martindale-Brightwood reflects the IU Indianapolis 2030 Strategic Plan’s commitment to strengthening community partnerships and addressing pressing challenges in education, health, and economic development.

To learn more about this partnership and IU Indianapolis’ engagement with the community, visit our website or email engage@iu.edu.

Elevating community voices: Building a survey to measure university engagement with the community

Posted on September 9, 2025 by jrboehm

By Silvia Garcia, Director of Research and Assessment, IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement

Help us gather feedback: invite your partners to participate

Map showing Indianapolis, Indiana, and surrounding areas, including parts of Anderson and Muncie

Indiana University Indianapolis has long recognized its role as an anchor institution, deeply woven into the fabric of the community and committed to community engagement through its mission and leveraging of financial, physical, intellectual, and human capital resources to support local needs and drive development. However, for too long, the evaluation of the campus’ impact has primarily focused on institutional outputs – number of hours, number of people, amount of funding – overlooking the true impact these engagements have on the community.

That is why, in 2022, three IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement staff members—Silvia Garcia, Director of Research and Assessment; Latosha Rowley, program manager; and Jim Grim, former director of community and school partnerships—embarked on a project to develop the Partner Survey, a tool that captures community voices and perceptions of engagement outcomes, allowing the community to define what matters in community-university partnerships. This project exemplifies the transformative power of involving community partners in the evaluation process. By actively engaging community voices, a survey tool was developed that more accurately captures engagement outcomes and is more relevant and understandable to community partners.

The challenge of measuring impact

Measuring community-university engagement outcomes is notoriously complex. The diverse nature of institutions, communities, and activities, coupled with the unique contexts of each engagement, makes a one-size-fits-all evaluation framework elusive. By involving local community partners in the process of developing a survey, invaluable knowledge and experience were gained, ensuring that the questions and methods developed are relevant to both the campus and the community.

To identify community partners to participate in the survey development, community engagement activities were mapped using the IU Indianapolis Collaboratory—a database where faculty and staff enter detailed information about their community-engaged activities—and Digital Measures Activity Insight (DMAI), now Elements at IU, the annual faculty activity reporting system. These sources enabled mapping that took into account stakeholders, geography, purpose and duration of the partnership, and interdisciplinarity.

A map of the activities in Collaboratory. — A map showing IU Indianapolis’ community-engaged activities in the Indianapolis area.

The collaborative effort to develop the Partner Survey involved four phases of development and validation.

Phase 1: Identifying meaningful outcomes

The survey development process began with interviews that provided a deep dive into community partner perspectives. Seven project coordinators (IUI faculty) were asked about their projects, intended and observed community impact, and community organizations they recommended provide input. This led to interviews with twelve community partners holding leadership positions across diverse organizations representing a historical museum, environmental organizations, neighborhood groups, youth-serving organizations, a technology for-profit, and agencies with re-entry initiatives. During these interviews, the results and impact of their collaborations with the campus were explored, as well as the positive and negative aspects of the campus involvement.

Phase 2: Analyzing and validating indicators

The interview data were analyzed and categorized using the Democracy Collaborative Framework for Anchor Institutions’ outcome areas. This process identified 102 codes and eight themes, with 70 codes classified as process indicators and 32 as outcome/impact indicators. Process indicators offer information on the quality of the engagement and other short-term results that contribute to outcomes. In contrast, outcome indicators measure long-term changes linked to engagement goals, including expected changes (impact) in the community.

To ensure external validity, outcome indicators were compared with the Long-Term Impact Code Book (Kuttner et al., in progress) based on the Collaboratory national dataset and the IU Indianapolis’ 2030 Strategic Plan goals. This comparison led to the inclusion of new outcome indicators, particularly those related to science, technology, and innovation.

A sample of the codes developed by Kuttner at al., 2023. Draft version shared by email with the investigators. Kuttner’s long-term impact codes were used to reorganize the survey.

Phase 3: Crafting the survey tool

With a robust list of validated outcome/impact indicators, an initial version of the Partner Survey, consisting of 97 items, was developed. It included sections on collaboration types, specific outcome items across various engagement areas (arts and culture, educated youth, health and wellbeing, environment and sustainability, community safety, science, technology, innovation, and community building), contribution to IU Indianapolis’ 2030 Strategic Plan goals, and questions to measure the quality of partnerships based on the Carnegie Foundation Elective Classification for Community Engagement’s Community Partner Survey.

Phase 4: Survey validation using focus group-based cognitive interviews

The next critical step was survey validation. Grant funding was received from the Community Engaged Alliance to support six focus group-based cognitive interviews (focus group CI) which gathered in-depth feedback from community partners, and IU Indianapolis staff and faculty, to understand how respondents comprehend survey questions. Eleven community partners, seven faculty and one staff member participated in the focus groups.

Phase 4 of the survey development process was supported by grant funding from the Community-Engaged Alliance.

This method allowed assessment of whether the survey accurately captured community partner perceptions of engagement outcomes and whether the outcomes were contextualized for their experiences. For example, there were discussions about whether the language was adequate and the categories used in the survey, such as areas of collaboration, aligned with how community partners experience these collaborations.

Participants completed the survey, noting questions they found easy or difficult to understand and providing written comments. Moderators asked questions to uncover participants’ interpretations and identify misunderstandings or ambiguities. They also encouraged participants to suggest modifications to questions based on their experiences. With this invaluable feedback, the survey was significantly modified. Key changes included:

Adding questions about the populations served by the organization.
Revising collaboration types to include more specific options like internships, professional assistance, professional development and training, project/program evaluation, technical assistance, event organization, and international exchange. Focus group participants also expressed that the survey’s use of the word ‘partnership’ in key questions failed to capture more casual forms of community-university collaborations, which could influence how they perceive engagement outcomes. Therefore, the new version consistently uses “collaboration” instead of “partnership” in survey questions.
Reducing the number of outcome items, simplifying language, and adding open-ended questions to capture perceived outcomes.
Reducing the number of items in the quality of partnerships section.
Expanding the question on community contributions to IU Indianapolis.
Adding two final open-ended questions about ways IU Indianapolis can develop more effective collaborations, and any other information that can help us understand their experiences in collaborating with IU Indianapolis.

Example survey question asking how much participants believe this collaboration contributes, directly or indirectly, to reducing health disparities.

Testing the tool

The next step was to further examine the validity and feasibility of the survey by piloting it with a small sample of community partners. Results were favorable, but more feedback from faculty and staff using the survey with their partners is being sought.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to invite community partners to complete the revised Partner Survey, building on the successful pilot test.

The Partner Survey is available here for faculty and staff to use with their community partners. For questions or to share feedback, please contact Silvia Garcia at sigarcia@iu.edu.

About Community-Engaged Alliance
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Community-Engaged Alliance is dedicated to advancing the field of community engagement through education, support, and collaboration with partners in higher education. Through funding, professional development, and collaboration opportunities, Community-Engaged Alliance supports capacity and enables students to graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to create positive social change. Visit www.communityengagedalliance.org for more information.

Kids College Expands to IU Indianapolis: Sparks aspirations for college, community, and leadership

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Teresa Francis

With smiles and applause, IU Indianapolis Kids College campers celebrate their accomplishments during the graduation ceremony at the end of their two-week summer experience. The photo was taken in the Lecture Hall at IU Indianapolis on Friday, June 20, 2025. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

This summer, 50 students from across Marion County, including Indianapolis Public Schools, township, private, and charter schools, attended IU Indianapolis’ first Kids College, a free, two-week summer day camp designed to introduce rising 7th and 8th graders to college life, career pathways, and community leadership. Held June 9–20, the program is a growing initiative now offered on six IU campuses. At IU Indianapolis, Kids College brought opportunities for local youth to explore their future in the heart of the state capital.

“We want students to see themselves as future college graduates and contributing citizens to society,” said Dr. Latosha Rowley, camp director. “Kids College helps build that confidence and connection early by showing them how college can help them reach their career goals.”

Dr. Latosha Rowley, camp director, led the IU Indianapolis Kids College graduation ceremony, offering words of encouragement as she celebrated the campers’ accomplishments alongside their families. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

“I want to get a degree in technology,” said camper Kaiden Anderson. “I want to build stuff or make games for people.” His grandmother, Christina Anderson, said she wanted to give Kaiden a chance to see that he can go to college and explore opportunities beyond his neighborhood.

Kids College campers, staff, and counselors gather for a group photo during their Indiana State Museum field trip, celebrating a summer of learning and discovery at IU Indianapolis.

About IU Kids College

Launched in 2016, Kids College is a statewide initiative preparing Indiana’s next generation of leaders through immersive summer experiences. Now held at IU Indianapolis, IU Columbus, IU Kokomo, IU Fort Wayne, IU Northwest, and IU South Bend, the program focuses on welcoming and supporting those who may be the first in their family to attend college, who may qualify for the 21st Century Scholars program, or who come from communities that have historically faced barriers to higher education. The camp offers hands-on introductions to college life, career exploration, and academic possibilities while fostering personal development, civic engagement, and college readiness.

“I want to go to college,” said camper Micah Carter, who hopes to become either an actress or an architect. Her grandmother, Damica O’Neal-Woolridge, said she enrolled Micah to help her start thinking about her future. “I just want her to find her purpose… and meet some new friends along the way.”

Hands-on experiences included a visit to the IU School of Nursing, where campers received presentations and completed hands-on activities from faculty and students. They learned how nursing students develop the skills needed to care for patients using high-tech simulators. Campers also received a presentation on diabetes and watched a nursing student demonstrate how to give an insulin injection, before practicing how to properly pinch the skin and administer the injection on a model arm. The campers also learned the importance of math and science in nursing, including an exercise in planning a meal with 40–80 grams of carbohydrates.

IU Indianapolis Kids College campers explore nursing at the IU School of Nursing through hands-on activities, simulations, and interactive lessons.

Beyond academic exploration, each IU campus tailors the Kids College experience to reflect local community strengths while maintaining a shared commitment to college readiness, personal development, and civic engagement. A key component of the curriculum is Middle School Crew, a college-readiness program developed by IU’s Community & School Partnerships. These sessions support eligible students with the 21st Century Scholars application process and help them begin fulfilling program requirements.

A Transformative Two Weeks

Interactive visits across campus brought subjects to life. At the IDEA Garden, campers worked with cutting-edge tools like 3D printers, virtual reality (VR) equipment, and digital whiteboards. During their visit to the IU McKinney School of Law, they learned about health law and policy, creating vision boards to imagine how they could advocate for community health and positive change. At the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, campers practiced CPR, learned how to respond to bleeding wounds, and even took part in a lesson on how to survive a zombie apocalypse. While visiting the Herron School of Art and Design, they reflected on their experiences through collage and visual storytelling, capturing ideas about health, advocacy, and community.

Campers explored health, law, technology, and art through interactive visits to IU Indianapolis schools and programs.

Kaiden Anderson posed for a photo with his younger brother after the IU Indianapolis Kids College graduation ceremony. His brother proudly held the certificate Kaiden received, while Kaiden wore his Kids College stole. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

Camper Kaiden Anderson, was highlighted in a News at IU article about IU Kids College. His grandmother, Christina Anderson, enrolled him with a clear vision in mind, “I’m hoping that he’ll see that it is OK to pursue academic success and go to college, that it’s OK to communicate,” she said. “We’ve been having conversations about investing in your future and in yourself. To be in an environment where he can see other kids and families doing that as well is so important; it creates opportunities and connections. He loves video games and is interested in how they are made. I told him the people who make those games all had to start somewhere, and that start is a college education.”

Each day included outdoor team-building, wellness and social-emotional learning workshops, and a college-style lunch. Campers also toured campus dorms, offering a glimpse into college life. They ventured off campus as well, visiting the NCAA Hall of Champions and Indiana State Museum to expand their horizons through real-world learning.

Campers explored local history, culture, and sports during field trips to the NCAA Hall of Champions and the Indiana State Museum, adding adventure and discovery to their IU Indianapolis Kids College experience.

From the very first day’s White Coats & Scrubs Kickoff Celebration, which featured a welcome from IU Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand, campers were immersed in the possibilities of college life and introduced to careers in health and medicine through a panel of IU Health professionals who shared their personal journeys.

Chancellor Latha Ramchand welcomed students on the first day of IU Indianapolis Kids College during the White Coats & Scrubs Kickoff Celebration (top), which also featured a panel of IU Health professionals (bottom) who shared their career journeys in health and medicine. (Photos by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

Featured in the news

IU Indianapolis Kids College was featured on WRTV, where students, caregivers, and the camp director reflected on their aspirations and the opportunity this program creates to introduce middle schoolers to college life. The segment highlighted how the camp gives an early exposure to college life and potential career paths, from law and healthcare to STEM and the arts.

IU Indianapolis Kids College camper Micah Carter and her grandmother, Damica O’Neal-Woolridge, speak with WRTV reporter Jessica Gruenling during an on-site interview (top). Kaiden Anderson’s grandmother, Christina Anderson, is also shown during her interview with Gruenling (bottom).

Dr. Rowley explained the broader vision behind the program: “The fork in the road happens in middle school. Maybe they have different kinds of influences, so we are hoping to be the voice in their head to think about their future.”

Super Sleuth Showcase

The camp concluded with a powerful student-led Super Sleuth Learning Exhibition and Culmination Ceremony, where campers showcased their research on real-world topics and pressing community issues such as gun violence, food insecurity, climate change, student loans, and unemployment. Through engaging team presentations, they proposed creative solutions and demonstrated leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills aimed at making a difference in their communities.

“It was beautiful to see the Kids College campers engage in learning about a community issue and how they worked together to critically think about possible solutions,” Dr. Rowley added. “Group interactions with peers can spark future learning, and these experiences will generate lifelong learning for the campers to follow their passions and address and solve issues in their communities.”

Campers presented their research and creative solutions during the Super Sleuth Learning Exhibition and Culmination Ceremony, addressing real-world issues such as gun violence, food insecurity, climate change, and more. (Photos by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

Kaiden Anderson’s group presented on gun violence, a topic that hit close to home. “At first, I wasn’t sure if he would speak,” said his grandmother. “But not only was he excited to present, he had gone the extra mile to create a two-minute video and won a $100 gift certificate. He was so knowledgeable.”

The award was part of a creative video challenge sponsored by The Miles We Walk, a community partner that also led one of the camp’s workshops.

Christina added, “Now that we know about the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, the video game museum, the game development program, and their game development camps for high schoolers, we look forward to connecting Kaiden to all of the different opportunities on the IU Indianapolis campus.”

Kaiden Anderson’s group project, “The Silence of Children,” addressed the issue of gun violence. Pictured are their final poster (top), a teammate presenting the project during the culminating event (bottom left), and the team conducting research at the IU Indianapolis University Library (bottom right).

“Collaboration is an essential life skill,” said Dr. Rowley. “It was great to see the campers do outstanding research and presentation work. Their teamwork reminded me of this quote, ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’”

After the presentations, students were celebrated with a graduation ceremony where they wore caps, received stoles, IU pins, and certificates, and shook hands with IU faculty as families and community members cheered them on. They also heard inspiring messages from IU leaders and their counselors, who recognized their achievements and encouraged them to keep pursuing their goals.

Campers were celebrated during the culminating graduation ceremony, where they wore caps, received stoles, IU pins, and certificates, and shook hands with IU faculty. IU leaders offered inspiring words of encouragement. Families gathered to congratulate the campers and capture the moment with photos. (Photos by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

More Than Academics

Kids College emphasized holistic development, offering campers daily college and career workshops, wellness sessions, and hands-on group challenges. Through these activities, students discovered that college is about much more than academics, it’s about leadership, self-discovery, and finding purpose. Campers shared their takeaways: “Camp was fun! I made a lot of friends,” “Camp was good, but we did lots of walking, so I had to get used to it,” and “My favorite part of the camp was the field trips… and the snacks!”

Kids College campers participated in daily college and career workshops, wellness sessions, and hands-on group challenges. These activities encouraged leadership, self-discovery, and a sense of purpose, showing that college is about much more than academics.

As the Kids College staff reflected, “Campers not only learned how to problem-solve, think critically, and work in teams, but they also had the chance to explore their identities, make new friends, and feel a true sense of belonging on a college campus.”

Walking together across campus, Kids College campers experienced firsthand what it’s like to be a college student, navigating the grounds, discovering new spaces, and getting a feel for campus life along the way.

Kids College campers enjoy a game of basketball on the same court where IU Indianapolis students go to unwind and recharge between classes.

Parents and caregivers noticed the impact, too. One parent shared, “I like that my son had something to do that helped him learn in a fun way. I enjoyed watching him come out of his shell.” Another said, “My daughter loved going to camp and learning about college life.” Others reflected on the difference they saw at the end of each day: “I know it was good by how happy and tired she was when I picked her up,” and “This camp provided opportunities and resources to help my kid prepare for the future.”

Beyond the fun, students left with a clearer sense of who they are and who they can become. They recognized that their communities need change-makers, and that they have the power to be those leaders.

Supported by Student Counselors and Interns

Kids College was supported by a team of college student counselors from IU Indianapolis, along with two high school interns who helped campers feel welcome and supported by listening, connecting, and creating a sense of belonging. The counselors represented multiple campus majors, such as Luis Llerena (Computer Science), Enzio Salemi (Forensic Chemistry), Eston Inskeep (Music Technology), Alayna Walker (Marketing), Sara Ullrich (Art Education), and Kalista Cody (Health Science, Pre-Physician Assistant).

Nivea’h Churchwell, from Crispus Attucks High School, and Jada Smith, from Lawrence North High School, participated through the TRIO Upward Bound Pre-Professional Internship Program. Upward Bound is a federally funded program that helps high school students prepare for college through academic support, mentoring, and career exploration.

High school interns Nivea’h Churchwell (left) and Jada Smith (right) participated through IU Indianapolis’ TRIO Upward Bound Pre-Professional Internship Program.

Nivea’h, who also serves as class president and is active in Best Buddies Indiana, shared: “The experience has been great, just being a listening ear for the kids. Even though we’re older, we’re still close enough in age that they feel comfortable talking to us. It seems like the connections here are great; they make friends quickly, and they’re all very kind.”

Jada, who participates in the Black Student Union and National Honor Society, reflected on her role at camp: “It’s been nice getting to know the campers, especially those who are a little more reserved. Being someone they could talk to made a difference, it felt good to be there for them so they didn’t feel left out.”

Looking Ahead

“Kids College exemplifies IU Indianapolis’ commitment to student success and community impact,” said Dr. Rowley. “It gives middle school students the opportunity to see how education can be a valuable tool for creating change in their own communities.” Kids College also reflects Indiana University’s broader commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening educational pipelines, and fostering partnerships that advance access for K–12 students across the state.

The IU Indianapolis Kids College staff shared, “From the moment campers arrived, full of curiosity and excitement, it was clear this year’s program would be something special. With every new challenge, creative project, and meaningful conversation, students took steps toward a brighter future. As they return to their schools and neighborhoods, they carry with them not only memories, but the confidence and tools to keep reaching higher.”

**IU Indianapolis Kids College staff and counselors gather for training before camp, preparing to support and guide students through a fun and engaging learning experience.** *Top:* Counselors and staff pose for a group photo (left to right): Luis Llerena, counselor; Enzio Salemi, counselor; Nicole Oglesby, co-camp director; Latosha Rowley, camp director; Eston Inskeep, counselor; Alayna Walker, counselor; Sara Ullrich, counselor; Kalista Cody, counselor; Crystal Clark, co-camp director; and Ruth Ann Hankins, middle and high school liaison. (top) Counselors engage in a session led by IU School of Social Work staff, Devina Jani. (bottom)

“I look forward to the exceptional work our Kids College leaders will do and who they will become in the future,” said Dr. Rowley.

A Special Thanks

Kids College is made possible through a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., as part of its Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC) initiative. IYPC supports Indiana colleges and universities in developing high-quality, on-campus programming for youth ages 5–18.

The program was hosted by the IU Office of School Partnerships, IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement, and the IU K–12 Student Success Corps, in collaboration with IU faculty, staff, and student camp counselors, as well as the Herron School of Art and Design, the Kelley School of Business, the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, the McKinney School of Law, the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, the School of Education Maker Mobile, the School of Nursing, the School of Social Work, University Library, and the IDEA Garden Learning Space.

The Kids College staff added, “Special thanks to our incredible sponsors, volunteers, IU faculty, staff, and students, as well as the many parents, campus partners, and community partners who helped make this year’s Kids College a success. Your support ensures these students are better equipped for the school year ahead and for many more to come.”

To learn more, become a partner, or ask questions about Kids College at IU Indianapolis, email the IU K–12 Student Success Corps at sscp@iu.edu.

IU K-12 Student Success Corps Supported Youth Literacy at Christamore House in Spring 2025 with Help from Dollar General Grant

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Teresa Francis

A family attending the “Level Up with Literacy” end of the year celebration at Christamore House, where students were recognized with certificates and gifted books provided by the Dollar General Literacy grant funds and IU K–12 Student Success Corps.

This spring, IU Indianapolis students served as tutors and mentors in Christamore House Family and Community Center on the near west side of Indianapolis, serving a critical community need for improving youth literacy skills. The Level Up With Literacy program was implemented through the Indiana University K-12 Student Success Corps (IU K12 SSC) and funded by a $4,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF).

Level Up with Literacy uses a two-generational approach that works with caregivers and connects their K-12 students with IU Indianapolis tutors. This initiative was part of a broader effort to expand educational access in historically underserved communities like the Haughville neighborhood, home to more than 6,500 residents.

“This grant helped us launch the critical work of providing college tutors and mentors to K-12 children served by the Christamore House, just west of campus,” said Dr. Latosha Rowley, program manager in the IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement. “Our research proves that working with youngsters will help improve their reading, literacy, decision-making, and problem-solving skills and change lives.”

Latosha Rowley, program manager in the IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement

The program served 30 students in the Christamore House afterschool program during spring 2025. IU tutors provided intensive reading remediation, support, and instruction for eight students who needed additional literacy help. In addition, the program shared resources and materials with caregivers on topics such as child development milestones, creating engaging learning spaces, and understanding diverse learning styles. Families received regular newsletters and were invited to share feedback through satisfaction surveys.

IU tutors made an impact

IU Indianapolis students Elizabeth Ponce and Rayne Waddell served as the off-campus tutor mentors leading the literacy work at Christamore House.

Ponce, a freshman studying business marketing at the Kelley School of Business, serves as a youth leader at her church and helped organize a three-day youth conference. She said her experience in community building shaped the way she supported the children she tutored.

“Working with young kids not only brought me joy, but I felt like I already had experience with the ins and outs of teaching them,” Ponce said. “One of the main things I hoped to gain was problem-solving strategies. Even the patience and empathy I built with the kids helped me develop stronger relationship-building skills for my future.”

Her role included supporting reading and writing development through creative, engaging activities, and helping students prepare for tests and write papers, all with a focus on academic success.

Liz Ponce, IU Student Success Corps tutor, leads students at Christamore House in self-assessments and a “Getting to Know Each Other” activity.

Waddell, a sophomore majoring in biology and an aspiring oncology researcher, brought valuable experience to the program. She began tutoring by helping her younger sister, who was nine years younger than her, with reading and math. At Christamore House, she applied those same skills with students in the afterschool program.

“If I want to go into pediatric oncology, this was great experience,” Waddell said. “Even if I decide to take a different path, like teaching, working with kids gave me valuable insight that I’ll carry with me.”

Waddell provided one-on-one reading support tailored to each student’s needs, adapted to individual learning styles, assisted with homework, and fostered a positive, supportive learning environment.

Rayne Waddell, IU Student Success Corps tutor, works with a Christamore House student on a phonics screener to identify their next lesson.

Dr. Rowley highlighted the vital role both students played: “Liz built a positive rapport with students through healthy relationships. Rayne unfolded their curiosity and challenged them to grow. The IU tutor mentors’ commitment to the program has helped change the lives of the young people they served.”

Program Impact and Future Partnership

A cheerful “Today is Your Day!” centerpiece brightened the tables during the end-of-year celebration.

In addition to tutoring, the program provided books and journals to encourage reading and storytelling, as well as school supplies for all 30 families. These resources were distributed during the end-of-year celebration, ensuring every family left with materials to support continued learning at home.

Families shared positive feedback about the program’s impact. One caregiver remarked their, “child enjoyed working with the IU tutor and talked about it all the time.” Another expressed appreciation for the culturally relevant reading materials: “The books are wonderful because my son can see himself in the story.”

Christamore House staff also expressed strong satisfaction with the IU K–12 Student Success Corps tutors and the progress they saw in participating students. They shared that they would like to continue the partnership moving forward, citing the value it brought to their afterschool program.

About this partnership

Christamore House has served the near west Indianapolis community for more than 100 years through child and youth education, senior programming, and life skills training.

Christamore House Family and Community Center - EST 1905

Founded in 2016, the IU K–12 Student Success Corps (SSC) began as a statewide initiative supporting students through collaborations with multiple IU campuses and K–12 public schools. Over time, it expanded to include community centers such as Christamore House, engaging students and families beyond traditional school settings. While the program has evolved in size and structure, it continues to support students and families with a student-centered, collaborative approach.

This local grant was part of more than $4 million awarded to nonprofit organizations, libraries, and schools in Dollar General’s hometown communities across the country to help extend a brighter future for K–12 students.

Families gather to celebrate the achievements of students participating in the “Level Up with Literacy” program at Christamore House.

“We understand investing in youth literacy means investing in the future of students and our collective communities,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “Through these grants, we hoped to enhance the programs’ efforts to foster students’ critical thinking skills, creativity and confidence so they can unlock their potential and achieve their dreams.”

Families enjoy a moment of celebration and community at Christamore House, recognizing the hard work and growth of students in the “Level Up with Literacy” program.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction, and inspire a love of reading. Each year, DGLF awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer, and youth literacy programs. The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam. Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online at dgliteracy.org or through referral cards found in Learn to Read brochures at Dollar General stores.

The “Level Up with Literacy” partnership and initiative exemplifies IU Indianapolis’ commitment to P-12 student success by supporting literacy development and providing mentorship that helps K–12 students build strong academic foundations.

A comprehensive list of Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant recipients may be found at www.dgliteracy.org. For more information about “Level Up with Literacy,” email sscp@iu.edu.

Celebrating Community Engagement at IU Indianapolis

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Teresa Francis

Honoring faculty, staff, and partners advancing campus and community impact

Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence, Indiana University Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 8, 2025

At the annual Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence, IU Indianapolis recognizes individuals who exemplify the campus’ mission through exceptional contributions in teaching, research, service, and leadership. Among the many honors presented, several awards specifically celebrate outstanding community-engaged work, highlighting those who build meaningful partnerships, foster student learning beyond the classroom, and help improve quality of life in Central Indiana and beyond.

The 2025 recipients of community engagement awards, recognized at the Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence held this past spring, are highlighted below. Honored for their commitment to collaborative partnerships, public service, and community impact, these individuals and organizations demonstrate the many ways IU Indianapolis partners with communities to advance shared goals and create positive change.

2025 IU Indianapolis Community Engagement Award Recipients:

Mary Ciccarelli and Katharina Weber (Charles Bantz Community Fellowship Award)
The Charles R. Bantz Community Fellowship Award includes a $40,000 grant to support a year-long, community-engaged research initiative that addresses pressing community issues through collaborative university-community partnerships.

Dr. Mary Ciccarelli, Morris Green Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Clinical Medicine-Pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine

Dr. Mary Ciccarelli and Dr. Katharina Weber, both faculty with joint appointments in the Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at the IU School of Medicine, received the 2025 Bantz Community Fellowship Award for their project, Indiana Complex Care Coordination Collaborative – Preventive Care for People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Their initiative brings together IU Indianapolis faculty, students, and community partners to expand access to preventive care and improve healthcare navigation for people with IDD.

This work builds on a collaboration between the IU School of Medicine and Special Olympics Indiana to develop 4ourhealth.org, a website designed to help individuals with IDD better understand preventive care, self-management, and healthcare navigation. With support from the Bantz Fellowship, the team will partner with clinicians, students, and self-advocates from Special Olympics Indiana and the Village of Merici to evaluate and refine the site’s usability before broader dissemination.

“This next step afforded by the Bantz award will help us refine what we have done to date, fueling our aspirations for better usability and long-term health improvements,” says Dr. Ciccarelli.

Dr. Katharina Weber, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine-Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine

Dr. Weber adds, “Thanks to the support from the Bantz Fellowship award, we have the means to partner with intended users in our community to discover areas for improvement, make changes, and confirm that we are optimizing their experience on the website.”

Dr. D. Wade Clapp, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine, praised both faculty members for their contributions to medicine and the community. “Dr. Mary Ciccarelli is the Morris Green Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Clinical Medicine-Pediatrics with a long history of significant and successful contributions to our department in medical education and to our statewide community in innovations of care for care coordination, early autism diagnosis, and transition to adult care,” he shared.

“Dr. Katie Weber is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine-Pediatrics. She has been an outstanding advocate for persons with disabilities in primary care through IU Health, and has helped build disability curricula in medical education, engage in community collaborations with Damar and Special Olympics, and lead clinical innovations related to disability services.

“I am always impressed by the work of Drs. Ciccarelli and Weber. They are true allies for persons with disabilities. They are creative, hardworking, and enthusiastic. Students who have the benefit of working with them grow in clinical and research skills, and also in humanism,” he concluded.

Kathleen Unroe (Bantz-Petronio Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) Award)
The Bantz-Petronio TRIP Faculty Award, established in 2013 by Chancellor Emeritus Charles Bantz and Professor Sandra Petronio, honors IU Indianapolis faculty who transform interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research into innovative practices or solutions that improve lives across Indiana and beyond.

Dr. Kathleen Unroe, professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine, research scientist at the IU Center for Aging Research, and practicing geriatrician and nursing home physician.

Dr. Kathleen Unroe, professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine, research scientist at the IU Center for Aging Research, and a geriatrician and nursing home physician, received this award for her leadership in improving nursing home care through research, clinical innovation, and policy change.

Widely recognized for her leadership in geriatric care, she has translated research into practices that are improving how care is delivered in nursing homes across Indiana and beyond. She has led several major initiatives—including OPTIMISTIC, a $30.3 million demonstration project funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that improved care and reduced avoidable hospitalizations in 40 Indiana nursing homes. She currently leads NEXT STEPs, a $16 million NIH-funded initiative to increase the quality and number of clinical trials in nursing homes, and co-leads UPLIFT, a multi-state trial testing of a new palliative care model.

Dr. Unroe shared, “I am passionate about understanding how we can best support people with long-term care needs and serious illness and then advocating for that care.”

To extend the reach of her work, Dr. Unroe founded Probari, a woman-owned Indiana-based business helping implement the OPTIMISTIC care model in nursing homes across multiple states. Her contributions have improved outcomes for older adults while influencing care delivery, staffing practices, and national policy conversations.

“I see research as a pathway to a stronger, more person-centered system of care,” she said. “That requires close partnerships in the community. Without community and industry partnerships, we can’t recruit facility leaders, staff, residents, and families to participate in research, and critically, we don’t have pathways to put into action the best practices we collaboratively discover. I am grateful for this honor.”

Edward Curtis (Chancellor’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement)
The Chancellor’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement, which includes a $3,000 base salary increase, honors faculty whose teaching, research, and service enhance the quality of life in the greater community.

Dr. Edward Curtis, director of the IU Indianapolis Arabic and Islamic Studies Program, is recognized by IU Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand during the Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence.

Dr. Edward Curtis, director of the IU Indianapolis Arabic and Islamic Studies Program and Gail M. and William M. Plater Chair of the Liberal Arts, received this award for creating and leading the Arab Indianapolis community history project, highlighting the rich heritage and contributions of Arab Americans in greater Indianapolis.

From 2020 to 2023, the Arab Indianapolis project engaged student researchers and community partners to produce a thrice Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary (Arab Indianapolis: A Hidden History), a published book (Arab Indianapolis, Belt Publishing, 2022), an interactive website accessed by over 48,000 people, and a virtual Heritage Trail tour. The work also led to an official State of Indiana historical marker at Lucas Oil Stadium, K–12 workshops for educators, PBS LearningMedia lesson plans and videos, a community blog, and 20 statewide community dialogues supported by Indiana Humanities.

The project contributed to Arab American public history scholarship and elevated recognition of Arab Hoosiers by commemorating their stories at key sites across the city, including the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Millennium Plaza, Riverside Park Promenade, the Indiana Historical Bureau, and the Indiana Historical Society.

A nominator highlighted the project’s emotional and civic impact, recounting an event at the dedication of the South Street Extension of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in October 2024. After Dr. Curtis spoke about the city’s historic Syrian Quarter and the cultural vibrancy of South Street in 1900, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett—who followed him at the podium—remarked that Dr. Curtis was one of the toughest acts he’d ever had to follow. The Mayor shared that he was deeply moved by Dr. Curtis’s reminder that the true identity of Indianapolis has always been one of ethnic, religious, racial, and linguistic diversity.

Dr. Edward Curtis, Gail M. and William M. Plater Chair of the Liberal Arts at IU Indianapolis

This initiative exemplifies the integration of service, teaching, and research, creating meaningful learning opportunities for students, faculty, and community partners. “Tens of thousands of people participated in some way, which showed both IU Indianapolis student researchers and Arab American community members that their work matters and is having an impact,” a nominator wrote.

The initiative gave students, many of them Arab American, opportunities to participate in historical research and storytelling featured in local and national media. As a nominator shared, the project gave many Arab American community members “a new sense of belonging.”

Curtis’s nomination received broad support from colleagues and community leaders, highlighting the value of university–community collaboration and the project’s role in deepening historical knowledge about the history and contributions of Arab American communities in greater Indianapolis and across Indiana.

Nine13 Logistics (Chancellor’s Community Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement)
The Chancellor’s Community Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement recognizes community organizations that collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to deepen student learning, advance academic and professional work, and improve community outcomes through teaching, research, or service.

Nine13 Logistics , a valued community partner, received this award for its meaningful and sustained collaboration with IU Indianapolis students, faculty, and staff across multiple schools. Through joint research and operational projects, IU Indianapolis students have helped Nine13 Logistics address food insecurity in Marion County, gaining real-world experience while contributing to a stronger community.

Founded as Nine13 Sports in 2012 by former professional cyclist Tom Hanley, the nonprofit began by introducing youth from under-resourced communities to fitness and city exploration through cycling and hands-on bike building. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted school-based programming, the organization quickly pivoted to meet an urgent community need – supporting food pantry logistics across Indianapolis. That shift was so critical that Nine13 could not simply return to “business as usual” when schools reopened. Instead, this essential work evolved into Nine13 Logistics, which now operates alongside its youth programming, using revenue from logistics services to support its educational mission.

IU Indianapolis partners with Nine13 Logistics through the Optimizing Food Pantry Deliveries Project, funded by a University Center grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Students from the Herron School of Art and Design, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and Purdue School of Engineering and Technology collaborated with Nine13 on logistics research, process improvement, and operational expansion, deepening their learning while contributing to a critical effort to reduce food insecurity in the community.

Professional cyclist and Nine13 Logistics owner Tom Hanley leads IU Indianapolis student teams in the Optimizing Food Pantry Deliveries Project. Hanley hosted site visits and shared insights into operational logistics, helping students explore innovative ways to improve food access in the community.

As a working partner, Nine13 has provided IU Indianapolis students with real-world insights into third-party logistics in the local food pantry ecosystem. The organization hosted site visits, engaged students in in-depth discussions, and shared operational data. Student teams have documented current processes, identified opportunities to improve efficiency, and helped chart a path for growth.

“In 2024, 31% of Marion County residents experienced food insecurity, which is a 50% higher rate than before the pandemic,” said Youngbok Hong, professor in the Herron School of Art and Design. To help address this, IU Indianapolis students are working with Nine13 to optimize food pantry delivery systems and increase the organization’s capacity. These improvements will help local food pantries access and distribute food more efficiently to those in need.

“Tom Hanley has taught our students a master class in what it means to be nimble, to be willing to learn new things, and to have a humble spirit,” she added. “He’s been an example of professionalism, accessibility, and kindness, and shown students and staff alike what it means to serve others.”

Kim Sarver (Nan Bohan Community Engagement Award)
The Nan Bohan Community Engagement Staff Award honors IU employees whose exceptional service—whether through their professional roles, committee work, or volunteerism— strengthens the culture of service and civic engagement on campus and in the community.

Kim Sarver, PMP, project manager at The Polis Center at IU Indianapolis and advisor to Women in Technology (WiT), is recognized by IU Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand during the Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence.

Kim Sarver, project manager at The Polis Center at IU Indianapolis and advisor to Women in Technology (WiT), received this award in recognition of her extensive commitment to community service and her impactful civic engagement on and off campus. Sarver exemplifies leadership rooted in service and dedication to uplifting others through her work in mentorship, K–12 STEM outreach, food drives, health forums, and student advocacy.

Her dedication to service began early, shaped by her parents and her experiences at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Andrew J. Brown, a prominent civic leader and pastor in Indianapolis. “My love for community and philanthropy began in my teens,” she shared. “That upbringing motivated me to give back and help those less fortunate.”

At The Polis Center, Sarver helps communities access quality tools and understand meaningful data that can guide decision-making and influence policy, especially in the areas of public health and senior wellbeing. Her contributions include organizing community forums, making data more accessible, and helping shape conversations that impact lives.

Beyond her professional role, Sarver serves as an advisor to Women in Technology (WiT), where she mentors women and students pursuing careers in high-tech fields. Through WiT, she helps provide STEM education experiences for K–12 students by partnering with local schools and participating in community events throughout Indianapolis.

Kim Sarver was featured as a #STEMsation Spotlight by Nyla Nova STEMversity®, which highlights STEM leaders making an impact in their communities. The feature included a profile and Q&A about her work, service, and career journey.

She also volunteers with campus and alumni initiatives, including efforts led by the IU Indianapolis Black Faculty and Staff Council (BFSC) and the Tennessee State University Alumni Association (TSUAA) chapter. Through these groups, she helps coordinate canned food drives and supports college students through outreach and engagement. Sarver has also represented IU Indianapolis at community events such as Indiana Black Expo, where she shares information about educational resources and scholarship opportunities with local students.

“Being involved with IU Indianapolis has been a great way for me to express this love I have for our community,” Sarver shares.

Sarver’s work embodies the spirit of the Nan Bohan Award, grounded in service, leadership, and a deep commitment to uplifting others. Through her mentorship, volunteerism, and advocacy, she continues to champion a more connected, informed, and empowered community.

The Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence also awarded achievements in teaching, mentoring, research, staff leadership, intercultural engagement, and sustainability. View the full list of 2025 honorees. Congratulations to all recipients! Their lasting contributions continue to strengthen IU Indianapolis and communities across Indiana and beyond.