IU Center for Rural Engagement Assisting Bedford with Ethnic Sensitivity Research

Last updated on Tuesday, April 3, 2018

(BEDFORD) - As part of Indiana University’s Sustaining Hoosiers Communities Initiative, the City of Bedford is collaborating with Professors and IU students at the Media School to complete research that will help the community learn how to create a more welcoming environment for its residents and those visiting Lawrence County.

IU students are completing research regarding initiatives that have worked in other communities, interviews are being held with local leaders, and an anonymous online survey is being implemented to understand how Bedford can help foster a greater appreciation and sensitivity for all community members.

They are asking parents, students, educators, elected officials, church and business leaders to complete an online survey to help in the research.

Participation in the online survey is voluntary and anonymous and will help local leaders discover ways that Bedford can better promote and strengthen the community.

The input of area residents regarding this important topic is greatly needed and valued. That is why residents are being asked to complete a survey and the greater the participation the more meaningful the results," says Bedford Mayor Shawna Girgis.

By utilizing one of the survey links below individuals agree to participate in the study and will be forwarded to the appropriate survey. The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete and will be available until Tuesday, April 10th, 2018.

Students: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3PiozsmlrULiGm9
Parents: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0kVC8YAOkRCvkLH
Educators: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b4lxnBpEh2TNCBL
Faith Leaders: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_56FlO1BEM4SScu1

Lawrence County has identified sustainability projects for their community that intersect with a variety of disciplines and serve a host of the community's needs. Projects range from promoting dark skies in the Hoosier National Forest to reducing the rates of hypertension and include issues of physical activity, food security, natural resource management, and much more.

Economic sustainability projects

Bedford Shared Work Space - An important obstacle to entrepreneurship and small business start-ups is the availability of community-based workspace. In collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, the class will reimagine and redesign the interior spaces of two downtown locations for conversion into shared workspace. Students will assess the needs of local entrepreneurs and plan their designed spaces according to those findings.

City Gateways - Bedford and Mitchell are planning to build city gateways that mark the entrances of these communities and celebrate their unique identities. Students from IU, led by professors from the School of Art and Design, will learn about the community identities of both cities and present gateway designs for each community to reflect their unique attributes.

Complete Streets - Project teams will utilize common national metrics for walkable and bicycle-friendly communities to provide a gap analysis for Bedford. Teams will also research best practices in complete streets policy and implementation and make specific recommendations for moving forward with aspects of the 2016 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

HWY 50 Bypass - Students will assess the feasibility of adjusting the current route of HWY 50 away from the downtown Bedford square. The class will analyze the impacts of an alternate corridor for the highway and the potential for business development in the downtown area.

Little Theatre - In order to assist the Little Theatre retain its position as a vibrant part of the Bedford community, the class will create best practices for fund development, board development, community relations and audience development. The class will investigate comparable local theatres and propose strategic plans that include both business and artistic perspectives.

Train Depot Visitor Display - The City of Bedford will turn the recently relocated Milwaukee Road passenger depot into a community and tourism information center in the heart of downtown. A graduate laboratory will research and develop an interpretive exhibit about Bedford and Indiana's limestone heritage. Students will translate interviews, historical photographs, and other related data into ten interpretive panel prototypes that could be used at the Visitor Center.

Environmental sustainability projects

Avoca Fish Hatchery - The decommissioned Avoca Fish Hatchery is in the midst of transfer from Indiana's Department of Natural Resources to the Lawrence County Community. The class will spend the semester evaluating the site in order to propose a long-term vision and management plan for the historic, cultural resource. Students will apply ecological and social knowledge, skills, and abilities to the Avoca Fish Hatchery Case, presenting the community with a variety of potential proposals to consider for the sustainable stewardship of the newly acquired resource.

Gus Grissom Trail Design - The City of Mitchell is in the early stages of planning a multi-use trail from Gus Grissom's boyhood home to his memorial in Spring Mill State Park. Classes in the School of Informatics will pilot technological features for the larger trail on an existing trail within the park. Features might include: solar powered trail counters; phone apps to monitor and maintain the trail; and a public facing web portal. Art and Design students will design educational signage and a "brand book," outlining the branding specifications that can be followed when the signs are designed and put into production.

Hoosier National Forest Dark Sky Designation - To increase the number of visitors and their enjoyment of the forest, the Hoosier National Forest is pursuing Dark Sky designation for parts of the forest within Lawrence County. Light sensors--developed by IU Informatics and Computing Professor Bryce Himebaugh--will be deployed in the fall semester to generate data needed to identify accessible locations with low enough light pollution to qualify for designation. In the spring semester, students will improve the sensors and provide a report to Hoosier National Forest staff on areas suitable for Dark Sky designation.

Social sustainability projects

Civics and Financial Literacy Curriculum - In partnership with stakeholders from Bedford North Lawrence Schools, IU students will develop a civics and personal financial health curriculum for middle school students enrolled at Bedford Middle School. The engaging curriculum will connect to the needs expressed by the community and will focus on issues of financial well-being and planning, and developing a sense of community belonging and participation. The curriculum will meet specific principles set out in the Indiana Academic Standards (IAS).

Community Gardens - Assist in continuing the strength and success of community gardens in the Mitchell and Bedford communities through a life-span development model. Students will create fundraising, marketing, and community engagement plans for the community gardens--tailored to residents of varying ages.

Diversity Commission - In addition to assessing the internal and external factors that affect issues of diversity in the city of Bedford, students will conduct interviews and online surveys to understand more fully Bedford residents' attitudes, views, and perceptions of the diversity of their community.

Trail Use for Healthy Communities - In collaboration with Live Well Lawrence County, students in public health and in biology will work to develop and test physical activity interventions in order to promote active living and health. The goals of the project include encouraging physical activity as a way to reduce cardiovascular disease, with particular focus on high blood pressure and hypertension.

Issues of Addiction - Through a series of classes in social work and law, students will research and analyze the social and legal issues of drug use, abuse, and addiction. The classes will explore the impacts of drug use on individuals and families and will examine best practices used in other communities as models for addressing drug use issues in the Lawrence County community.

Youth Council - Building on work already in place in the community, the class will create a dynamic youth engagement program for high school students to educate them about and involve them in local government and civic engagement opportunities to build active, engaged and empowered youth, committed to the success of their community.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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