Indiana University turns small-town dreams into community action plans
Municipal and county leaders often hire consultants for analysis and assessment when drafting economic development plans, but the support can be costly. For Daviess County, Indiana, having Indiana University faculty and students do research and identify next steps brought clarity to renewal projects in downtown Washington, Indiana.
Main Street makeover: Businesses in Shoals get boost from IU revitalization initiative
Small businesses along Main Street in Shoals, Indiana, recently received a boost thanks to a partnership with the Rural Placemaking Studio. The project paired IU faculty and students with business owners to design and fabricate new signage that improves visibility while creating a cohesive aesthetic that reflects Shoals’ regional identity.
Sustaining Hoosier Communities supports Daviess County in addressing childcare shortage
Faced with a growing population and a significant shortage of childcare options, community leaders in Daviess County partnered with the IU Center for Rural Engagement’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) initiative to explore solutions to this growing challenge.
Second year of Rural Scholars Program brings growth and new focus areas
The Rural Scholars Program offers students the unique opportunity to use their knowledge and expertise to support initiatives across the state of Indiana.
Rural communities invited to apply for Indiana University's 2026 Rural Placemaking Studio
The Rural Placemaking Studio is a partnership between the IU ServeDesign Center at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and the IU Center for Rural Engagement. The initiative helps rural communities strengthen their quality of place by connecting them with IU faculty and students who specialize in design, placemaking, and community arts.
Episode 9: Strengthening Rural Communities Through University Partnerships
Guests Cindy Barber, county extension director at Purdue Extension Daviess County, and Scott Burgins, clinical assistant professor at IU’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, join host Denny Spinner in Washington, Indiana, to share how Sustaining Hoosier Communities has helped local leaders and university students work together on real-world projects that address community needs.
Student Spotlight: Design students bring vision to projects in Loogootee
For Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design students Marilyn King and Will Potter, the Rural Placemaking Studio has been a learning experience and an opportunity to use their design skills as tools for positive community change.
Faculty reflect on connections built during Rural Indiana Faculty Tour
Faculty from across IU Bloomington spent three days together getting to know the people, places, and partnerships shaping rural southern Indiana.
IU’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities launches first alum year with expanded rural partnerships
The initiative offers past SHC partner communities the opportunity to advance new projects and deepen existing relationships with IU.
Student Spotlight: Iris Sorrell turns research into action on food insecurity in Knox County
Driven by her passion for rural service, IU O’Neill student Iris Sorrell helped Knox County address food insecurity with research and collaboration.
Denny Spinner, executive director of the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement (CRE), will retire at the end of August, with his last day on Aug. 29. Kyla Cox Deckard, CRE’s director of strategy and communications, has been named interim executive director effective Sept. 1.
Indiana University was selected as a regional winner of the 2025 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Award for its Sustaining Hoosier Communities program and will compete for the Magrath Award.
Daviess County and IU Sustaining Hoosier Communities to celebrate year of partnership
The public is invited to attend a special event on Aug. 28 celebrating a year of collaboration between Daviess County and Sustaining Hoosier Communities that led to 27 community-identified projects.
Chelsea Simpkins draws on a community-first mindset to combine her passion for health access and community engagement to strengthen health communication efforts across rural Indiana.
Jim Walton Community Impact Award Recipient Announced at 2025 Rural Summit
Denny Spinner, Executive Director of Indiana University’s Center for Rural Engagement, is the Recipient of the 2025 Jim Walton Community Impact Award.
Community Resilience Liaison, Nick Smaligo, reflects on the 2025 IU Rural Conference, capturing how courage emerged as the quiet force uniting community leaders, artists, and organizers in a shared pursuit of resilience, love, and transformation.
O'Neill Online Week builds experience, connections for Online MPA students
O’Neill Online Week, an annual event hosted by O'Neill, lets students meet in person, apply their skills to real-world projects, and build lasting connections. This year, students collaborated with Indiana communities to develop strategies for nonprofit growth and trail system improvements.
City of Washington works to enhance bicycle, pedestrian safety through IU collaboration
A recent collaboration between the City of Washington and the IU Center for Rural Engagement’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative brought renewed energy and fresh perspectives to making Washington safer. Graduate students from the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs worked with local leaders to explore practical solutions for boosting safety for local travelers, whether they’re on foot, behind the wheel, or pedaling.
Student Spotlight: ServeIT intern boosts rural businesses and communities
Esteban Becerra combines his passion for web design and community development to support small-town communities across rural Indiana.
Episode 8: Uncovering Black Heritage in Knox County and Beyond
Host Denny Spinner travels to Vincennes, Indiana, to speak with Eunice Trotter, director of the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program, and local historian Tom Bartholomew. Together, they explore the deep and often overlooked history of Black communities in Knox County and across Indiana.
Student Spotlight: Rural Health Scholar champions public health in rural communities
A Rural Health Scholar with the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, Shreya brings that dedication to rural Indiana. In partnership with the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington, she supports local health initiatives through Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs).
IU Bloomington faculty members selected for 2025 Rural Indiana Faculty Tour
Twenty-five faculty members from Indiana University Bloomington will embark on a three-day tour through the heart of rural southern Indiana to explore opportunities and deepen community-engaged research.
The goal of this partnership was twofold: educate the public about the harm invasive plants cause and engage students in active removal efforts to help restore ecological balance.
IU Center for Rural Engagement honors outstanding leaders for impact on rural communities
These awards celebrate remarkable work in student engagement, community partnership, faculty-engaged teaching, faculty community engagement, and faculty lifetime achievement.
IU students support veterans’ mental health through Creative Arts for Vets
A key factor in CAV's success is the dedicated team of passionate interns who play a vital role in helping veterans find peace and belonging.
Town of Washington history comes alive through Luddy School project
History comes to life in the southern Indiana town of Washington thanks to the work of students in Luddy Informatics Professor Katie Siek’s “Methods for Human Centered Computing” course.
From the Desk: Collaborations aid mental health efforts in rural communities
John Keesler, associate professor at the Indiana University School of Social Work, reflects on how his partnerships with the IU Center for Rural Engagement have strengthened his focus on addressing mental health challenges in rural Indiana.
2025 IU Rural Conference to foster collaboration and innovation in rural Indiana
The conference will provide a platform for community leaders, Indiana University researchers, students and professionals from diverse fields to connect and collaborate on the opportunities and challenges facing rural Indiana.
HRSA grant expands telehealth resources to support mental well-being of rural Hoosiers
Through federal funding and a key partnership with Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center (MHHCC), faculty in the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) Department of Applied Health Science are making mental health resources more readily available to a growing number of residents in rural southern Indiana.
Health Fairs Beyond the Numbers: Focusing on Meaningful Resident and Student Impact
Practicum student, Gabriela Diaz, reflects on the meaningful community health impact made through the Greene County Wellness Fair.
Rural organizations selected to partner with IU on creative placemaking initiative
Sixteen rural Indiana organizations will partner with Indiana University this year for the next round of the Rural Placemaking Studio, an initiative that links IU faculty and students with rural Indiana residents to enrich their communities through innovative public art and design.
Alum Spotlight: Eric Ashby champions the arts in rural communities across Indiana
Discover how Eric Ashby, director of programs for the Indiana Arts Commission, is transforming rural communities through creativity and meaningful connections.
Episode 7: Bridging the Mental Health Gap in Rural Indiana
Host Denny Spinner sits down with Jodi Routson, director of Behavioral Health Services at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center; Jon Agley, associate professor at the IU School of Public Health; and Amy Todd, registered nurse and program management specialist at IU, to explore a groundbreaking partnership addressing mental health needs in rural Indiana.
Opinion: Don't fight the tide—The church as the rural resource hub
Executive director Denny Spinner notes that churches serve a critical role in rural communities and should be recognized as an important partner in connecting communities with needed resources.
Sara Marshall, a rural placemaking intern, channels her passion for storytelling to preserve the cherished histories of Indiana’s rural communities, ensuring the stories of yesterday live on through today's creative placemaking initiatives.
Stories in Place: How History Shapes Rural Placemaking
Every place has a story worth sharing. As a place-based storyteller, I admit I may be a bit biased, but working with the 2024 Rural Placemaking Studio cohort reinforced how unique each community truly is.
New Greene County Food as Medicine program combats chronic illness and food insecurity
This free, 18-week program combines healthy eating with disease prevention, offering a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Episode 6: Navigating New Horizons as a Rural Student at IU Bloomington
Host Denny Spinner sits down with Colleen Rose, the director of student engagement at the IU Center for Rural Engagement, and two Indiana University Bloomington students, Dayanara Alvarado and Noah Bootcheck, to explore their journeys from small-town Indiana to the bustling campus of IU Bloomington.
Town of Elnora envisions new possibilities with IU design program
What began as a simple proposal to beautify their town hall with greenspace soon grew into 30 different architectural designs across the map of Elnora.
IU to support mental well-being in collaboration with Lilly Endowment and rural congregations
A grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative will support IU and other university partners in creating a suite of mental well-being resources that address needs expressed by rural congregations and their communities.
Increasing access to care through community health outreach
IU students are bridging healthcare gaps in rural communities through free health clinics, providing essential screenings and health coaching to underserved populations.
Students from the IU Kelley School of Business are using their academic skills to help shape the future of rural Indiana businesses.
Episode 5: Revitalizing Martin County through Creative Placemaking
Host Denny Spinner sits down with Jessica Potts, executive director of the Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth; Jon Racek, program director and teaching professor for comprehensive design at the IU Eskenazi School for Art, Architecture + Design; and Nicole Vasconi, quality of place liaison for the IU Center for Rural Engagement to discuss the transformative impact of the Rural Placemaking Studio on Martin County, Indiana.
Former IU student and Sustaining Hoosier Communities project participant, Sarah Murphy, is working to help Spring Mill State Park visitors reconnect with nature and her community.
Rural communities can apply to become the next IU Sustaining Hoosier Communities partner
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement is now accepting applications for the next Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) partnership, which will run through 2026-27.
IU graduate student Brittany Eckler is helping preserve letters to Santa—some nearly 100 years old—as a Rural Archives Scholar through the IU Center for Rural Engagement's Rural Scholars Program, an initiative that matches IU students with high-priority projects in rural communities.
Rural Scholars Program partners IU students with vital projects in rural communities
Launched in the fall of 2024, the Rural Scholars Program identifies high-priority projects in rural communities and matches them with students driven to make a lasting impact in the Hoosier state.
Rural communities invited to apply for Indiana University's 2025 Rural Placemaking Studio
The Rural Placemaking Studio is a partnership between the IU ServeDesign Center at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and the IU Center for Rural Engagement. The initiative fosters the development of vibrant, accessible public places that are maintainable throughout residents' lifetimes and sustainable for future generations.
Episode 4: Trauma-informed care strengthens community resilience in Orange County
Brandy Terrell of Southern Indiana Community Health Care and John Keesler from the IU School of Social Work joined host Denny Spinner to discuss the evolution of developing trauma-informed care programming in Orange County, Indiana.
Greene County Wellness Fair to offer free health screenings, wellness resources Nov. 9
On Saturday, November 9, attendees ages 18 and up can receive free on-site health and wellness services. Versiti Blood Center of Indiana will host a mobile blood drive, and free childcare will be offered.
Arts for Youth Book offers creative approach to mental wellness for rural Indiana teens
A new therapeutic art workbook is helping rural teens creatively navigate the challenges of adolescence.
Opinion: Galvanizing economic growth in rural Indiana
Rural leaders need a coherent and consistent strategy focused on building housing, retaining college graduates, and improving quality of place.
Daviess County, IU launches Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative with 20 new projects
The community has launched several initiatives through SHC this fall, including placemaking design and installations in Elnora, Montgomery, and Washington, Black heritage oral history recordings, business development strategies for the I-69 corridor and a cross-dock and transload facility, planning for increased childcare options, and new recreational opportunities.
Episode 3: Spencer Pride fosters quality of place through rural LGBTQ+ outreach
Jacob Balash, Judi Epp, and Elisabeth Solchik of Spencer Pride join host Denny Spinner to discuss how the LGBTQ+ not-for-profit supports rural quality of place through its annual Spencer Pride Festival, commUnity center, cultural programming, and local beautification efforts in Spencer, Indiana.
IU senior Quinn Scott spent his final summer as an undergraduate helping rural Hoosier communities reimagine their public spaces.
Community health improvement planning in Africa
Rural engagement goes global with Dr. Priscilla Barnes and her team at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington.
Episode 2: Building recovery networks in Daviess County
In this episode of Our Indiana: Stories from Rural Hoosiers, Jimmy Hay of REAL Recovery and Priscilla Barnes of the IU School of Public Health join host Denny Spinner for a hopeful conversation on the community impact of the Daviess Advances Recovery Access Consortium partnership with the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement.
Rural smokers found success in quitting with IU cessation programs
Through I-HOPE, IU collaborated with rural Indiana healthcare providers to provide free smoking cessation programs throughout southern Indiana.
Last summer, Priscilla Barnes, associate professor in the Department of Applied Health Science—with help from her former doctoral student Josephine Mwangi—spent 13 days in Kenya building relationships with Kenyatta and Kabarak Universities.
Dubois County, IU celebrate Sustaining Hoosier Communities success
The collaboration successfully launched 31 community projects and connected 580 IU students and 47 IU faculty and staff with organizations throughout Dubois County.
IU faculty and staff have paired 20 community-identified Daviess County projects with IU Bloomington courses and programs for the 2024 fall semester. Additional projects are anticipated for the spring and summer semesters.
O’Neill Online Week brings MPA student’s state government experience to rural Washington County
Online MPA student, Seth Hinshaw, spent a week developing a comprehensive plan to improve volunteer fire services across Washington County, Ind., where a dwindling number of volunteer firefighters has left the community grappling to meet its firefighting needs effectively.
Episode 1: Sustaining Hoosier Communities with Dubois County
In our debut episode, Rossina Sandoval and Christian Blome join host Denny Spinner for a lively conversation on the community impact of Dubois County's two-year partnership with the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement's Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative.
IU Eskenazi students to showcase Rural Placemaking Studio designs on Aug. 27
Over the past two months, students working through the Rural Placemaking Studio have dedicated their talents to creative placemaking and reimagining public spaces in rural communities. The event will feature an inspiring showcase of their final designs through a rolling photo slideshow and posters.
‘It’s helping’: IU Creative Arts for Vets has national reach
An Indiana University program has reached thousands of veterans across the U.S., giving them a free way to cope and heal through art therapy.
Student Spotlight: Jessica Pinyerd focuses on rural mental health needs in Dubois County
As part of the course led by Dr. Shirley Payne, she conducted a community needs assessment of the capacity and timely access to mental health services in the Dubois County area.
Community Spotlight: REAL Recovery offers loving support and advocacy in Daviess County
REAL’s vision is to give a voice to people in recovery and help to improve access to housing, employment, and recovery resources.
Bloom where you are planted: Indiana journalist and farmer grows community connections
IU alum serves as editor of the Washington Times-Herald, supports the family farm, and is connecting community through a food-as-medicine initiative.
Opinion: When rural communities welcome immigrants, everyone wins
Where rural America has sound strategy and leadership committed to inclusion, it can be vibrant once more.
Since its inception in the spring of 2023, the IRFH—or the Hub—has helped small Hoosier communities secure $1,011,529 in grant funding.
Inspired by the Eclipse: A Creative Approach to Celestial Phenomena in Rural Indiana
For several months leading up to the eclipse, the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement spearheaded IU’s rural solar eclipse initiative. This initiative provided funding and support for arts and cultural events that celebrated the total solar eclipse across rural Indiana.
Student Spotlight: IU student strengthens cybersecurity in her rural hometown
Recent IU graduate, Izzy Blazey, got the chance to help strengthen cybersecurity in her rural hometown of Jasper, Indiana.
IU Rural Conference to connect Hoosier leaders and educators on vital rural issues
Speakers from around the state will spotlight a range of issues including rural food systems, education challenges, healthcare access and the impact of art in rural communities. The conference will include breakout sessions, discussion tables, demonstrations, poster sessions and networking opportunities.
Rural Indiana organizations to partner with IU on public art and placemaking projects
Thirteen rural Indiana organizations will work with Indiana University this summer to create new placemaking and public art elements in their communities through the Rural Placemaking Studio initiative.
The IUB 2030 strategic plan prioritizes development of a campuswide infrastructure to mobilize IUB’s assets for the benefit of rural community development, including capacity building, leadership development, quality of place, and arts and culture. The plan also uplifts the value of experiential and community-engaged learning for all students.
IU eclipse scholars support communities ahead of major tourism event
15 undergraduate students who are supporting community projects and events connected to the celestial phenomenon. The scholars dedicate up to 10 hours each week leading up to the eclipse to support a community’s programs and events, such as festivals, educational seminars and collaborative art projects.
The Mitchell Model: Uniting IU and elementary students to improve mental health
A new partnership is helping to fill the gap in mental health care access for children in the area.
Here for Hoosier health: 5 Questions with Mylan Gaston
Mylan Gaston strives to help rural Hoosiers live their healthiest lives by linking communities with the university and other resources, facilitating collaboration to effectively create and implement health initiatives.
Art + Horses program helps Indiana veterans mend invisible wounds of war
The Art + Horses program says it all in the name: It combines the calming activities of painting and interacting with horses. Participants design symbols of strength, inspiration, and heraldry and then paint those symbols on a horse.
Heart Healthy Hoosiers: Expanding access to care
Heart Healthy Hoosiers is a free program that provides cardiovascular screenings and lifestyle coaching services throughout southern Indiana.
Painting the song in Jasper’s heart
Working through the school's ServeDesign Center and in tandem with community stakeholders, Eskenazi students designed and implemented an alley activation project in Jasper, Indiana that will be dedicated October 10. Part of a recent tide of downtown revitalization, the ground-to-wall mural reprises Jasper's musical legacy.
Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth, IU partner on Shoals community planning
Indiana University and Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth are teaming up to raise awareness of the natural beauty, small-town charm, national employers, and community assets that make Shoals, Ind. a wonderful place to live and visit.
30 rural organizations receive grants to support solar eclipse arts, cultural activities
Thirty rural organizations across Indiana will receive funding to host arts and cultural events and programs connected to the 2024 solar eclipse, an event that will blanket parts of Indiana in total darkness on April 8.
Workshops provide better understanding of military culture to improve veteran care
A series of workshops at Indiana University aims to improve care for veterans across Indiana by giving students, faculty and staff a better understanding of military culture and veteran experiences.
IGWS Awarded CO2 Sequestration Study Grant
Three Indiana University agencies will collaborate under a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to study the feasibility of using subsurface Indiana rock formations for carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Project Spotlight: Project UNITE
Project UNITE is developing and pilot testing a multi-level teen pregnancy intervention targeting youth, parents and caregivers, and the community in order to help lower these rates and support parenting teens.
Community Spotlight: Recover Out Loud and the R-FIT Program
Due to his unconventional approach and need for reconnection with the sober community, John created Recover Out Loud to help those recovering from substance use disorder connect with a community that supports personal development and long-term growth.
Organizations in rural communities with a population under 50,000 can now apply for micro-grants to support arts and cultural activities connected to the 2024 solar eclipse.
Project Spotlight: Addressing Youth Substance Use and Prevention with the Second Step Curriculum
By implementing the Second Step curriculum, the Aldrich Project Advisory Group aims to be able to expand access to substance use prevention programming for students grades K-8, as well as help them build self-esteem and resiliency.
2024 solar eclipse initiative to support arts, cultural activities in rural Indiana
A new initiative launched by the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement will help rural Indiana communities host arts and cultural events and activities related to the 2024 solar eclipse.
Eskenazi Museum of Art outreach program brings collections to rural communities
Rural communities are often the most in need of this type of arts programming. According to an analysis from the Indiana Arts Commission, access to education in the arts and humanities drives advancement in business, technology and health.
Addiction, mental health, housing among critical issues to be covered at IU Rural Conference
Issues of rural health, resilience and vitality will take center stage at the Indiana University Rural Conference, presented by the IU Center for Rural Engagement. The conference takes place at French Lick Resort on May 18 and 19.
M. Arch student sculptures installed at Salem's Lake Salinda
Salem Mayor Justin Green unveiled two new art projects that will be on display at Lake Salinda and help secure the area as a destination location around Southern Indiana.
Initiative will help smaller Hoosier communities pursue federal climate and resilience funding
The Indiana Resilience Funding Hub will help Hoosier communities with fewer than 50,000 residents pursue federal funding for climate, energy and resilience projects.
Project Spotlight: Teen Food Insecurity in Southern Indiana
Teens who struggle with food insecurity highlighted the many negative effects of an inadequate diet when Mecca Burris and MacKenzie DiMarco from IU Anthropology launched the Teen Food Insecurity in Southern Indiana project.
New book expands access to arts-based wellness for U.S. veterans across the world
The CAV Book includes veteran narratives, art-based wellness directives and exercises, psychoeducational pieces, and additional resources for Hoosier veterans.
From the Desk: A transformational approach
Rooted in an early charge to create transformative university-rural community partnerships that improve Hoosier lives, the center has collaborated with more than 87 Indiana communities across 58 counties, engaging 33,700 residents in new and expanding initiatives.
Possibilities in Paoli: A Community Unites to Create and Revitalize Local Housing
The latest issue of the IHCDA magazine shares a spotlight on the Hoosier Housing Ready Toolkit and Paoli's efforts to tackle community housing challenges.
Inner States: Veterans Doing Art
Hear from Todd Burkhardt, director of campus partnerships at the IU Center for Rural Engagement, as he talks about his life in the military, and what happens when veterans get in a room together and do art.
Perdue Farms’ operation in Washington has launched a pilot smoking cessation program for associates in collaboration with WrightChoice Healthcare and Indiana University School of Public Health and Center for Rural Engagement.
Holland blooms with new mural by Eskenazi student
The Eskenazi team worked with town representatives to determine a suitable location, themes, and imagery for the mural.
Jackson County to launch free program to help residents quit smoking
The Jackson County Health Department will launch a new smoking cessation program on November 17 to coincide with the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout.
IU researcher testing books, internet-based therapies for treating anxiety and depression
An IU researcher uses REDCap to facilitate studies on the feasibility and effectiveness of using books and internet-based therapies for depression and anxiety treatment.
Project Spotlight: Food as Medicine
Residents in the Indiana Uplands region are taking steps to improve their health with a new food-as-medicine initiative that is providing local food, education, and resources as part of the statewide Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE) effort.
Community care: Collaborating for a healthier Greene County
A life dedicated to helping others is a family matter for Wendy Bailey, who has connected residents to a food-as-medicine program and implemented a smoking cessation intervention at her clinic.
Project Spotlight: 2022 Rural Artist Residency
Through the rural artist residency program, campus artists join partnering rural communities for residencies during which they have space and time to practice their craft as well as lead community workshops, teach public school students, host open studio hours, and participate in local exhibits.
How to save a life: Hoosiers respond with lifesaving resources during the opioid epidemic
In an effort to prevent opioid related deaths, the nonprofit ShipHappens is on a mission to get as much naloxone into the hands of as many as possible, empowering Indiana residents to reduce deaths from opioids.
Aligning Teams for Successful Collaboration
While assessing the effectiveness of a community engagement project is complicated, there is one simple indicator that tends to be more highly correlated with successful projects than any other.
Children engage in the world in ways we often lose sight of as adults
Since before the pandemic, Martha MacLeish has been engaged in a collaboration with the IU Center for Rural Engagement and leaders in Huntingburg, Ind., to help revitalize the city’s downtown area. With Huntingburg Elementary School teacher Emily Meyer, the idea for a mural based on the children’s art was born.
Learn how to reduce stigma with a free community webinar
Participants will learn strategies to address and challenge stigmatizing language and interactions.
Twenty-six drawings from children in Huntingburg, IN, were incorporated into the Home is Where I Belong mural, which was completed in early June. The mural will be dedicated on June 24 at 307 East Fourth Street.
New food-as-medicine programs increase access to nutritious, local food
The initiative harnesses a food-as-medicine approach to strengthen local food systems and increase health and well-being across the Indiana Uplands region
Indiana University is again offering a one-day certificate program that educates students preparing to enter public service fields such as public safety, social work, and nursing, on topics like overdose reversal, battling stigma, and identifying and reducing human trafficking in Indiana.
IU Rural Conference to host state, rural leaders and explore collaborative innovations
Gov. Eric Holcomb and CivicLab's Jack Hess will participate in the IU Rural Conference to discuss opportunities in rural Indiana.
Home Expo to showcase innovative housing in Paoli on June 4
The public is invited to a Home Showcase and Remodeling Expo on Saturday, June 4.
Washington County Wellness Fair to offer free health screenings, resources April 9
Residents are invited to access free health services and explore wellness resources at the Washington County Wellness Fair at the Washington County Family YMCA on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
A partner project with IU Sustainable Food Systems Science investigated the barriers to accessing and consuming food among older adults, and the complex provisioning strategies elders used to mitigate food insecurity.
Dubois County, Center for Rural Engagement partner on Sustaining Hoosier Communities projects
Dubois County is the fifth county to join the IU Center for Rural Engagement's Sustaining Hoosier Communities program.
From virtual to rural: O’Neill Online students develop real-life solutions with Indiana communities
Thanks to a week-long residency program, online master’s students at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs are being given the opportunity to make an impact in the region.
Serving those who have served: Creative Arts for Vets
Creative Arts for Vets is connecting with statewide and local organizations to support veterans and their families through arts-based wellness.
Revitalizing rural: A small town with big strengths looks to the future
Kelley School's 180 Degrees Consulting worked with the town of Campbellsburg on revitalization strategy.
Heritage sites not only provide a connection to our history, but can also play a significant role in building community identity and pride.
Washington County Wellness Fair to offer free health screenings, resources Nov. 13
Residents are invited to access free health services and explore wellness resources at the Washington County Wellness Fair at the Washington County Family YMCA on Saturday, November 13 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Back home again: Reimagining rural housing
How can communities increase attainably priced housing stock when available construction labor is scarce and material costs are skyrocketing?
IU working with regional partners to advance state's signature economic development initiative
IU is engaging in Indiana's READI grant program in partnership with economic development groups across the state.
Nominate sites for Indiana's Heritage Trail
We need your help to shape this new statewide project.
Community syringe disposal program keeps residents safe
Prevent Pricks is a project that helps communities establish safe and accessible syringe disposal sites, a component of the harm reduction approach to substance use disorder.
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement will serve communities navigating COVID-19 pandemic recovery through a new state initiative, Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP).
Workshops to examine solutions to food insecurity among older adults
Four workshops across southern Indiana will create strategies to address food insecurity among rural Indiana’s senior residents.
Project Spotlight: 2021 Artist Residency
Through the rural artist residency program, campus artists join partnering rural communities for residencies during which they have space and time to practice their craft as well as lead community workshops, teach public school students, host open studio hours, and participate in local exhibits.
Solving the Hoosier housing shortage
Solving a multi-faceted problem like housing shortages requires a tiered approach, but there is one place every community should start.
Historic mill's future reenvisioned through IU, community research partnership
Nine teams are working together on a community-engaged research project at historic Beck’s Mill, a gristmill established in 1808 near Salem, Ind.
Youth voices inform a healthier rural community
High schoolers in Greene County, Indiana, are working together to discover, learn about, and inform each other on the health issues that are most important to them through their work with the Greene County Youth Health Council (GCYHC) in collaboration with Indiana University.
IU Rural Conference to highlight innovative initiatives, resources and regional partnerships
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement will host its third annual IU Rural Conference on May 12 and 13, bringing together residents and leaders across the state with IU faculty, staff and students virtually.
IU nursing students, community providers increase access to care in rural Indiana
A partnership between the Indiana University Bloomington School of Nursing (IUSON), the Center for Rural Engagement, Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC), and several community partners is providing much needed clinical experience to nursing students and improving access to health care for residents in Orange and Martin counties.
A new smoking cessation initiative in rural Indiana helps moms quit to improve their health and the health of their babies.
Putting community first in community-engaged teaching
While community-engaged teaching projects benefit students, how can we ensure that substantial benefits are also delivered to the community?
Uncovering the secrets of the springs
An IU research team investigates 100 springs—some famous and some unknown—across the Indiana Uplands region.
Panel discussion to focus on rural residents' questions about COVID-19 vaccine
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement will connect rural residents with local and statewide health experts to share information about COVID-19 vaccines and answer questions.
Creative nourishment: Traditional arts support wellness with new guide
Memory, Art, & Aging, a 76-page resource book and activity guide contains spotlights on elder artists across the Indiana Uplands region and activities for older adults to reflect on art and aging.
IU Bloomington’s Student Agile Response Team accepting partnership requests from area nonprofits
Southern Indiana’s nonprofit organizations in need of a boost during the COVID-19 pandemic have a new resource at Indiana University Bloomington.
Drawing bridges: New Look Clubs initiative connects Indiana children with IU Eskenazi Museum of Art
Based on the concept of a book club, the members participate in a unique art activity based on a piece of art from the museum's collection.
Indiana Uplands Winter Food Conference to focus on local food access and economic value
The IU Center for Rural Engagement and IU Sustainable Food Systems Science will host the second annual Indiana Uplands Winter Food Conference, examining best practices for increasing local food access, adaptations during the pandemic, strengthening the value chain and community-led initiatives.
Community Health Improvement Planning
Despite limited resources, some rural communities have managed to confront health issues and find solutions for their residents. How do they do it?
Center for Rural Engagement has risen to meet challenges of Hoosier communities in 2020
We've all been challenged this year. But shining through 2020, like light through logs on a fire, I have seen courage, collaboration and resilience throughout Indiana and the IU community.
IU, rural communities launch Community Engagement to End Child Sexual Exploitation
Rural communities working to protect local children now have resources from Indiana University to fight sexual exploitation and human trafficking. The Community Engagement to End Child Sexual Exploitation initiative connects IU faculty with state and local officials to address sex crimes against children.
A partnership between the IU Center for Rural Engagement, faculty researchers, local physicians, and a rural cooperative grocery is producing a nutrition prescription program designed to improve health outcomes and access to local food.
Senior food insecurity connected to isolation, program barriers in rural areas
As food insecurity rises among older adults in the United States, a new study from Indiana University is uncovering factors that prevent older residents from accessing the food they need.
IU Jacobs School of Music to host rural community engagement summit
The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music will convene rural residents, music faculty, students, and national arts leaders to discuss collaboration opportunities, best practices in community arts initiatives, and learn asset-based strategic approaches to developing and implementing projects and boosting local capacity.
Justice in the heartland: Expanding legal representation for rural residents
For many rural counties, access to legal representation is limited or even non-existent. The Rural Justice Initiative, a judicial clerkship program offered by the Maurer School, places first-year law students in legal clerk positions with judges in one of 19 rural counties throughout Indiana.
Expanding Horizons through Music
The arts are a critical part of the human experience, providing opportunities for creative expression, self-reflection, and transformation.
Gen Z, America’s Next Pioneers
Here's why this generation could be the first to eschew urban living.
Best Practices for Community Food System Projects
Communities with robust local food systems are more resilient because they can maintain influence over their resources and reduce their dependence on factors out of their control.
IU to host virtual conference connecting rural communities and innovative resources
Sept. 29 and 30, the Indiana University Rural Conference will bring together rural residents and leaders with IU faculty, researchers, staff and students in a virtual forum to address some of Indiana's greatest challenges and opportunities.
Broadening the Creative Horizons of Indiana’s Rural Communities
IU Bloomington’s Rural Arts Program is creating a replicable model that rural communities and universities can use to build local arts and culture capacity and heighten the quality of place that plays a critical role in community and economic development.
IU, Washington County launch intensive university-community engagement initiative
IU students and faculty will partner with Washington County residents and leaders to achieve local goals focused on health, community resilience and quality of place through the award-winning Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative.
OCRA announces partnership with Indiana University to help manage COVID-19 in two counties
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced a collaboration with the IU Center for Rural Engagement (CHIP) and the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington to leverage community networks in Decatur and Daviess counties to effectively manage health crises, like COVID-19.
Help us plan for a healthier Martin County
Martin County is partnering with IU and eSolve Solutions to study the ways in which our residents receive healthcare and maintain healthy living. Take the following surveys today to help us plan for a healthier Martin County.
Postcards to a Stranger: Virtual writing workshop sparks creativity and connection during pandemic
Participants from a recent virtual poetry workshop, in partnership with the IU Department of English, share poems from their writing inspiration, Postcards to a Stranger.
Regional collaboration can yield big payoffs, but requires a thoughtful approach. Take these six steps toward stronger collaborations.
New app to help 2 rural Indiana counties track COVID-19 symptoms
Indiana University and rural health care providers are joining forces to track patient reports of COVID-19 symptoms, analyze the virus's spread and help residents make informed health care decisions.
Free virtual COVID-19 training for health care workers offered by IU Indianapolis-led program
Indiana University researchers and clinicians are helping the state's health care workforce respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing free virtual training focused on issues related to the novel coronavirus.
New toolkit helps rural communities increase desirable housing options
Rural communities seeking to expand their stock of desirable housing now have a step-by-step guide to support their strategy.
Hoosier hunger: IU researcher Mecca Burris examines food insecurity close to home
Mecca Burris, an associate instructor and a Ph.D. student in biological anthropology at Indiana University is collaborating with the Center for Rural Engagement to conduct a 12-month research project focusing on food insecurity among teens in rural Indiana communities.
Washington County expanding collaboration with IU Center for Rural Engagement
Building upon the energy of nearly two years of arts, cultural and quality-of-place planning and programming with the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, Washington County will partner with the center's Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative to connect faculty and students with community-identified projects.
Local Food Conference to connect residents and resources across southern Indiana
With a focus on developing and bolstering the local food economy in the Indiana Uplands region, the IU Center for Rural Engagement and IU Sustainable Food Systems Science will host the Indiana Uplands Winter Food Conference open to all interested in strengthening the regional food system and learning more about local food issues.
Gayle Cook donation will support new Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities at IU Bloomington
A gift from Indiana University Bloomington alumna and historical preservationist Gayle Cook will help restore historic Maxwell Hall, which will house the new Gayle Karch Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities.
IU students promote Greene County tourism through design
Through a partnership with the IU Center for Rural Engagement, Greene County explores new visual brand marks to promote tourism.
‘Revealing your own inner music:’ IU poet’s Nashville workshop sparks conversation, community
Bowman is delighted to hold space for individuals to experience themselves and their community in entirely new ways. Planning for a series of workshops in Huntingburg and Salem—in addition to the ongoing series in Nashville—is underway.
From farm to food court: Fischer Farms and IU partner to bring local, natural meat to students
Fischer grew up on a farm just outside Jasper, Indiana, and when he jumped back into the business, he was eager to raise high-quality cows that would produce high-quality, natural beef. But after attending a few cattle auctions, it became clear that many people involved in the cattle production process weren't concerned with quality at all.
Shih earns NSF grant to develop and evaluate shared mobility system for underserved communities
Patrick Shih, an assistant professor of informatics at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Cyber-Human Systems program to develop and evaluate a shared mobility system to improve healthcare access to underserved communities in urban and rural settings.
Sixth annual Science Fest connects IU and Bloomington community
The sixth annual Science Fest still attracted about 2,000 children, parents, guardians and teachers from across the state to Indiana University Bloomington on Oct. 26.
Center for Rural Engagement's emerging model for arts and cultural partnerships earns national award
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement received the Award of Excellence in the category of Place from the University Economic Development Association during its annual summit in Reno-Tahoe, Nevada.
Local experts and IU representatives to convene community conversation on addictions and recovery
In observance of National Recovery Month, the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement and IU Grand Challenge: Responding to the Addictions Crisis is partnering with Lawrence County’s Families Forever to host a community conversation on addictions and recovery.
IU recruiting rural, senior residents for paid study on new aging-in-place technology
Indiana University researchers are seeking rural Indiana residents for a study focused on issues related to aging in place in rural communities.
Person-to-person health interviews expanding to rural Indiana communities
As part of the Precision Health Grand Challenge initiative, Indiana University will reach out to the state's rural residents to gain insights into a variety of issues that affect health in Hoosier communities.
One year, 450 students, and more than 30 local Orange County organizations yielded 28 projects that directly addressed community-identified needs across health, resilience, and quality of place emphasis areas during the IU Center for Rural Engagement’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative.
For the first time in history, Americans are more likely to die of an opioid overdose than a car crash. Last year alone, it’s estimated that more than 1,600 Hoosiers died of drug overdoses. But four panelists who spoke at the IU Rural Conference on May 13 believe we can better approach this crisis by studying the socioeconomic fabrics that overlay addiction.
Indiana University joins forces with the National Academy of Medicine to counter opioid epidemic
IU has joined forces with the National Academy of Medicine in declaring its commitment to countering the opioid crisis.
IU to bring Hamiltunes to Bloomington
Two Hamiltons—Alexander Hamilton and Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton—will take the stage on Thursday, April 18 to kick off a sing-along event based on the hit Broadway show, Hamilton: An American Musical.
IU Center for Rural Engagement's Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative recognized nationally
The IU Center for Rural Engagement's Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative has received national recognition.
Indiana Rural Opioid Consortium seeking residents' input to guide opioid use disorder initiatives
Residents in rural Indiana communities are being encouraged to share their perspectives on opioids and substance use disorder through an Indiana Rural Opioid Consortium survey created by an Indiana University faculty member.
Salem Middle School welcomes IU Symphonic Band for concert program, side-by-side clinic
As the IU Symphonic Band geared up for performance at Salem Middle School, hundreds of students filed into the auditorium Thursday afternoon for a break from their school-day routine.
This spring, the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement and Traditional Arts Indiana (TAI) will partner to connect arts demonstrations and exhibits with Huntingburg, Nashville and Salem as part of the center’s rural arts series.
Sustaining Hoosier Communities: The Student Experience
Participating in Sustaining Hoosier Communities is a signature professional and personal experience with the Center for Rural Engagement.
IU Center for Rural Engagement launches new rural arts series offerings in three communities
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement will host a variety of new arts and cultural offerings in the Indiana communities of Huntingburg, Nashville and Salem this winter and spring.
Greene County joins IU Center for Rural Engagement's Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement has selected Greene County as its community partner for the Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative, with plans to address more than a dozen community-identified projects during the 2019-20 academic year.
IU Kelley School of Business students talk solar power, renewable energy in Orange County
Graduate accounting students and Orange County, Ind. community members explored options to increase environmental resilience through solar power cooperatives in an IU Center for Rural Engagement project.
Campuswide initiative takes PR students to Orange County
The Media School shares its experience with the center's Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative and how their participation is benefiting students and the community.
IU to hold Greene County meeting to discuss Sustaining Hoosier Communities program
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement will hold an informational meeting about the Sustaining Hoosier Communities program and the community proposal process for the 2019-20 year in Switz City at the Greene County Fairgrounds meeting room on Wednesday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
IU Surplus establishes scholarship for local students
A new annual scholarship from IU Surplus will go to a freshman from the Center for Rural Engagement's focus region.
IU center collaborates with Eppley Institute to improve lives of Hoosiers
Indiana University is compiling an inventory of Dubois County’s parks and recreation facilities, and the university’s Center for Rural Engagement will make the information available to the public in the spring.
Knowledge is health: Addressing addiction and mental illness in rural Indiana
An IU Center for Rural Engagement collaboration with the IU School of Social Work and Lawrence County community builds awareness and resources for residents and leaders.
