Marion Co. renters struggle with affordability

CRISP research team finds Marion County renters struggle with affordability

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Leslie Wells

READ THE FULL REPORT ON RENTAL TRENDS AT THIS LINK

Stagnant incomes and increasing rental costs are creating unstable and unaffordable living situations for many renters in Marion County. Data analysts with the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy at the IU Public Policy Institute examined trends from the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, paying close attention to the relationships between location, income, and race during the past five years.

What they found is a reality that many Hoosiers struggle with every day: high rent costs, a lack of affordable rental housing, and low income levels that leave families struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their heads.

“Affordability is a predictor of homelessness, especially among renters,” says Breanca Merritt, founding director of CRISP. “Our work shows that renters in Marion County need more opportunities for better-paying jobs and more affordable rental units to ease the financial burden and have a more secure living situation.”

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Discussing antisemitism in the classroom

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Leslie Wells

O'Neill Assistant Professor Jamie Levine Daniel stands in hallway — O’Neill Assistant Professor Jamie Levine Daniel

On October 27, 2018, a gunman took the lives of 11 people worshipping inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It was the deadliest attack on the American Jewish community. It was also the latest in a series of antisemetic events and growing antisemtic sentiment around the country and the world.

Antisemitism is similar to other forms of hate and prejudice, but key differences lie in the perceptions of power and ability. The Tree of Life murders—and other recent anti-Jewish crimes—spurred O’Neill Assistant Professor Jamie Levine Daniel to action.

“We talk a lot about social equity, inclusion, and anti-racism but antisemitism is largely overlooked in many fields, including public affairs,” she says.

As a Jewish faculty member at a public affairs school, Levine Daniel wanted to know how she could make an impact and equip her students to better address these issues in the future.

“Antisemitism can affect how people deliver public and nonprofit goods and services, and how those services are consumed,” Levine Daniel adds. “Without understanding this relationship, we’re doing a disservice in training our students to be leaders in diverse societies.”

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New options make O’Neill study abroad more accessible

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Leslie Wells

Graphic with details to apply for spring break study abroad. UAE trip: $1400, law, policy, public administration. Poland, $500, solving urban challenges, Cayman Islands $1,500, research in diverse ecosystems, Berlin $800 policy and economic resilience. Airfare is not included in the cost of the course.

Studying abroad can be the experience of a lifetime for college students. Yet the cost and the length of these programs may make some students question whether it’s a realistic option.

Jessie Silguero was almost one of them. Almost.

“I currently work two jobs and I’m the oldest in my family,” he says. “I have a lot of responsibilities.”

Jessie Silguero standing with luggage. — Jessie Silguero traveled to Berlin, Germany on a study abroad trip with O’Neill International.

Silguero is a criminal justice major at O’Neill. He was interested in taking his first trip out of the country through a summer study abroad program to Ireland. It would require two weeks of time off and about $1,400. The financial burden and time investment required worried him.

That’s when Kris Schuster, an O’Neill career advisor who oversees O’Neill International at IUPUI, offered Jessie an alternative. O’Neill International’s spring break study abroad program—previously only available to students in Bloomington—was opening to IUPUI students for the first time.

“Leaving for one week was more convenient and affordable for me,” he says.

The new spring break options open the door to four experiences: Germany, Poland, the Cayman Islands, and the United Arab Emirates. Costs range from $500 to $1,500 depending on the destination, not including airfare and some meals.

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Connect with careers in public safety

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Leslie Wells

Students stand in front of a military helicopter during Public Safety Career Day 2018.

From helicopters thundering above Taylor Courtyard to heavy-duty equipment rolling through the breezeway and the sound of sirens blaring at noon, it’s hard to miss the O’Neill School’s annual Public Safety Career Day. This year, the sights and sounds of public safety will arrive on campus on Wednesday, September 25, from noon to 3 p.m.

For the past 13 years, the O’Neill School has gathered dozens of public safety agencies in one location with one goal in mind: connect students to careers. Yet the event also serves as an opportunity for students and the public alike to meet and build relationships with public safety agencies and officials.

Whether you’re ready to hand out resumes, want ideas for a future career, or have questions about how these agencies keep communities safe, you can make connections at Public Safety Career Day to help you in the years to come.

Just ask Payton Van Kalker. She landed an internship thanks to Public Safety Career Day. She worked with a parole field team for the Indiana Department of Correction to serve warrants, search homes, and look for those who may have violated the terms of their parole.

“PSCD has a huge impact on those wanting to pursue a career in law enforcement or public safety,” Van Kalker says. “There are so many agencies and individuals there to help students make connections and answer questions. I don’t think I would have been able to find information about my internship had I not made the connection I did that day.”

Law enforcement K9 sits on sidewalk at Public Safety Career Day. — Agencies often bring their bomb- and drug-sniffing K9s to show off their skills.

WHAT YOU’LL SEE:

Agencies bring out some serious equipment for this event. There will be police helicopters, bomb squad trucks and gear, fire engines, ladder trucks, ambulances, the IMPD Mounted Patrol, ambulances, first-aid training equipment, and—one of the most popular stops—bomb and drug-sniffing dogs, including IUPD’s K9 Indy.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

A student stands behind a police shield during Public Safety Career Day as part of the event's hands-on approach to public safety. — A student stands behind a police shield during Public Safety Career Day as part of the event’s hands-on approach to public safety.

As you move from booth to booth, you can get hands-on with the equipment, trying on gear and seeing exactly what agencies use to respond to situations. You’ll also get to network with representatives from more than 40 local, state, and federal agencies. Many have internship and employment opportunities available for students right now.

Remember: each of these agencies employs a variety of positions—from boots on the ground to support staff, such as communications, accounting, information technology, and more—so students from a variety of majors can find opportunities and make connections at this event.

WHO’S COMING (SO FAR):

Before you go, get a plan together. Decide which agencies you want to speak with, have your resume and elevator speech ready, and know what opportunities you could be interested in. Here’s a look at which agencies have already RSVP’d to attend so far:

List of agencies attending event: Bureau of ATF Carmel Police Department Cumberland Metropolitan Police Department Danville Police Department Decatur Township Fire Department Department of Public Works Drug Enforcement Administration ESG Security Inc. FBI Greenwood Police Department Hamilton County Emergency Management Hendricks County Sheriff's Office IMPD IMPD Bomb Squad IMPD Mounted Patrol IMPD Swat Indiana Department of Correction Indiana Department of Homeland Security Indiana Department of Transportation Indiana Office of Energy Development Indiana State Excise Police Indiana State Police IU Emergency Management & Continuity Indianapolis Airport Police Department Indianapolis EMS Indianapolis Fire Department Indianapolis-Marion Co. Forensic Services IU Police Department-IUPUI IUPUI Army ROTC Johnson County Sheriff's Office Marion County Community Corrections Marion County Prosecutor's Office Marion County Public Health Department Pendleton Correctional Facility Plainfield Police Department RightFit Shelby County Sheriff's Office Speedway Police Department TSA United States Marshals Service Westfield Police Department

Course provides candid conversations about corrections

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Leslie Wells

Speakers at the front of a classroom talk to students. — In O’Neill’s J-331 Corrections course, Dr. Eric Grommon (second from left) invites practitioners to speak with students about working in corrections.

As students in Eric Grommon’s Corrections course wait for class to begin, a group of guests walks into the room. They’re here to pull back the curtain on corrections for students.

“It’s rare for students to gain direct access to correctional experts,” Grommon says.

One by one, people at the front of the room introduce themselves. Depending on the day, they may be from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana Department of Correction, Marion County Probation Office, Marion County Community Corrections, or another agency.

Grommon says these critical classroom exchanges blend academics with practitioner knowledge, allowing students to see two sides of the corrections equation.

Samantha Nunnery, a criminal justice major, says they also let students connect with professionals in the field on more personal level.

“These practitioners are here to show us what their jobs are really like,” she says. “They help us balance any pre-conceived ideas we may have about this profession with the reality they see every day.”

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