Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to Rise in Marion County

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Brad Ray

The opioid epidemic continues to claim more than 115 lives per day across the United States. As researchers studying this epidemic, we feel it is important to update the residents in our community about the prevalence of opioid-related deaths here in Marion County.

In partnership with the Marion County Coroner’s Office — and using our previously documented methodology, which looks at the detection of substances among accidental drug overdose deaths — we identified 403 accidental drug overdose cases in Marion County in 2017. The number of drug overdose deaths has nearly quadrupled since 2010 and there was a 17 percent increase from last year. You can access the data yourself here: https://dataworks.iupui.edu/handle/11243/22.

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Study reveals funding intentions among emerging nonprofit entrepreneurs

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Michael L. Jackson

Fredrik O. Andersson standing in front of windows — Fredrik O. Andersson

During his time as a senior fellow at the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, Fredrik O. Andersson has counseled hundreds of nonprofit professionals on how to improve performance and organizational effectiveness.

He has also met with countless entrepreneurs who have great ideas for new nonprofit ventures. They all want to know the same thing: “Where can I find money for it?”

That ongoing query sparked Andersson’s most recent research into the funding intentions among nascent nonprofit entrepreneurs. His latest journal article, published this spring in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs, examines anticipated funding sources and amounts that budding entrepreneurs believe they’ll need as they formally launch their new nonprofit.

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“Now is the time to consider our future”

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Leslie Wells

School of Public & Environmental Affairs at IUPUI 2018 Commencement Address

This is a copy of the speech made by David Lewis during today’s SPEA commencement. Lewis was selected as the school’s student speaker for the ceremony.

“I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So, I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.”

“This quote by author Brian Selznick demonstrates that now is the time to consider our future.

Good morning classmates, family, friends, faculty, staff, and administrators.

Many times, when we talk about purpose, we look at it through the lenses of obtaining wealth, receiving fame, or living a moderate life. However, let’s talk about your purpose as it relates to your passion in helping others. Your passion will determine your purpose.

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African NGO leader and O’Neill mentor develop shared knowledge through fellowship program

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Leslie Wells

Sara Johnson and Ngozi Iwere standing together after a presentation. — Sara Johnson (L) and Ngozi Iwere (R) reflect on lessons learned during their time together as part of the NGO Leadership Transition Fellowship Program.

It’s been nearly three decades since Ngozi Iwere embarked on her first social mission in Nigeria. She was instrumental in forming the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa-Nigeria, a group focused on working with communities to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, while providing prevention education.

Not long after, Iwere founded the Community Life Project, an organization dedicated to partnering with groups in communities where residents were marginalized from mainstream communication channels. CLP partners with those groups to create opportunities for them to access information and resources to address key issues facing their individual communities.

“These groups could only do so much,” she says. “They needed government and governance to work for them.”

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First-generation grad student focused on next generation of leaders

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Leslie Wells

Morgan Farnworth standing in front of magnolia trees on campus — SPEA’s Morgan Farnworth was awarded the Sherry Queener Graduate Student Excellence Award

Only about 1 in 4 SPEA graduate students are first-generation college students. Count Morgan Farnworth among them.

“In my immediate sphere I didn’t know a lot of people with college degrees,” Farnworth admits.

She became the first in her family to attend college. She will also become the first to earn a master’s degree and to pursue a doctoral degree.

Morgan’s academic journey began with a daily commute from Indianapolis to Bloomington, while working full-time to support her mother and younger siblings. Despite the distance and challenges, she was committed to her education. Her life trajectory changed when a faculty member at SPEA Bloomington asked her if she had considered pursing a doctoral degree.

“I was just shocked that I was on campus getting a bachelor’s degree, yet alone thinking about a doctorate,” she recalls. “That really pushed me to think about ways I could achieve my personal goals: making a true impact in a community and helping craft another generation of leaders and scholars.” (more…)