Serving the community through research

Spencer Lawson: Serving the community through research

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Leslie Wells

SPEA's Spencer Lawson earned the Plater Medallion for his research and impact on the community. — SPEA’s Spencer Lawson earned the Plater Medallion for his research and impact on the community.

The term “community service” may often conjure images of volunteer projects, donation drives, and fundraising. Yet research on the procedures that govern our cities and towns, as well as the outcomes those procedures have on citizens, is just as critical to improving and engaging in our communities.

It’s that side of service that has earned Spencer Lawson a special recognition for his impact on the community.

He and three SPEA students will be honored for their commitments to community engagement on April 10. All four were awarded IUPUI’s William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion, named for IUPUI’s former Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties who was a strong advocate of civic engagement.

“Since my first day at SPEA, I consistently heard that SPEA IUPUI produces graduates who make a difference,” Lawson says. “SPEA alumni look beyond their own lives to engage communities through myriad civic-community engagement experiences.” (more…)

Serving SPEA and students

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Leslie Wells

SPEA's team of student employees (L to R) Judith Atibil, Lauren French, Monica Zachary, Katie Boynton, Jen Popiela, and Jessie Silguero. — SPEA’s team of student employees (L to R) Judith Atibil, Lauren French, Monica Zachary, Katie Boynton, Jen Popiela, and Jessie Silguero.

When you walk into the SPEA Student Services Office, the first face you’ll see likely is that of one of SPEA’s six student workers.

Jen Popiela, Monica Zachary, and Katie Boynton serve as SPEA’s student success assistants, answering student questions, scheduling advising appointments, and ensuring students are aware of the many services SPEA provides.

“When I first became a SPEA student, the front desk worker was the one who welcomed me into the school and made me feel comfortable,” says Zachary, a public safety management major. “I want to make other students feel the same way I did.”

That commitment to fellow students extends beyond the front office. Judith Atibil and Lauren French are experienced peer advisors, connecting SPEA students to their futures. Jessie Silguero is the newest member of their team.

“I wanted to be a student worker for SPEA because I wanted to be more involved in my school,” Silguero says. “This position allows me to make more connections and to give back by helping fellow students who are on the same path that I am.”

Peer advisors are upperclassmen SPEA majors who have been through extensive training to assist in guiding students toward the best resources for academic and professional readiness. One advantage peer advising provides to students is its flexibility and availability of the advisors.

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MLK’s Assassination: Calming a City Amid Chaos

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Leslie Wells

Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy meet 22 June 1963 Civil Rights Leaders meet with the Vice President, Attorney General, and other officials. White House. Please credit "Abbie Rowe, National Park Service/John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library, Boston". — June 1963 Civil Rights Leaders meet with the Vice President, Attorney General, and other officials. White House. Photo credit: Abbie Rowe, National Park Service/John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library, Boston.

“I have some very sad news for all of you, sad news for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world, and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and was killed tonight in Memphis, Tennessee.” – Robert F. Kennedy, April 4, 1968

Fifty years ago, news of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination shook an already divided nation, sparking riots, fires, and violence in more than a hundred cities across the country.

But not in Indianapolis.

“It could’ve been a really bad situation,” recalls SPEA lecturer Bill Foley. “A crowd is one step away from a mob.”

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PPI Researchers Evaluate Indianapolis’ Mobile Crisis Assistance Team

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Leslie Wells

Policy Brief: Staci Rising Paquet
Study Authors: Katie Bailey, Program Analyst, IU Public Policy Institute, and Brad Ray, Director of the Center for Criminal Justice Research

Download the full report here

The City of Indianapolis has made strides in addressing the high rates of involvement of people with mental health and drug issues in the criminal justice system, a phenomenon spanning the country. A pilot program in the IMPD East District uniquely combines police, paramedics and behavioral health specialists to act as first-responders to any emergency calls related to mental health or substance use in the district. Researchers from the Center for Criminal Justice Research at the Indiana University Public Policy Institute (PPI) collected and analyzed data on the first five months of this program’s pilot operation.

“While initial findings show positive feedback for the MCAT pilot program, more research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness of the program,” says Tom Guevara, director of the Indiana University Public Policy Institute. “There’s no question that leading-edge programs like MCAT can have a tremendously positive impact on our city as a whole. We found, however, that a lack of outpatient treatment options and other barriers to expanding the program must be addressed in order to maximize the impact of the MCAT helping to address serious mental illness and substance abuse problems for Indianapolis.”

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Top 100 Award: Q & A with Justin Weisenbach

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Leslie Wells

Justin Weisenbach ears IUPUI Top 100 Award

Justin Weisenbach is on track to graduate with a management degree from SPEA. He says he was surprised and excited to learn he had been selected as one of IUPUI’s Top 100 students. Each year, the IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations honors 100 outstanding undergraduate students. These students have a record of demonstrating academic excellence, campus leadership, and community engagement. Weisenbach and two other SPEA students will be honored at this year’s Top 100 Award Dinner on April 13.

1) Why did you choose to attend SPEA Indy?
When I visited IUPUI during my senior year in high school, I quickly realized it was the school I wanted to attend. I decided to continue my education in SPEA after participating in the school’s JagDay event. I have also always had an interest in helping the community, and chose SPEA for its public and nonprofit management degree. The campus atmosphere and the enthusiasm of everyone I met during the visit made my decision very easy.

2) What has been one of your most memorable projects in SPEA?
During my first semester, I was in SPEA V-100 and participated in Toastmasters at the Indianapolis Reentry Facility (IREF). This course allowed me to interact with IREF residents, hear their experiences and improve my public speaking skills.

3) What advice would you have for students just starting out in SPEA?
I would encourage students to get involved with campus activities and the community around IUPUI through opportunities such as SPEA Ambassadors and SPEA Student Council. I also was a Sam H. Jones Service Corps Scholar, which allowed me many opportunities to volunteer at community events.

4) What are your plans for after graduation?
In addition to my SPEA management degree, I also am pursuing a degree in museum studies at IUPUI. I hope to use the combination of these to begin a career at a museum. It has always been my dream to work in a museum setting and to help the public better connect and understand their own history.

Policy Brief: Staci Rising Paquet Study Authors: Katie Bailey, Program Analyst, IU Public Policy Institute, and Brad Ray, Director of the Center for Criminal Justice Research

Policy Brief: Staci Rising Paquet
Study Authors: Katie Bailey, Program Analyst, IU Public Policy Institute, and Brad Ray, Director of the Center for Criminal Justice Research