Monthly news from the Solution Center
Building university-community partnerships at IUPUI.
Arts for Learning Intern Plans One of Indy's Favorite Events
Arts for Learning intern, Griseldis Ortega, working the Volunteer Check-in

Griseldis Ortega from the IUPUI Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management program recently had the opportunity to help plan one of Indianapolis's most popular events, Chocolate Fest, thanks to her internship with Arts for Learning and support from the IUPUI Solution Center Community Venture Fund.

Indiana's largest and oldest provider of professional arts education programs for children, Arts for Learning serves more than 65,000 preschool through high school students in approximately 30-35 counties in Indiana annually with performances, workshops, and residency programs in-school, afterschool and out of school. Planning for its annual fundraiser, Chocolate Fest, held at Harrison Center this year, required the assistance of a talented intern, and Griseldis fit the bill.

 

Griseldis's tasks for the event included vendor recruitment and communications, preparation and dissemination of marketing materials, volunteer recruitment and supervision, and logistical oversight.

"The toughest part was calling vendors," said Griseldis, adding, "but I was able to get outside of my comfort zone and learn new things."

Upon completion of the event planning, there were
21 vendors supplying mouth-watering chocolate samples for attendees to taste, as well as about 900 attendees, an all-time high. From a harp player outside the grounds, to multiple rooms filled with decadent chocolate treats, to a Christopher Columbus impersonator, the Chocolate Fest was a memorable event for many in the Indianapolis community and an important career-development milestone for Griseldis.
Just one of the many treats at Chocolate Fest!

  
Projects to Watch: Alivio Medical Center
Last year, two IUPUI students, Samir Kumar Kukadia and Swetcha Rao, received an extraordinary opportunity through the help of the IUPUI Solution Center's Venture Fund to intern with Alivio Medical Center and work on a fall detection initiative.

"Dr. Alfredo Lopez-Yunez throughout his medical practice was very aware of all the issues caused by falls in elderly people. This is a very serious issue in healthcare and it has a great social and economical impact," said Luis Palacio, director of research and development for Alivio. In 2011, Dr. Lopez and Diana Vasquez, a Ph.D student at IUPUI, met and decided to start a project that could take care of this issue by using a combination of sensors and airbag technology.

Read the rest of this article.
Venture Fund Supported Student turns Internship into Career:

Forest Manor Multi-Service Center (FMMSC) is host to a multitude of programs and tools aiding the Forest Manor area in maximizing their potential. This vision of a vibrant community pushes them to create programs that result in a more impassioned and self-sufficient youth, higher employment rates, lower crime and poverty rates, and higher high school graduation rates. 

 

Last summer, Lana Brown, a recent IUPUI graduate, had the opportunity to intern with the FMMSC in the Youth Development segment of the organization. After an internship trial period in which Lana successfully facilitated a summer camp, Forest Manor offered the IUPUI grad a staff position!  

 

Read the rest of this article.
Crispus Attucks Students Preparing for Trip of a Lifetime
Fifteen Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School students will have a once-in-a lifetime experience when they travel next month to Swaziland, a small country in southern Africa as part of a multi-partner initiative designed to help fight HIV/AIDS and other communicable disease prevalence among youth.

While in Swaziland, the students, who will be accompanied by two Crispus Attucks faculty members, a physician, nurse, pharmacist, mental health and SOHO (Saving Orphans Through Healthcare and Outreach) facilitators, will:

* Lead health education convocations in four Swazi High Schools;

* Participate in a shared learning experience with Swazi Youth Leadership groups;

* Meet and dialogue with civic leaders and health and social services providers;

* Participate in two community health clinics;

* Distribute donated school shoes, clothing, hygiene products and school materials; and

* Engage in humanitarian work at a large orphan homestead.

 

Read the rest of the article from IPS.
 

Congratulations to Solution Center community partner  Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church for the success of its Men's Bootcamp! See this segment recently aired on WISH-TV by clicking here. 
Congratulations recent Community Venture Fund recipients!
Small businesses, nonprofits and government agencies are invited to apply for matching grants through the Solution Center's Community Venture Fund. These grants support community-based internship programs, research projects and short-term business assistance efforts. In September 2013, the following organizations received $41,739.90 in Venture Fund awards:
Please pass on these Venture Funded internship openings!
The following opportunities are available to currently enrolled IUPUI students in good standing through a partnership with the employers and the IUPUI Solution Center. These paid internships are partially supported by the IUPUI Community Venture Fund. IUPUI students can look for these opportunities in JagJobs (www.jagjobs.org) or their school's career services site, and apply soon!
  • Marketing & Communication Intern - ESPA
    • $10 per hour, 20 hours per week, Fall 2013 - Spring 2013  
  • Keep Families Connected Intern - Use What You've Got Prison Ministry  
    • $12 per hour, 20 hours per week, Spring 2013 
  • Financial Planning Internship - Barnes Financial Services
    • $10 per hour, 15 hours per week, Fall 2013  
  • Museum Presenter & Survey Assistant Intern - Indiana State Museum
    • $10 per hour, 20 hours per week, Fall 2013 - Spring 2013
  • Preventative Maintenance Intern - Electro-Spec
    • $10 per hour, 20 hours per week, Fall 2013
Don't miss these upcoming university & community events!

Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
Export Bootcamp: Oct. 29
Export Bootcamp is the perfect place to meet government experts, discuss international trade policy, learn new exporting techniques, and find successful strategies to increase sales and revenue. The camp takes place
Tuesday Oct. 29th, 2013 from 8 AM - 4 PM. Learn more.

Monumental Marathon: Nov. 11
In its sixth year the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon is Indiana's largest and fastest marathon. Beginning on the grounds of the Indiana State Capitol, this flat and fast course highlights landmarks and historical neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis. 3 races are available: 5k, half marathon and full marathon.  Learn more.



What: IUPUI Solution Center Community Engagement Forum
When:
December 4, 2013 -- 9AM to 12PM
Where:
IUPUI Campus Center, Room 450, 420 University Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46202 
Why: The IUPUI Solution Center will be hosting it's annual Community Engagement forum to acknowledge and celebrate the collective accomplishments of out community and campus partners. There will also be opportunity for you to share with us your thoughts and experiences on community-campus partnerships and engagements and network over breakfast.

Ready to register? Click here.

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