Action Research Center Internship

Chelsea Hillyer and Lauren Yearsich in front of the CLA Research Lab

2006 Syllabus

2008 Syllabus

The internship is second in ARC's three course action research sequence. It enables students to deepen the relationships they made with community partners in the first semester through an internship. Periodic campus briefings and presentations allow a support group on campus to stay informed about ongoing community projects.

PSCI 397 / SOC 397 Internship Seminar

ARC Internships for Fall 2008

Those interested in applying should see Professor Jim Simeone, Professor Jim Sikora, or ARC Coordinator Deborah Halperin.

1. Making the Constitution Trail Constitutional

   Partner Organization: Friends of the Trail
   Project: Educating the Public about the Constitution
   Contact: Dan Steadman, President

2. Promoting Spence Farm

   Partner Organization: Spence Farm Foundation
   Project: The Illinois Humanities Council Media Grant
   Contact: Marty and Kris Travis, Stewards

3. Building a Social Utility

   Partner Organization: PATH (Providing Access to Help)
   Project: Preparing a Plan for 211 in Thirteen Counties
   Contact: Karen Zangerle, Executive Director

4. Testing the Waters

   Partner Organization :Mackinaw River Ecosystem Partnership
   Project: Biological and Chemical Stream Testing
   Contact: Mary Jo Adams, President

5. Supporting Affordable Housing in Bloomington

   Partner Organization: Cultural District Neighborhood Association
   Project: Applying for Housing Grants from the City of Bloomington
   Contact: Judy Stearns, Bloomington City Council Member 4th Ward

6. Advocating for Hispanics in McLean County

   Partner Organization: P.A.L.S. (Professionals Assisting Latino Students)
   Project: Developing Funding Guidelines for the P.A.L.S. Granting Program
   Contact: Alex Cardona, Executive Director

7. Preserving Urban Waterways

   Partner Organization: McLean County Regional Planning Commission
   Project: Stream Buffer Program
   Contact: Jennifer Sicks, Land Use Planner, McLean County

8. Curating Local History

   Partner Organization: McLean County History Museum
   Project: Researching the History of Water Use in McLean County
   Contact: Bill Kemp, Archivist

9. Organizing a Referendum Drive

   Partner Organization: Central Illinois Organizing Project
   Project: Living Wage Referendum 2008
   Contact: Don Carlson, Executive Director

10. Promoting a Capital Campaign

    Partner Organization: Old House Society of McLean County
    Project: Old House Society Capital Campaign
    Contact: Diane Sullivan, Executive Director

11. Mapping Bloomington’s Warehouse District

    Partner Organization: Bloomington City Council Ward 6
    Project: Building Inventory of the Warehouse District
    Contact: Karen Schmidt, Bloomington Council Member Ward 6

12. Conducting a Community Needs Assessment

    Partner Organization: Hispanic Families Work Group
    Project: Completing the Quantitative Assessment
    Contact: Karen Major, Convener

13. Sharing the Ability to Read (STAR)

    Partner Organization: Illinois Regional Office of Education
    Project: Assessing the GED/STAR Program
    Contact: Joyce Fritsch, Executive Director

14. Assessing Educational Outcomes

    Partner Organization: Heartland Head Start
    Project: No Child Left Behind Standards Assessment
    Contact: Debbie Ditchen, Executive Director

15. Persuading the Public: Campaign Finance Reform

    Partner Organization: Agenda for a Living Democracy
    Project: Media Plan for Reform Effort
    Contact: Donella Hess, President

16. Seeking David Davis

    Partner Organization: David Davis Mansion
    Project: Tracking Down the David Davis Papers
    Contact: Marsha Young, Executive Director

17. Preparing a US Census Report

    Partner Organization: First Christian Church, Bloomington
    Project: Completing a Neighborhood Demographic Analysis
    Contact: Martin Sallee, FCC Steering Committee

18. Mentoring and Curriculum Development

    Partner Organization: Unity Community Center
    Project: Setting up an IWU volunteer program
    Contact: Tabitha Major, Executive Director

19. Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women

    Partner Organization: YWCA
    Project: Racial Justice Summit
    Contact: Becky Hines

20. Marketing Preparedness

    Partner Organization: American Red Cross of the Heartland
    Project: Disaster Preparedness for College Students
    Contact: Lyn Hruska, Executive Director

21. Connecting Communities

    Partner Organization: Marcfirst
    Project: Social Capital in the Disability Community
    Contact: Laura Furlong, Vice President of Human Resources and Technology

22. Assessing Downtown Bloomington

    Partner Organization: Downtown Bloomington Association
    Project: Economic Assessment of an Inner City
    Contact: Peggy Flynn, Executive Director