Action Research Center News

State Farm Continues Support for ARC

For the third consecutive year, Illinois Wesleyan University's Action Research Center (ARC) has been awarded a $55,000 grant from the State Farm Companies Foundation. Learn more here.

2009 Weir Fellows Announced

Sneh Rajbhandari and Danny Burke have been named the 2009 Weir Fellows. Elizabeth Weir met them on a recent visit to campus. Learn more about Ms. Weir and the Fellows here.

ARC-Sponsored Not-For-Profit Leadership Workshop Series

ARC has announced the schedule for its Fall 2008 Not-for-Profit Leadership Workshop series. These workshops are designed to enhance the value of the community-based experience and to enrich the students' understanding of not-for-profit organizations. Students will learn skills and techniques from ARC staff and partners and learn from each other as they share the successes and challenges of their projects. The workshops are free and open to any student involved in community not-for-profit work. Click here more information and for the schedule of workshops. E-mail Deborah Halperin, ARC Coordinator, at dhalperi@iwu.edu for more information or to register.

ARC Announces Weir Fellowships

In December 2007, Elizabeth Weir joined the Action Research Center to establish the Weir Fellowship Program. Weir, an alumna of Illinois Wesleyan University, will provide funding for two students to pursue action research projects in the community. Junior Laura Maxwell will partner with Heartland Head Start in Bloomington and junior Tyler Miller will assist Friends of Kickapoo Creek in Downs.

Action Research Center Open House

The Action Research Center will host an Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Henning Room to provide information on the 2008 State Farm Summer Internship Program. Previous interns and the ARC Coordinator Deborah Halperin will be available to answer questions and talk about the SF Partnership experience.

Tracy Kidder Visits IWU

Tracy Kidder, author of Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World, visited IWU recently to speak at the President's Convocation. Kidder spoke about opportunities for making a difference in the world. For some of Kidder's suggestions on places to start, look at these ideas.

ARC Coordinator Named one of Pantagraph's '20 Under 40'

Deborah Halperin, the Coordinator of IWU's Action Research Center, was named to the Pantagraph's '20 Under 40' list, which recognizes accomplished members of the Bloomington-Normal community who are under 40 years old. Read the story here.

State Farm Community Partnership Program Renewed

State Farm recently announced plans to renew the summer internship program, in which Illinois Wesleyan students spend three days per week interning for State Farm and two days as interns at a community not-for-profit organization, such as Heartland Head Start, Boys and Girls Club or 4-H. State Farm also plans to use the program as a model in other university towns.

State Farm ARC internships highlighted on IWU website

The unique internships that the State Farm ARC interns participated in this summer were recently featured both in the Pantagraph and on the IWU website.