WASHINGTON – The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement will kick off its Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative in Daviess County on Thursday, September 5, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Daviess County Museum, 212 East Main Street, Washington.
The event is free to attend and open to the public.
Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) partners local communities with Indiana University faculty, students, and staff to improve and enrich the region’s health, prosperity, and vitality.
IU faculty and staff have paired 20 community-identified Daviess County projects with IU Bloomington courses and programs for the 2024 fall semester. Additional projects are anticipated for the spring and summer semesters.
IU students will work with Daviess County organizations and leaders on projects that include documenting African American history, expanding healthcare access and childcare capacity, improving greenspaces and sidewalks, identifying local development and business strategies, enhancing public website accessibility, and developing local arts, culture, and recreational opportunities.
“Sustaining Hoosier Communities will connect the visions and goals of Daviess County residents with the energy and creativity of our IU students and faculty,” said Center for Rural Engagement executive director Denny Spinner. “We look forward to expanding our partnership with Daviess County and building upon successful health, community resilience, and quality of place collaborations.”
Daviess County partners include Purdue Extension, the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program, the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation, the Daviess County Community Foundation, the City of Washington, Washington Carnegie Public Library, Discover Downtown Washington, Odon Winkelpleck Public Library, the Town of Elnora, the Town of Montgomery, and the Town of Odon.
Several IU initiatives will support projects in Daviess County, including the Rural Placemaking Studio, the Indiana Resilience Funding Hub, the Laurie Burns McRobbie Serve IT Clinic in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, the Rural Scholars Program, and Discovery Café.
For more information about the center’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities program and past projects, visit shc.indiana.edu.
Refreshments will be served. Those planning to attend should RSVP at rural.indiana.iu/events.
