The Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development and the local grassroots organization Not In Our Town (NIOT) will unveil a major study on inequality in Bloomington-Normal on Tuesday, May 9, at the Illinois State University Bone Student Center, Old Main Room. At 5 p.m. students will display their findings; the formal presentation is at 6 p.m.
Both graduate and undergraduate students researched the Bloomington-Normal community this semester, charting segregation and other disparities. The students investigated low-income and racially diverse areas to ascertain access to services, criminal justice issues, and social opportunities. The students also examined NIOT, its effectiveness, and potential future directions. The study included interviews with community members, examination of media coverage, mapping, and data analysis.
The event is free and open to the public, and community leaders will attend. Refreshments will be served at 5 p.m.
The Stevenson Center is dedicated to public service and global understanding. The Center serves communities and organizations around the world, students as they seek the tools for careers in community and economic development, the related fields of study, and Illinois State University. The Center offers interdisciplinary, applied graduate programs. Stevenson Center Fellows complete 11-month internships with organizations in Bloomington-Normal and beyond. The Center also provides direct services such as data management and analysis, grant-writing training, and geographic information systems analysis, along with a new undergraduate program, Peace Corps Prep.
Not In Our Town is based in Oakland, California; the local chapter is one of the nation’s first, beginning in 1995. Its mission is to “fight hate, stop bullying, and build a safe and inclusive community for all.”
