Despite the historic divide between Ball State University and the Muncie community, a group of students is venturing outside its comfort zone to help fight local poverty.
In a seminar called "Voice and Vision: Poverty from the Inside Out," 10 students are learning about the poverty that people overlook everyday.
In 2005, the median family income in the U.S. was $55,832, and 13.3 percent of individuals were below the poverty line, according to census data. In Muncie, the median family income was $35,555, and 24.2 percent of individuals were below the poverty line.
Eva Zygmunt-Fillwalk, assistant professor of elementary education and seminar leader, said the Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry selected students from different disciplines to work on a semester-long project examining poverty in the United States and Muncie.
"It's quite easy for Ball State students to stay on campus and become insulated to the community," Zygmunt-Fillwalk said.
The students listen to and learn from economically disadvantaged people, she said.
Student participant Gary Jefferson said the seminar was created after Muncie officials participated in a competition several years ago to discuss how the community was addressing poverty.
On a trip to Chicago, the students interacted with people waiting outside in a long line to gain entry into the Cook County Hospital, he said. Some of them missed full days of work while waiting in the bitter cold, according to the Ball State Web site.
The trip to Chicago left the students with a new perspective, participants said.
"The more that I learn about people, the more I learn that I don't know that much about people at all," Sarah Marty, a second-year participant in the seminar, said.
The students partnered with TEAMwork for Quality Living in Muncie to serve meals to the poor. TEAMwork for Quality Living is a nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to improving the health and quality of life in Delaware County, according to the organization's Web site.
The students, under the guidance of Zygmunt-Fillwalk, produced four radio programs with interviews from economically disadvantaged individuals and families, Zygmunt-Fillwalk said. The programs, which will air in late April or early May on Indiana Public Radio, are designed to increase awareness about poverty, she said. The students have also produced a segment for a television show called "Connections," which will be aired on WIPB at 6 p.m. on April 18.
The students also discovered some commonly held myths people have about poverty, she said.
Jefferson said people live in a society that believes in the "rags to riches" idea that anyone can succeed if they just try. Some think poor people are lazy or uneducated, he said, but that's just not the case.
It's society's problem, not the individual's, Jefferson said, and it is difficult to get out of poverty.
Marty said when people think of poverty, they think of third-world countries. People don't understand there's so much to learn from people in this country, she said.
"I care about this community," Marty said. "I appreciate it in ways that I could never have appreciated it before this semester."
Zygmunt-Fillwalk said a benefit of the seminar is the students not only learned about poverty, but they've had a chance to become part of the Muncie community.
Marty said most Ball State students don't know that much about Muncie.
"There's people next door to me who have trouble buying groceries," she said. "I learned a lot about myself. Every person that you talk to and every place that you go is going to teach you something different."
People interested in poverty issues are invited to attend a seminar showcase April 26. It includes a reception, group presentation and the premiere of the four radio shows. Afterwards, will be an open discussion about poverty with seminar attendees and people from diverse backgrounds, Marty said.
"It's going to be an electric atmosphere," she said. "I'm really excited."
ShowcaseThe Virginia Ball Center group will debut four radio spots at 6 p.m. on April 26 at the Cornerstone Center for the Arts in Muncie. Admission is free, but reservations are required. For more information, call (765) 4287-0117.
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