Purdue JMHC students build interactive website to identify community challenges

Students from Purdue’s John Martinson Honors College (JMHC) are developing an interactive website aimed at revitalizing the Lafayette community. Led by Jason Ware, director of engaged scholar development, the initiative enables community members to identify concerns or share feedback on a city map.

“Digital mapping will facilitate and support people’s contributions to city-level decision-making that impacts them,” Ware says. The website will gather input from residents while providing insight into the concerns of the neighborhood.

Jason Ware, director of engaged scholar development in the John Martinson Honors College

Ware says examples include intersections with overgrown shrubbery where pedestrians crossing might be blocked from a driver’s view, or areas that would benefit from more lighting or safety features.

“Residents can drop a location pin and a survey will appear to share their concerns,” he says.

Purdue sophomore Matthew Pung, who is coding the website, says the map will help the city respond to pressing issues in the community. Additionally, the website will analyze demographic data to inform users of community members with similar observations.

“The map will not only give people an easy way to engage in community growth but will give us an easy way to communicate back with them,” Pung says.

Ware was inspired by the Quality of Life Foundation, a UK-based organization that advocates for neighborhood revitalization through six core themes — a sense of control, health equity, connection to nature, a sense of wonder, getting around and connecting communities. Ware is the first to introduce their framework in the United States.

“Our framework has themes that are applicable to any place,” shares Matthew Morgan, the founder of the Quality of Life Foundation. He believes the relationship between the foundation and the JMHC will help facilitate learning for both teams.

Gathering Feedback

Matthew Pung, Purdue sophomore

The Quality of Life Foundation introduced Ware to the concept of urban rooms, forums where residents can voice their concerns and ideas. Students from Ware’s well-being service-learning course are facilitating urban rooms in the Monon neighborhood of Lafayette.

“Urban rooms are like focus groups, the students are prompting the conversation with semi-structured interview questions,” says Ware. “They’re analyzing what they're hearing and giving data back to people.”

Students-led research is a significant motivator for Ware.“They're using their interests, skills and desires and growing them in many ways to create this project,” he explains.

Pung, a computer engineering major, says Ware’s focus on interdisciplinary growth has taught him skills that help him excel in his classes and career journey. “We work with Dr. Ware, not for him. He is truly committed to fostering student's potential” shares Pung.

Interdisciplinarity and cross-campus collaboration are crucial aspects of this effort, explains Ware. He hopes to see not only more students but faculty contributing to community engagement. For information on how to contribute to revitalization projects visit Transformative Research via Engaged Knowledge and Scholarship page.

Giuliana Corliss

Communication Assistant for Teaching and Learning, tlcoms@purdue.edu