PR class campaign boosts EquiVenture
April 6, 2006
KOKOMO, Ind.—Five IU Kokomo communication arts majors are applying their academic discipline to help local children with disabilities. As the capstone project of a Public Relations Campaigns class, they developed and presented promotional speeches and materials for the Kokomo nonprofit organization EquiVenture. Lesa Beals and Victoria Guge of Kokomo, Autumn Reef, of Forest, Kendra Smith of Russiaville, and Jen Riggs of Tipton participated in the project.
EquiVenture provides therapeutic horseback riding lessons to children with disabilities. Throughout fall 2005 and into the spring 2006 semester, the students communicated EquiVenture’s needs, unique services, and its impact to the community.
“To continue to offer its services at no cost to its riders, EquiVenture must obtain continuous financial support from the community,” Beals said. “EquiVenture’s long-term success will only be realized through ongoing community support.”
To help make that goal a reality, Beals said she and the other students spoke to community groups such as the congregation of Main Street United Methodist Church, the Mayor’s Council on Disabilities, the IU Kokomo Alumni Association board of directors, Eastern Star, Historic Kiwanis, and Altrusa International sorority. “We solicited a volunteer to continue with the speaking engagements (both booking them as well as presenting) for the long term,” she said.
Beals said the project serves two important purposes. It benefits “the community by continuing the EquiVenture program and improving the services it provides. Second, the community can be inspired to join in and offer their own time to benefit a non profit. It can be contagious.” Beals believes that “Involvement in our community is a big factor in making the community feel like it’s yours. You take ownership once you’ve given up your personal time to help improve your community.”
Beals, Guge, and Riggs presented their project April 7 at the Indiana Campus Compact annual Student and Faculty Service-learning Conference in West Lafayette. Beals said she is “thrilled that IU Kokomo faculty encourages community projects with our course work. Not only does it provide a ‘real’ experience in applying our studies, but it also builds our networks for future employment as well as building pride in our community.”
Indiana Campus Compact is a consortium of member colleges and universities committed to preparing tomorrow’s leaders by promoting programs that reinforce community and civic involvement.
For more information on other communication arts courses that offer service-learning opportunities, call (765) 455-9248 and ask to speak to a communications faculty member.
