IU School of Liberal Arts anthropology students returned to Indianapolis’ Midtown neighborhoods as part of a research collaboration with the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation, examining the impact of neighborhood schools, transit, and unique locations that created pride and a feeling of belonging in the community.
The project began in 2015 and focused on issues such as food, public art, parks, exercise, and amenities for the elderly. This year, Dr. Sue Hyatt, professor and chair of anthropology, and students followed up on the results and asked residents what their communities still needed.
The students found that residents still did not know of public transit options, lacked safe places for patients within the Dove Recovery House for Women, and continued to lack access to healthy fresh foods despite a new discount store in the area. To help residents, the students produced a cookbook of shared recipes from the neighborhood.
Recipes and research are currently on display at the Mapleton-Fall Creek CDC offices (3190 N. Meridian St).
