Community Innovation Lab News!
The Community Innovation Lab Celebrates a decade of innovation and community engagement!
Exciting News! The Community Innovation Lab recently turned 10 years old. Lab members, collaborators, student alum and community partners gathered to celebrate 10 years of innovative and engaged work within our local, national and international communities. Where else can you have such a celebration but at the Keeneland Race Course! Congratulations to all who have collaborated with CIL over the past decade. Here’s to several more!
dr. bryan hains inducted as an association for international agricultural & extension Education fellow
Dr. Bryan Hains was inducted as a 2023 International Agricultural & Extension Education Fellow at its annual conference in Guelph, Canada. This prestigious award is in recognition to his service and dedication to the profession.
Photo Credit: Amanda Nelson UKNow - University of Kentucky
Dr. Nash discusses implications for chat gpt in higher education: Research & Learning
Dr. Nash examines the potential benefits and unique applications of CHAT GPT in academia posing the question, “Can artificial intelligence enhance human thought and creativity? To read the full story click here. Also, please view the video presentation as well.
CIL UNDERGRADUATES AWARDED OUTSTANDING RESEARCH POSTER!
Congratulations to CIL Undergraduates Maddison French, Reba Prather and Jon Ursos for being awarded the Outstanding Research Poster focusing on Immigrant Perspectives of Urban Cooperative Extension at the Association of International Agricultural & Extension Education Annual Conference - Guelph, Canada.
MS. ANALIESE MITCHELL WINS OUTSTANDING TEACHING ASSISTANT AWARD
Congratulations to CIL graduate student Ana Mitchell for being recognized as the “Outstanding Teaching Assistant” in the Department of Community & Leadership Development at the University of Kentucky.
CIl partners with One Lexington & Mayor’s office to address Youth Gun Violence
To effectively address youth and young adult gun violence within Lexington, ONE Lexington leadership, in collaboration with the Community Innovation Lab at the University of Kentucky, Cities United and community partners, established a four-year strategic plan. While ONE Lexington provides city-wide leadership to reduce youth and young adult gun violence, its leadership fully understands that to effectively reduce gun violence in Lexington there needs to be strong collaboration among community partners. To learn more about ONE Lexington’s strategic plan click here.
Community Innovation Challenge - 2022
Congratulations to Ms. Adeyimika Desmennu, Adeola Oladeji and Olukemi Kolawole on winning the inaugural Community Innovation Challenge. Their community beautification project titled: “Beautifying, Fostering Communality, and integration in a Diverse Community of International Graduate Students at the University of Kentucky” has been selected and funded by CIL. Their project, focusing on international gaming and engagement, is intended to enhance solidarity and quality of life among residents of graduate student housing at the University of Kentucky - which includes students and families from 14 different countries. This collaborative initiative will be completed over the next few months and we are excited to learn from their innovative adventure. Please click here for more information.
Dr. Hill, Enhances Quality of Life for Kentucky Mountain bikers.
We are saluting Dr. John Hill who just received a grant from the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky for his innovative project the Bluegrass Mountain Biking Accessibility Initiative. He will be working with Co-PI Laura Butler in partnership with the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association (KYMBA) Bluegrass Chapter, Midway University, and the University of Kentucky Community Innovation Lab. The initiative will work to provide those living with disabilities equitable access to mountain biking in central Kentucky. In addition, this project utilizes universal and human-centered design to foster inclusivity, accessibility, and community engagement. For more information please click here!
Congratulations Dr. Hill & Mazel Tov!
Dr. Rous named Great Teacher in 2022 by the University of Kentucky Alumni Association.
Congratulations to Dr. Beth Rous who received the “Great Teacher” Award from the University of Kentucky Alumni Association. The award, established in 1961, is the longest running teaching recognition at the University of Kentucky. (Nelson, 2022). Dr. Rous was nominated by her students and it is evident that she has been an excellent teacher and had a positive impact on her students.
Dr. Wang receives the University of Kentucky’s College of Communication and Information’s Research and Creative Activities Program (RCAP) grant.
Congratulations to Dr. Rong Wang for receiving the College of Communication’s RCAP grant! As part of her project, Dr. Rong will examine the effectiveness of the non-profit sector during a global pandemic. Guided by the Contingency Model for the Capacity-Effectiveness Relationship, this study examines how the multiple dimensions of nonprofit capacities are related to two effectiveness indicators: goal attainment and system resources. This proposed research is a pilot study in the commonwealth of Kentucky, leveraging the researcher’s professional networks with local nonprofits. It is designed to collect survey data from 200 Kentucky-based nonprofits. The goal of the study is aligned with the University’s mission as a land grant university to improve people’s lives through excellence in research, service, education and training in the information age.
Dr. Nash Unveils His New Book “Design Thinking in Schools”
We are excited to announce the arrival of Dr. Nash’s book, Design Thinking in Schools, Harvard Education Press. In his book, John discusses the innovative processes of radical collaboration, design justice, and what role human centered design can play in today's education world. Please check out his discussion with Marc Lesser here.
Addie Reinhard, DVM, develops an innovative program for new veterinarians addressing early career stressors.
Dr. Reinhard developed an innovative professional development program and community of practice for new veterinary graduates. Her program aimed to provide resources and support for veterinarians during the transition to practice. Veterinarians participated in a 5 month online training curriculum in non-technical skills (e.g. communication, self-care, and emotional and cultural intelligence) that are important for success in the transition to practice. Peer mentorship was encouraged through monthly cohort meetings and social media strategies. Preliminary results suggest that the program was successful and helped the young veterinarians feel more supported during the transition to practice.
Lab Consortium Team Secures a USDA/NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant.
We are excited to announce that CIL members Bryan and Kristina Hains along with CIL Consortium member Dr. Michael Rios secured a United States Department of Agriculture Higher Education Challenge Grant for $731,692. Their team consists of experts from the U.C. Davis Center for Regional Change, University of Detroit Mercy, and Western Illinois University to examine the current status of Community Development Education. This three year project will explore Community Development Education from academic and practitioner perspectives. It will culminate with and an inaugural conference focusing on innovations in Community Development Education and a special issue of Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society.
For More Information: Click Here
Welcome the Community Development Society Fellows Program!
We are excited to announce the 2017-2018 Community Development Society Fellows Program. In June, 2017, the Community Innovation Lab teamed up with the Community Development Society to explore innovative community engagement methods. As such, Dr. Dan Kahl and Dr. Kristina Hains are currently collaborating with five thematic teams. Each team is exploring innovative community engagement methods within their specific social context. The five groups include:
Young Professionals & Graduate Students
International Communities
Urban Communities
Communities and Community Change
International Quality of Life Within Communities
Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Community Innovation Lab Fellows Graduates!
Community innovators from all over Kentucky committed to the year long Community Innovation Lab Fellows program. As part of the program, fellows worked within their professional and geographic communities while exploring concepts associated with cultural, social, and economic innovation. Throughout their experience, fellows imagined, designed and implemented incremental innovations within their respective communities. Recently, the fellows cohort graduated the program and we are honored to have grown with them on their innovative journey's. We are even more excited to be working with them as graduates of the program.
Photo Credit: Brandon S. Turner
Lyricism and Leadership: Hip-Hop and Community Change. Innovations in Undergraduate Education.
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Indie hip hop artist Devine Carama, founder of the non-profit Believing in Forever, along with CIL Director Bryan Hains, taught a one credit summer session course at the University of Kentucky called "Lyricism & Leadership: Hip Hop & Community Change". The final exam of this four week class was for six students from different religious, racial, & economic backgrounds who had never rapped before, to come together and create a hip-hop EP featuring themes relevant to their communities. Proceeds were then donated to a local nonprofit On The Move Art Studio. This course was the first of its kind at the University of Kentucky and set a foundation for providing leadership and voice for diverse communities. You can download the EP and contribute to the community arts below:
Community Innovation Lab @ U.K. Receives The Inaugural Community Development Society Capacity Building Grant.
Congratulations to CIL members Dr. Dan Kahl and Dr. Kristina Hains for receiving the inaugural CDS Capacity Building Grant. Dan and Kristina will collaborate with Community Development Society members and non-members by creating a cohort fellows program which will examine innovative methods for community engagement among diverse communities of interest. During the one year fellows program, diverse teams will consult, imagine, design, and implement community improvement strategies then write about their results.
Drumming Away Drugs Evolves Into Bonding With Beats.
Congratulations to Lab Fellow John Hill as he continues to hone his innovative idea. John began as our first lab fellow with the concept: Drumming Away Drugs. His innovative concept has evolved into the organization: Bonding with Beats. John has presented his findings at several academic conferences and has consulted with organizations nationally. Additionally, sponsors such as Remo Drum Heads, Vic Firth, and Yamaha Drums have donated and supported Bonding with Beats as they progress in their community initiatives.
Community Innovation Lab Team Seeks to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing with the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Dr. Michael Rios (U.C. Davis), Dr. Kristina Hains (University of Kentucky, Dr. Bryan Hains (University of Kentucky) and Carolyn Abrams (U.C. Davis Center for Regional Change) teamed up to design and implement a 16 month initiative to enhance fair housing initiatives and programs within California's Department of Housing and Community Development.