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ACEs Staff and Community Partner Organizations

Banneker Center

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The Benjamin Banneker Community Center (part of the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation) offers a wide variety of recreational activities for children and families. Service-learners help with daily activities, seasonal events, family-focused sports programs, and structured after school programming. The Center's amenities include a full size gymnasium, library, kitchen, and various other recreation areas.

Batchelor Middle School

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Batchelor Middle School is dedicated to enhancing the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development of all students to produce active learners capable of meeting future challenges.

The Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP)

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The Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) strives to be a leading artistic force in the production and encouragement of new plays. The BPP provides opportunities for development, education, and production for promising and established writers and theatre artists in a professional environment. Service-learning students may get involved in development/fundraising, special events, facility maintenance, marketing activities, and artistic assistance (including props procurement, set painting, light/sound operation and backstage help).

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington develops youth to become productive, caring, responsible citizens with a special concern for those most in need. Service-learners work with youth in after school activities including the art, homework help, teen programs, technology, sports and recreation.

Main Club, 311 South Lincoln Street

  • Requirements: Orientation and criminal background check
  • Orientation: Scheduled as needed
  • Bus: Route 1
  • ACE: Brooke Bedel, bbedel@indiana.edu

Crestmont Club, 1108 North Summit Road

Photo of Crestmont Boys & Girls Club

City of Bloomington; Department of Economic and Sustainable Development

Department of Economic and Sustainable Development

The mission of the City of Bloomington's; Department of Economic & Sustainable Development is to enhance the quality of life for citizens by administering strategic programs and initiatives which foster an environment where businesses may thrive and retain and create new, quality jobs.

Fair Trade Bloomington

Fair Trade Bloomington logo

Fair Trade Bloomington is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunity for those living in Bloomington and nearby to contribute to global economic development and poverty relief through education and promotion of products that adhere to fair trade principles.

What is fair trade?

Fair trade is "a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers—especially in the South" (IFAT).

What are the Fair Trade Principles?

  • Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged artisans and producers
  • A fair price set by artisans and producers
  • Cash advances and prompt final payments
  • Long term relationships with artisans and producers
  • Gender equity
  • Safe and healthy working conditions
  • Responsible environmental practices (IFAT)

Fairview Elementary School

Fairview School

The faculty and staff at Fairview Elementary School endeavor, through usage of appropriate curriculum, to provide an educational environment which promotes creativity and prepares students to be productive citizens. With the cooperative involvement of students, teachers, parents, and community, the staff acknowledges the responsibility for implementing this mission statement.

Habitat ReStore

Habitat ReStore

The Monroe County Habitat ReStore is a discount home improvement store that sells quality new and like-new furniture, building materials, and more. ReStore’s inventory comes from accepting donations from individuals, companies, and other organizations. 100% of proceeds from ReStore sales support Habitat for Humanity’s work in Monroe County.

Head Start

Head Start

Head Start The children who attend Head Start are 3-6 years old and the school is open between 6:30 and 5:30 Monday through Friday. Bloomington Head Start serves approximately 200 families at 8 sites around Monroe County. Service-learners help teach children cognitive skills, patience, sharing, problem-solving, hygiene, safety and practice in good decision-making and assist parents at evening and weekend Council of Involved Families events.

  • Location: 1502 W. 15th St., corner of 15th & Lindbergh
  • Bus: Route 2
  • ACE: Emily Rairdonemrairdo@indiana.edu
  • Prerequisites: Application, criminal background check, recent physical, TB test

Hoosier Hills Food Bank

Photo of Hoosier HIlls Food Bank

Hoosier Hills Food Bank collects, stores, and distributes nutritious food products to nonprofit organizations, which provide free feeding programs that serve both ill and needy families and individuals in Monroe, Martin, Owen, Orange, Brown, and Lawrence Counties in Central Indiana.

  • Requirements: Brief orientation; wear closed-toed shoes and dress for weather.
  • Location: 2333 Industrial Park Dr.
  • Bus: No nearby bus route. Please find transportation or call to arrange carpooling.
  • ACE: Marina Young, youngml@indiana.edu
  • Web: http://www.hhfoodbank.org/

Girls Inc.

Girls Inc.

Girls Incorporated is a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM through a network of local organizations in the United States and Canada. Serving nearly 550 girls in Monroe County, we strive to meet the needs of the girls in our community through exciting, research-driven programming, sound mentoring, and our supportive, all-girl environment. We help girls and young women overcome the effects of gender inequities that continue to exist in our society. We exist to empower girls to become responsible, self-reliant, successful women.

Middle Way House

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Middle Way House provides services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. We offer emergency shelter for battered women and their dependent children, as well as crisis intervention services, referrals, and support on our 24 hour crisis line (812) 336-0846. Additional services supported by volunteer work include legal advocacy, domestic and sexual violence support group, on-scene advocacy, and economic development opportunities.

  • Requirement: Attend 8-hour training session.

The Rise (Middle Way's Transitional Housing Program)

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The Rise is a service enriched transitional housing program for families headed by women who have experienced domestic violence and homelessness. On-site programs for families include adult tutoring, childcare, youth empowerment programming, mother's support group, and more.

  • Requirement: Attend 8-hour training session.
  • Location: Middle Way House and the Rise are close to downtown and on the city bus line.
  • Phone: (812) 337-4510
  • ACE: Mackenzie Wright, mackwrig@indiana.edu
  • Web: Rise Middleway House

Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project

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Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project is an all volunteer effort that strives to encourage self-education among prisoners in the United States. By providing free reading materials upon request, we hope to aid in the rehabilitation process and stimulate critical thinking behind bars. Service-learners and volunteers read letters sent by prisoners, respond to them by finding the books they have requested, writing the prisoners a letter, and then packaging the books. Students and other volunteers also have the opportunity to help with other aspects of the organization like fund-raising, soliciting book donations, and educating their peers and the community about prison issues.

Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM)

Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM)

Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM) has been providing social services in Monroe County since 1939. MCUM is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization (EIN # 35-1313090) that provides affordable childcare for working families and basic needs assistance to Monroe County residents in crisis. MCUM receives support in many forms from more than 40 local faith communities, in addition to support from a wide variety of other sources, but our programs do not include a religious component.

Mother Hubbard's Cupboard

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Mother Hubbard's Cupboard is a food pantry that provides the Bloomington community with free, healthful, and when available, local and organic produce and foodstuffs. In addition to providing food five days a week to people in need, MHC has a Community Gardening Program, run by patrons and volunteers. The gardens are settings for education and workshops, and during the growing season, they provide the pantry with fresh and nutritious food. MHC also offers a Nutrition Program that includes seminars on health, a library on healthy living, and endless supplies of handouts and recipes.

The Project School

The Project School

The vision of the Project School is to eliminate the predictive value of race, class, gender and special capacities on student success in our school and in our communities by working together with families and community to ensure each child’s success.The mission of The Project School is to uncover, recover and discover the unique gifts and talents that each child brings to school everyday. Our school works collaboratively with families, community members and social service agencies to solve real problems, as well as create art for public spaces. Students graduate from The Project School as stewards of the environment with the will, skill, capacity, and knowledge to contribute to the greater good!

Shalom Community Center

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Shalom Community Center is a safe, daytime resource center for those who are experiencing homelessness or poverty, providing breakfast and lunch M–F as well as referrals, social service contacts, job help, toiletries, baby supplies, clothes, groceries, shower, laundry facilities, and Internet access. Service-learners can assist as kitchen or hospitality volunteers.

  • Location: 620 S. Walnut
  • Bus: Route 1
  • Orientation Times: Please visit our website, www.shalomcommunitycenter.org under the section "Volunteering for Shalom," to see the most current orientation schedule.
  • Prerequisites: General orientation for all volunteers, mandatory hospitality volunteer training and criminal history check in the hospitality role
  • ACE: Benjamin Lindsey, benlinds@indiana.edu
  • Web: Shalom Community Center

Stone Belt

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Stone Belt Arc provides services to people with developmental disabilities. Stone Belt assists more than 1,000 adults and children through early intervention services, group homes, supported living apartments, manufacturing services employment, work and life skills education, as well as job placement within the community. Service-learners connect with people with developmental disabilities in residential, employment and community settings.

  • Prerequisite: Volunteer Orientation and Tuberculosis Screening (free)
  • Location: 2815 East 10th Street, corner of 10th and 45/46 Bypass
  • Bus: Campus E (M–F) A/E (Sa), Route 6, C Route
  • ACE: Morgan Elliott, mnelliot@indiana.edu
  • Web: Stone Belt

Templeton Elementary School

Photo of Templeton Elementary School

At Templeton, service-learners assist children and teachers in classrooms and family programming.