2020 Project Highlights

South Bend Recap

For 2020, 37 interns worked on 9 projects with more than 50 community mentors in the South Bend Region.

Big Data

CCI worked with the City of South Bend’s Department of Public Works to analyze the effectiveness of 2017-18 interventions made to the combined sewer systems. In addition to the data analysis project, this team also continued a beautification project started in 2019 in partnership with the Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County. Interns organized and designed a beautification plan including an educational sign design.

CARE Network

CIL and Notre Dame faculty members Ron Metoyer and Ann-Marie Conrado partnered with local service providers to identify barriers to updating information and to provide innovative solutions to those barriers. Interns created an official report and presentation that included recommendations for addressing identified barriers.

dataMichiana

As part of a collaboration with the Neighborhood Indicators Partnership, CCI partnered with Notre Dame faculty and community members to create a GIS Map that included useful data layers highlighting disparities related to housing mobility, graduation rates, and suspensions in South Bend.

Food Information Network

To address the issue of limited access to healthy food options amongst vulnerable populations, CIL partnered with Notre Dame faculty, Purdue Extension, and Saint Joseph County Health Department to develop a network of healthy recipes using local food pantry data, which allows for customizable user specifications.

Neighborhood Traffic Calming

In partnership with the City of South Bend’s Engineering Department, interns identified community traffic calming needs in the Near West Side Neighborhood and recommended a phased traffic calming plan.

Southeast Neighborhood Marketing Analysis

CCI partnered with local community development corporation, 466 Works to research and recommend possible affordable housing plans in the area.

Wearable Devices Configuration

The Civic Innovation Lab partnered with Notre Dame faculty member Chris Poellabauer to configure a wearable device (specifically the Fitbit Versa 2) by utilizing its many sensors to assess falls and near falls in patients with Parkinson’s Disease.

Collaboration Partners

  • 466 Works
  • Charles Black Center
  • City of South Bend
  • City of Elkhart
  • Commodore Homes
  • Elkhart Community Schools
  • Elkhart Environmental Center
  • EmNet
  • enFocus
  • ETHOS Innovation
  • La Casa De Amistad
  • Lang Lab
  • Michiana Area Council of Governments
  • Riley High School
  • South Bend Regional Chamber
  • Southeast Area Organized Residents (SOAR)
  • South Bend Venues Parks & Arts
  • Tolson Center for Excellence