This summer, a cohort of Walsh University Blouin Scholars, now in their junior year, embarked on a transformative journey around Lake Erie, visiting Detroit, London (Ontario), Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. This immersive experience connected their classroom knowledge with real-world challenges and marked a pivotal moment in their academic journey. Having started the Blouin Scholars Program as freshmen, focusing on infrastructure, human flourishing, housing, and neighborhood development, their summer travels represented the development of their community research plans. This journey allowed them to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical insights, enriching their junior year of study and preparing them for impactful community research.

“The Blouin Scholars experience starts here in Stark County and then branches outward,” said Dr. Nick Morris, Faculty Director of the Blouin Scholars Program. “It’s about engaging with communities, understanding their challenges, and bringing back valuable insights to our partners in Stark County. Our students didn’t just learn from textbooks—they learned from the people and places they encountered.”

In the spring of 2024, the scholars worked closely with local community partners like Canton for All People, ICAN Housing, Community Building Partnerships, and Habitat for Humanity of East Central Ohio. These collaborations laid the groundwork for their summer travels aimed at exploring how other communities address similar challenges and bringing back insights that contribute to enhancing their local partners’ work.

Their summer journey began in Detroit where they explored the city’s history and present-day challenges—from industrial innovation to the lingering impacts of redlining. Visits to sites like the Ford Museum and the Eight Mile Wall provided a stark reminder of how deeply economic and racial divides can shape communities.

During their time in Detroit, Audrey Dornisch, a finance major encountered a moment that challenged her perspective. “As we were driving through a local neighborhood... It was such a dramatic shift... It helped me realize the disparity within neighborhoods.”

In London (Ontario), the Blouin Scholars visited King’s University College at Western University Canada where they engaged with faculty staff and students to explore community-engaged learning from an international perspective. They learned about service-learning programs compared these with their own experiences visited a local food bank gaining insights into how community support is structured observed strategies for meeting community needs maintaining mission-driven work including adaptations during COVID-19 pandemic also visited The Working Centre Kitchener Ontario Catholic outreach organization supports displaced workers provides range services job training transitional housing.

“This visit provided our students with a deep understanding... By comparing these approaches... they gained valuable insights into global service practices,” Dr. Morris explained.

In Buffalo they combined learning with active community involvement visiting Holy Mass Cathedral heartfelt reception parish invited homemade brunch extended tour observed ongoing neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Damen Launder Intervention Specialist Mild Moderate MCE Math Social Studies major noted connections between cities: “The most surprising lesson I learned... no city or person is alone in issue housing injustices.”

Final leg trip took scholars Pittsburgh witnessed firsthand efforts organizations Urban Redevelopment Authority Manchester Bidwell highlighted grappling pasts forging new paths forward left deeper understanding systemic issues addressed grassroots institutional efforts.

“Meeting Urban Redevelopment Authority profound experience... shared current initiatives preventing injustices future impactful witness transparency commitment change,” Dr. Morris said.

Blouin Scholars also visited Manchester Bidwell founded Bill Strickland 1980s transformed devastated community creating top-tier workforce training facility response local needs partnered major companies build high-quality facilities tailor training programs industry demands Dr. Morris reflected visit saying “Seeing Manchester Bidwell’s success really brought home impact visionary leadership creative solutions tackle tough problems drive real change.”

Leah Greczanik P-5 Education Intervention Specialist Dual Licensure found visit highly inspiring particularly valued sense belonging strategy see dignity person standing front biggest takeaway conversation Joanna head government external relations Stark County benefit center builds strengths already established all starts treating person asset community.

As this cohort begins junior year summer journey serves powerful testament value experiential learning insights experiences gathered enhance research empower meaningful impact communities Dr. Morris concluded “This experience has given them connections insights drive positive change both here Stark County wherever future takes them.”