1. SOA 477 Project Story
*Needs photos*
SOA 477: Service beyond the classroom
Graduate students at the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development
are involved in a Sociology project which will assist previously incarcerated women in the
Bloomington-Normal area to regain their independence and attain a consistent income.
Through a partnership with Labyrinth Outreach Services, students are able to conduct
research regarding previously incarcerated women in the community. Caroline Moe, a Master’s
International student at the Stevenson Center, maintains that the project is a step in the right
direction for this underserved portion of the community.
“Unfortunately, there is significant income inequality and lack of opportunity for those
living below the poverty line,” Moe notes. “In McLean County, 14.2% of the population live

2. below this line, including many of the women Labyrinth serves. This partnership provides an
opportunity for us to gain real world experience in community development as well as feeling
like we are actually accomplishing something.”
Eighteen students are involved in the project which is focused on providing information
about microbusiness options and local hiring practices to Labyrinth. The students work in two
groups: a microbusiness research team, and an employment hiring practices team. Both teams are
working hard despite their grueling graduate study schedule to bring hope for these struggling
women.
“This project has been a great insight into the collaboration involved in executing
community development projects,” said Master’s International student Jessie Linder.” We’ve
gotten to network and collaborate with members in many different sectors of the community and
gotten to see first-hand how exciting a project can be when you get community members
involved. I’ve found that it isn’t nearly as important to have the answer, as it is to figure out what
the community’s answer is.”
Some students, like Peace Corps Fellow Nick Canfield, have never experienced formal
community development research. Thanks to this all-encompassing project, students like
Canfield are able to broaden their knowledge base in order to serve others.
“Although I had done community development programs during my Peace Corps
experience in Pohnpei, Micronesia, I had not worked integrally with a large group toward
presenting important and meaningful research to organizations,” Canfield said regarding the
project. “This project is directly geared towards creating methods to answer big questions which

3. have real world implications, and it has greatly improved my knowledge of research methods,
project implementations, and community development.”
Also part of the project is an effort to increase donations for Labyrinth.
“Our goal is to raise $5,000 of capital by the end of the semester,” the group noted.” In
pursuing this partnership, we are working to lift up our local community by providing access to
training and resources for an underserved population in McLean County.”
Linder, Moe, and Applied Community and Economic Development Fellow Mel
Johnston-Gross are project coordinators for the community outreach portion of the students’
work.
“To begin this portion of the project, we had to look at the starting group and the
feasibility of this actually working,” commented Moe. “This has proven to be very difficult, but
we know it will be worth it in the end. Sometimes it really is the little things like finishing a
request for donation letter that really makes us feel good about our work, even when we are
feeling overwhelmed.”
The students will present their findings to Labyrinth at a public forum in Schroeder 242
at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8th, an exciting and fulfilling event for students who will
have dedicated an entire semester to the cause.
“I will be proud to present the finished project to Labyrinth,” Canfield said. “I hope the
findings will help them to better assist formerly incarcerated women successfully re-enter
society.”
*Beverly to insert portion about giving to Labyrinth*