Visualizing the Ethnographic Voice of Community Revitalization

Visualizing the Ethnographic Voice of Community Revitalization Tait, Gabriel; McCloskey, Shannon; Cruz, Emmanuel; Leary, Jayde; Cannady, Delaina; Paige, Rhoni; Fennell, Jayana; Ramos, Jaided; Lakes, Alex; Mathis, Lanele; Hanoman, Jacqueline; Jones, Gwendolyn; Crawford, Ingrid; Myers, Laura; Brown, Billy Ross Immersive is an immersive learning project funded by Ball State University. In this immersive learning opportunity, Ball State University's Ross Immersive Learning Team (NEWS 397) partnered with the Ross Community Center and Muncie community residents. The community residents were tasked with creating visual ethnographies and engaging the community with photography. Ross Immersive worked this semester to highlight various cultures and traditions present in Muncie through the use of modern media. ​ Ross Immersive follows a research method called "Sight Beyond My Sight" created by Dr. Gabriel Tait. This research method offers an opportunity for the residents of Thomas Park/Avondale to share their perspectives of the neighborhood through a series of photographs. Starting in January, the team lent each participant a professional-grade Canon camera for two weeks. During those two weeks, community participants were instructed to capture images that truly encompass their community, with the theme of community revitalization in mind. The participants were also instructed not to delete any of the pictures they had taken.