Class now in session at Crestmont complex

Ivy Tech launches outreach program and public housing

By Steve Hinnefeld, Herald-Times Staff Writer

When Ivy Tech Community College offered a program called Fresh Start to College for residents of Bloomington's Crestmont public housing complex, Randy and Felisa Spinelli jumped at the chance.

"We're just trying to better ourselves, to make life better for our family," said Felisa Spinelli, who has two children, 7-year-old Trashawn and 5-year-old Tasia, and a third on the way. "We're trying to get off to a new start."

The Spinellis were on hand Monday along with about 30 other people, including Ivy Tech and city officials, to launch the educational outreach program at the former Crestmont Community Center. And the talk was of a new start not only for students but for the Crestmont community.

"Just having Ivy Tech here as an anchor has already changed the image," said Kevin White, president of the Bloomington Housing Authority residents council. "We're moving from having the stereotype of being 'the Hill' to being a community."

The Ivy Tech program, announced in November, offers an eight-week class at Crestmont that's designed to familiarize new students with the challenges and benefits of going to college.

The first session, with 12 students, began Monday afternoon. Right before it did, officials celebrated with speeches, refreshments and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

"To be a truly comprehensive community college, we need to reach out to our diverse community," said John Whikehart, chancellor of Ivy Tech-Bloomington.

The idea for the program was hatched last August, when Ivy Tech took part in a National Night Out event at Crestmont. Ivy Tech, using college grant funds, spent about $15,000 to install a dozen computers and other classroom equipment for the Crestmont center. It will provide scholarships to cover the $300 tuition and book costs for the initial students.

The idea is that public housing residents can take advantage of the introductory college course, then be emboldened to take additional classes at Ivy Tech's new campus off Ind. 48 west of Bloomington.

A second eight-week session starts in March. Other Ivy Tech classes may be offered at Crestmont in the future.

Ivy Tech faculty member Gloria Hasler, who helped design the introduction-to-college class and will teach it at Crestmont, said it covers computer and study skills, career objectives and life skills, including wellness and financial management.

"It's geared to make students more comfortable and not intimidated in a college environment," she said.

Public officials taking part in Monday's ceremony included U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, Mayor Mark Kruzan, city council members Chris Sturbaum, Mike Diekhoff and Tim Mayer and housing authority commissioner Lindsey Smith.

"This is what government should be about," Hill said. "This is what education should be about."

Kruzan said the Ivy Tech outreach program shows a broad conception of community development.

"This program is just the beginning," he said. "It's what the future holds for Crestmont and for Bloomington in general."

White, the residents council president, echoed that theme and announced the community center was being renamed the Mary F. Harris Family Enrichment Center. The name change honors 80-year-old Mary Harris, a longtime community advocate and residents council leader, who was present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

White said he sees the Ivy Tech-Bloomington Housing Authority partnership as a model that could be picked up around Indiana as a way of making higher education more accessible.

"This is a low-wealth community," he said, "but this initiative is going to empower people, it's going to sustain people."