Ivy Tech Central Indiana Hosts Community Symposium to Bring Awareness to Hunger and Homelessness

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month and according to Feeding America, Marion County’s rate of food insecurity is higher than the national average; while The Eviction Lab consistently ranks Indianapolis among the top 20 cities with housing instability.

To bring greater awareness to these issues, Ivy Tech Community College of Central Indiana will hosted a community symposium open to the public on November 22 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to deepen comprehension of hunger and homelessness within the community.

The event was held at Ivy Tech’s North Meridian Center, located at 50 W. Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive in room 438. Expert panelists dedicated to raising awareness about the hungry and homeless communities that spoke at this event include:

• Judge Brenda Roper, Center Township Small Claims Court
• Chase Haller, Housing Attorney for Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic
• Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, Executive Director of the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention
• Jessica Fraser, Director of Indiana Institute for Working Families
• John Elliott, President/CEO of Gleaners Food Bank
• Kate Howe, Managing Director for Indy Hunger
• Monica Lunderman, Asset Manager for Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation
• Shellye Suttles, Ph.D. Assistant Research Scientist for Indiana University Ostrom Workshop

“Indianapolis has a big problem that has been brewing for many years. Food security and stable housing are the basic necessities one needs to live and thrive and a person can’t take full advantage of educational opportunities if they are hungry. Also, a person can’t take full advantage of employment opportunities if they don’t know where they will lay their head from night to night,” explained Stephanie Williams, lead financial and employment coach at Ivy Tech Central Indiana. “This community symposium will be an awesome moment in the history of our city as some of the best and brightest minds from various industries come together to not only discuss what they are doing from their own arenas to combat these issues; but also, how can we work together moving forward. I’m expecting great opportunities to accelerate this work to come from this day.”

For more information, including additional events open to Ivy Tech students and staff, visit link.ivytech.edu/HHMonth.