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, which aimed to explore how other communities address similar challenges and bring back insights that contribute to and enhance 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, the streets we saw were full of houses with well-manicured lawns and nice cars in driveways. Then, literally, the next street over, we saw houses with overgrown lawns, metal bars over every window, and trash lining the street. It was such a dramatic shift, and I was caught off guard. It helped me realize the disparity within neighborhoods and how creating local opportunities can transform them.”
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 the university’s service-learning programs and compared these with their own experiences. The scholars first visited a local food bank, gaining insights into how community support is structured and delivered in Canada. They observed strategies for meeting community needs and maintaining mission-driven work, including adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also visited The Working Centre in Kitchener, Ontario, a Catholic outreach organization that supports displaced workers and provides a range of services, from job training to transitional housing.
“This visit provided our students with a deep understanding of how Catholic social teaching can guide community support and development. By comparing these approaches with similar initiatives in Stark County, they gained valuable insights into global service practices and expanded their perspective on how faith-driven principles can effectively address community needs,” Dr. Morris explained.
In Buffalo, they combined learning with active community involvement. A visit to Holy Mass at the Cathedral led to a heartfelt reception from the parish community, who invited the students to a homemade brunch. This experience of communal warmth extended to their tour of Buffalo, where they observed ongoing neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Damen Launder, an Intervention Specialist (ISE), Mild to Moderate, and MCE Math and Social Studies major, noted the connections between cities: “The most surprising lesson I learned from the communities we visited was how similar the issues we saw are to those in Canton. Detroit is nearly 10 times the size of Canton, but they too have struggled with social injustices like redlining. I was able to make so many connections to what we’ve seen in Canton within these much larger cities. This changes my perspective by showing me that no city or person is alone in the issue of housing injustices.”
The final leg of the trip took the scholars to Pittsburgh, where they witnessed firsthand the efforts of organizations like the Urban Redevelopment Authority and Manchester Bidwell. These visits highlighted how communities are grappling with their pasts while forging new paths forward. The scholars left Pittsburgh with a deeper understanding of how systemic issues can be addressed through both grassroots and institutional efforts.
“Meeting with the Urban Redevelopment Authority was a profound experience for our students,” Dr. Morris said. “The scholars heard firsthand from the very organization responsible for redlining and the displacement of historically Black neighborhoods in Pittsburgh. The URA openly acknowledged their past mistakes and shared their current initiatives aimed at preventing such injustices in the future. It was impactful for our students to witness this level of transparency and commitment to change.”
The Blouin Scholars also visited Manchester Bidwell. Founded by Bill Strickland in the 1980s, Manchester Bidwell transformed a devastated community by creating a top-tier workforce training facility in response to local needs. Strickland partnered with major companies to build high-quality facilities and tailor training programs to industry demands. Dr. Morris reflected on the visit, saying, “Seeing Manchester Bidwell’s success really brought home the impact of visionary leadership. Bill Strickland’s dedication to revitalizing his community showed us how creative solutions can tackle tough problems and drive real change.”
Leah Greczanik, a P-5 Education Intervention Specialist Dual Licensure, found the visit to Manchester Bidwell highly inspiring, particularly in how much they valued a sense of belonging. “Their strategy to see the dignity of the person standing in front of them was the biggest takeaway from our conversation with Joanna, the head of government and external relations. Stark County could benefit from a center like this that builds on the strengths of its already established community. It all starts with treating the person in front of you as an asset to the community.”
As this cohort of Blouin Scholars begins their junior year, this summer journey serves as a powerful testament to the value of experiential learning. The insights and experiences they gathered will not only enhance their research but also empower them to make a meaningful impact in their communities. Dr. Morris concluded, “This experience has given them the connections and insights to drive positive change, both here in Stark County and wherever their future takes them.”
