IU Northwest provides new space for CURE

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Indiana University officials and Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, right, celebrated the opening of the Center for Urban and Regional Excellence’s new campus site Monday at IU-Northwest. From left, Ken Iwama, vice president of IU regional campuses and former IU-Northwest chancellor; Vicki Román-Lagunas, interim IU-Northwest chancellor; IU President Pamela Whitten and Ellen Szaeleta, CURE director. Carole Carlson/Post-Tribune

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By Carole Carlson

A program that connects the community to a wide-reaching partnership with Indiana University Northwest now has its own place where senior citizens can learn how to use their iPhones and middle school kids can learn college and career skills.

Led by IU President Pamela Whitten, officials snipped a ribbon Monday outside of CURE’s new headquarters just outside the south lobby entrance in the Library Conference Center.

“This is exciting and it took us so long to get here,” said interim chancellor Vicki Román-Lagunas. “It’s a deeply rooted commitment to our community… we dedicate every resource to that partnership.”

Launched in 2004, CURE aims to engage the university and the community to create sustainable programs and initiatives, led by its director Ellen Szarleta.

CURE’s activities support the development of positive and sustainable collaborations between the university and the community, officials said.

Its program offerings and partnerships include Senior University, Kids College, adult education, a community garden, police candidate training, the Indiana Civic Health Index, an annual Forum on Child Abuse and Neglect, and Partners-In Conversation, recorded conversations between students, faculty and community members to stay connected during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We were in a very sense created by the community with CURE as the permanent gateway,” said former IU Northwest chancellor Ken Iwama, who’s now vice president of IU’s regional campuses and online education.

Before it gained its new space in the Library Conference Center, Szarleta said its ages 55-and-over Senior University courses were held at various classroom sites across the campus. With the new single location, Szarleta said it’s easier for seniors to foster relationships and settle into a course.

She said CURE also is assisting the City of Gary with its Love Your Block mini-grant program application for community residents. Tiara Williams, Gary’s Love Your Block project manager said the application deadline closed Monday.

Williams praised CURE’s involvement. “It’s like a fire is ignited to get the word out,” she said. The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation funds Love Your Block.

“Any time there is a CURE issue, Ellen is the doctor,” said Melton. “Her team has been instrumental for us every year.”

Whitten cited the 2023 efforts by IU-Northwest students who worked with Lake County officials to examine and document more than 7,000 “churner” properties that are offered again and again at tax sales.

Their effort led to a 2023 law transferring the ownership of properties that fail to sell twice at tax sales to the county or a municipality for redevelopment.

“This space will undoubtedly enhance the ability to serve the region,” she said.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.