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Geospatial Technology: Applications in Service Learning and Environmental Sustainability

This project utilizes geospatial technology to address issues of food deserts and recycling in Nashville, Tennessee. Partnerships with community organizations and academic institutions have resulted in mapping projects and research to bring grocery stores to underserved neighborhoods and improve recycling rates. Service learning deliverables include essays and a reflection component for students.

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Geospatial Technology: Applications in Service Learning and Environmental Sustainability

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  1. Geospatial Technology:Applications in Service Learning andEnvironmental Sustainability David A. Padgett Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory Tennessee State University

  2. 2003-2010: Nashville Food Desert Mapping Project Partners: Tying Nashville Together, Community Food Advocates, Inc., Meharry Medical College, Nashville Metropolitan Health Department, TSU Office of Service Learning and Civic Engagement, Vanderbilt University Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) TSU Service Learning Courses: Cartography (GEOG 3100), Urban Geography (GEOG 4850) TSU Students: Urban Studies, Education Funding: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

  3. Fall 2003 – Cartography (GEOG 3100)student class project. Shapefile of grocery stores geocoded using data obtained from Nashville’s Metro Health Department. Maps were shared with Vanderbilt University’s Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) in support of their food desert research efforts in North Nashville.

  4. Fall 2010 - A Cartography (GEOG 3100) student is providing food desert mapping data to Community Food Advocates in support of the “Corner Stores” project to fulfill the requirements of his “Community Mapping Term Paper.”

  5. Food Desert Mapping Project Results and Status • Since 2004, the TSU Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory has provided data to community partners working to bring grocery stores to under-served Nashville neighborhoods. • Fall 2009-Summer 2010 – The TSU Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory collaborated on research with Meharry Medical College aimed at determining the impact of food deserts upon obesity rates in low-income communities. • Fall 2010 – The TSU Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory is providing food desert mapping data to the Nashville Metropolitan Health Department in support of the $7.5 million “Putting Prevention to Work” initiative.

  6. 2004-2010: TSU Campus-Community Recycling Project Partners: Nashville Office of Public Works, TSU Facilities Management Office, TSU Office of Student Affairs, Hadley Park Neighborhood Association, Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership (JUMP), African American Cultural Alliance (AACA), EarthMatters Tennessee, TSU Gateway 2 Heritage Student Organization, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Courses: Cartography (GEOG 3100), Urban Geography (GEOG 4850) Students: Urban Studies, Biology, Engineering, Political Science, Mathematics Funding: National Wildlife Federation, U.S. Department of Energy

  7. Source: Mohai, Paul. “Dispelling Old Myths: African American Concern for the Environment.” Environment Journal. Vol. 45, No. 5 (June 2003): 11-26.

  8. Locations of Metro Recycling Centers in Proximity to Tennessee State University’s Main Campus and Nashville/Davidson County’s Black Population - 2004

  9. 2004 – Tennessee State University Campus – Community Recycling Pilot Project Funded with National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology Fellowship

  10. Campus-Community Recycling Pilot ProjectGIS and GPS Mapping of Nashville Curbside Recycling Program Participation Rates by Neighborhood: 2005-2006

  11. Campus-Community Recycling Pilot ProjectGIS and GPS Mapping of Bin Locations with Pounds ofRecyclable Material Collected - Summer 2006

  12. Institutional “Buy-In” Fall 2007 TSU Campus-Community Recycling Committee

  13. Community Information Meetings January 2008

  14. TSU Campus-Community Recycling Center Site – Opens April 22nd 2008 (Earth Day)

  15. Campus-Community Recycling Project Results and Status • The recycling center is monitored by TSU Police and Facilities Management and emptied by the Nashville Office of Public Works. • TSU student environmental and other service organizations are working with TSU Facilities Management to move campus recyclable materials to the drop-off site. • In the future, proceeds from the recyclables will be used to fund “green scholarships” at TSU. • Grants funds are being pursued to support a campus-community environmental education initiative with the African American Cultural Alliance as community partner.

  16. Service Learning Deliverables • TSU students in the GEOG 3100 and 4850 courses complete three required writing assignments – • a “Project Expectations Essay” prior to beginning the service learning experience, • a “Project Journal” in which they are to maintain a daily record of their activities, and • 3)a closed-book expository “Reflection Essay” at the end of the course.

  17. Service Learning DeliverablesUrban Geography: Successful Student-Community Partner Grants 2006 African American Cultural Alliance and Donnie Harris/Eric Thomas – Frist Foundation Technology Grant - $2,000 2006Imagine College/Pearl-Cohn High School and Tasha Phillips – My Community, Our Earth Grant Program - $1,500 2007 EarthMatters Tennessee and Antonio Johnson – Frist Foundation Technology Grant - $1,700 2007 Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership and Curtis Green – Frist Foundation Technology Grant - $2,250 2008 EarthMatters Tennessee and Brandon Scales – Community Forestry and Environmental Research Grant Program - $6,200

  18. Thursday, November 18 – 11:30 am-12:45 pm Pearl-Cohn High School 9th Grade Academy 915 38th Avenue North Room 156Preliminary Agenda: 11:30 am - Welcome by Principal Glenn Paschall 11:35 am - Remarks by Ms. Nekya Young, TSU HUD Project Coordinator 11:40 am - Remarks by Dr. David A. Padgett, Director, GIS Lab at Tennessee State University 11:45 am - GIS Project Presentations by PCHS 9th Grade Academy Students 11:55 am - GIS Research Paper Presentations by TSU Cartography Students • “Mapping Nashville’s Food Deserts" - Dustin Shane, Urban Studies Major • “Geographic Information Systems as a Means to Improve Computer Literacy in 9th Grade Students” – Contessa McNeal, History Major, and Pretoria Griffin, Psychology Major • “Global Positioning Systems Tracking and Police Intelligence” – Gabriel Collins, Criminal Justice Major • “Google Earth and Terrorism” – Miles Turner, History Major 5. “The Use of Geographic Information Systems to Assist in the Design of Enhanced Bioremediation at Obed River Crude Oil Spill Site” - Lore’al Spear, Engineering Major

  19. QUESTIONS?

  20. David A. Padgett, DirectorBox 9538Tennessee State University3500 John Merritt BoulevardNashville, Tennessee 37209615-963-5508dpadgett@tnstate.edu Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory

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