Digital Commons Network^™

People, Not Symptoms: A Visual Ethnography Of Ayurvedic Doctor Ashlesha Raut, Elizabeth Baranski

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Dr. Ashlesha Raut is an Ayurvedic doctor practicing in Bloomington-Normal at her clinic, Ayurveda for Healing. Her role as an Ayurvedic doctor focuses on diagnosing and treating imbalances in the day to day life of patients in order to guide people to their healthiest, happiest selves. My research focuses on Dr. Ashlesha Raut’s relationship with Ayurveda and how she diagnoses specific, individual patients through a holistic perspective. The research includes a contemporary literature review of Ayurveda, focusing on the perspectives of practitioners and their diagnostic methods. I conducted research in collaboration with Dr. Raut, with ethnographic interviews and experiencing Dr. …

It’S About More Than Reproduction: A Visual Ethnography About Jennifer Sedbrook, Sommer Martin

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Jennifer Sedbrook is an advocate fighting for the rights and promotion of women's health. She was a key component and founder of two organizations that educated the public about women's health issues and established programs and services services women in the McLean County community. She founded Women's Heart Health Ambassadors while working at OSF Healthcare in Bloomington as a part of a heart health initiative at OSF. Women Empowered was founded shortly after her involvement in WHHA, and encompassed a group of women who pooled resources to fund events, education and resources. Currently, she serves on the board for Planned …

Nine Months In One Day: A Visual Ethnography With Caroline And Elizabeth Fox-Anvick, Kayla Ranta

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Caroline and Elizabeth Fox-Anvick, a same-sex couple residing in Bloomington, Illinois, have been married for sixteen years. Caroline and Elizabeth were the first same-sex couple to receive a foster care license in McLean County, through the Children’s Home and Aid agency. This agency began offering adoption services in 1883, and continues to help over 300 families each year (Adoption Services).

Community Lawyering And The Immigration Project: An Ethnographic Study Of Charlotte Alvarez, Kathryn Jefferson

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Charlotte Alvarez, executive director of the Immigration Project, spends a majority of her time dealing with the consequences of immigration reform on her clients and community. She lives in Bloomington-Normal and splits her time working in the Normal, Champaign, and other satellite offices throughout the state. In addition to immigration, Alvarez is concerned with raising her child bilingually and biculturally. She wants her daughter to grow up being able to communicate with her paternal grandparents and to feel comfortable with both sides of her heritage. Her organization, the Immigration Project works in central and southern Illinois to provide legal services …

Laurie Bergner: A Bloomington-Normal Community Educator Shaped By Her Values, Jessica Bugayong

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Laurie Bergner is a passionate, interested, and highly active and engaged Bloomington-Normal (Blo-No) community member. Laurie has been involved in an array of community organizations since she moved from Washington, D.C. with her husband in 1977. Laurie’s parents and world travels shaped her values that, in turn, guide and shape Laurie’s community work.

Colleen Connelly: Taking The First Step Towards Improving Food Accessibility, Michelle Rekowski '19

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Colleen Connelly is nineteen years old and already in her third year running the Sunnyside Community Garden in West Bloomington. She co-founded the nonprofit to provide fresh produce to the West Bloomington community as part of an entrepreneurship program at Normal Community High School. She wants to provide a space for the community to actively learn about the food they are growing, as a way to work towards economic and environmental sustainability. Describing the garden as a food forest is part of sustainability planning, as food forests are designed to efficiently utilize existing natural landscapes. In other words, food forests …

“Don’T Cross Momma!” A Visual Representation Of Lgbtqi Woman Leader Jan Lancaster, Lucy Bullock '17

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Jan Lancaster, fondly known as “Momma” by her patrons, is the proud owner of The Bistro, President of the Central Illinois Pride Health Center, member of the Human Relations Commission, and Vice President of the Downtown Bloomington Association. Jan is a passionate, active, dedicated, and loving leader of Bloomington-Normal’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning and Intersex community. She has served on many boards and associations throughout the years, including being the main player to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Bloomington Normal. Her leadership role as owner of downtown’s alternative bar The Bistro, however, serves as her central position within …

Sacred Partnership: A Visual Ethnographic Study Of Rabbi Rebecca L. Dubowe, Anna Kerr-Carpenter '17

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Rabbi Rebecca L. Dubowe, is known most prominently as the first female, deaf rabbi in the world, however she would tell you this label means nothing compared to her most preferred title—best revealed in her warm and gentle, yet vibrant presence—that of, “Mom”. Dubowe currently presides as interim rabbi at Moses Montefiore Temple, the only synagogue in Bloomington-Normal. After serving a large congregation in Los Angeles, California for eighteen years, she found herself in the middle of central Illinois tasked with leading a significantly smaller congregation through a process of change and transformation. Through my research I sought to understand …

Women Leaders As Change Agents: Mary Campbell’S Story Of Academic And Community Leadership, Raelynn Parmely '17

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Through this ethnographic study, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Mary Campbell. Mary was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up in a household made up of her mom, her father, and three older brothers. Unlike families that held their daughters and sons to different gendered standards, Mary always received encouragement from her family that she could do whatever her brothers did (see Figure 1). Mary attributes her Catholic upbringing with instilling many of the values that she maintains today, such as giving back to her community. During a service project in which she participated during …

Snapped Into Focus: Addressing The Challenges Faced By Undocumented Mexican Immigrants In The United States, Nora Peterson '14

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

It is estimated that as of 2010 there are 11.4 million Mexican immigrants living in the United States. This figure represents 30% of the total immigrant population and 62% of the undocumented immigrant population (Ortmeyer and Quinn 2012). Jennifer Carrillo, a resident of the Bloomington-Normal, Illinois community, has represented both sets of statistics throughout the thirteen years that she has resided in the United States.

Russian-Jewish Immigration And The Life Experiences Of Dr. Marina Balina: A Photo Essay, Lauren Henry '14

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

It is easy for many American-born citizens to forget that many people struggle to achieve the same status that they have by birthright. It is also easy to take for granted the fact that Americans have many freedoms and opportunities that people are deprived of in many other places all over the world. Being born in the United States myself, I am no exception to this. After hearing from Dr. Marina Balina about her life and journey to becoming a citizen, I have a new level of respect for immigrants like Dr. Balina and an appreciation for the circumstances that …

Bicultural Living: Maria Luisa Mainou’S Experience With Immigration And Cultural Change, Alicia Gummess '13

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

This essay provides a brief glimpse into the life of Maria Luisa Zamudio Mainou, a Mexican immigrant living in the U.S. as a legal permanent resident (LPR). Maria Luisa lives in an American home in the Midwest. She works at Illinois State University in the bicultural-bilingual studies department, a career that puts her into frequent contact with Latino students and other people interested in important issues relating to the Latino community. Her work gives her particular reason to want to be involved in this study, and her story offers rich insights into the ways in which a bicultural perspective can …

The Long Road To Becoming American: One Kenyan’S Immigration Journey Filled With Perseverance, Discrimination, And Student Visa Restrictions, Katelyn Eichinger '14

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

This study focuses on the story of one immigrant, Mid-hat Abdulrehman, and how he came to America and the problems he encountered along the way. Mid-hat is a Kenyan immigrant from the town of Lamu on the East African coast.

Pierogies To Hamburgers: An Immigration Story, Madeline Cross '13

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

This ethnographic study examines the experiences of an immigrant from Poland through visual media. The process of becoming a citizen, the transition to American culture, and current identity as a Polish American are addressed. The consultant for this ethnography is Agnieszka (Agnes) Kubas who is a Junior at Illinois Wesleyan University. Agnes moved from Poland to America 12 years ago.

Agnes’s immigration story is a culmination of historical and cultural factors that she experienced on a personal level. The three main themes of Agnes’s story were the language barrier, the transition to the American educational system, and the way her …

An American Who Emigrated From Poland: The Significance Of Education And Family Support In The Acculturation Process, Stephanie Pierson '13

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Through part of the “Becoming American” project, I collaborated with Justyna (Koscielniak) Gano, who is a senior at Illinois Wesleyan University. This collaborative research focuses on Justyna’s acculturation process, detailing her journey to America and the challenges she and her family have faced as immigrants. It also emphasizes the importance of family support in Justyna’s search for success in America.

American By Citizenship Or American At Heart? An Analysis Of Becoming An “American” As Seen Through The Eyes Of An Indian-American Immigrant, Helen Brandt '14

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Learning and experiencing the culture of a country for an immigrant is quite different than for someone who has grown up in that country and culture. Most native citizens take the differences for granted, but for immigrants, these variations can cause feelings of alienation in a new culture. Beginning my research, I wanted to learn what becoming an American was like. The end result of my research showed that being an American does not simply mean being born here or acquiring citizenship. It also entails adapting to certain recognizable aspects of the U.S. culture, and one does not need to …

When Words Fail, Music Speaks, Hannah Williams '12

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Vocal performers are distinctive due to the self-discipline that necessarily accompanies having one's voice be one's instrument, as all life choices directly affect a vocalist's ability to sing. Vocalists are also united by a strong feeling of self-confidence that is essential in a field that is highly competitive, subjective, and personal. Furthermore, while a love of music is a common theme for many musicians, vocal performers are distinguished by both the emotional and physical connection that they must forge with their music.

Building Christ-Based Relationships, Disciples, And Sharing The Gospel Of Jesus Christ At Illinois State University, Cassandra Jordan '12

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

The Cru movement at Illinois State University (ISU) in Normal, Illinois is the focus of this research. Each week there are a plethora of dorm Bible studies, leader Bible studies, and unofficial ‘hang outs.’ In addition to the small group meetings, there is also a weekly meeting, similar, but not the same as, a church worship service on Thursday evenings. Although the number of participants fluctuate week by week, between seventy five and one hundred people attended the events where I was present. To get an in-depth look at the movement, I focused my interviews and interactions with leaders and …

Smile And Style: An Ethnographic Analysis Of Isu's Gamma Phi Circus, Sarah Carlson '13

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Gamma Phi Circus of Illinois State University is the oldest collegiate circus in the United States, and one of only two still in existence. Founded in 1926 by Clifford “Pop” Horton, a gymnastics instructor, it began as a small group of men performing human pyramids and tumbling at sporting events. By 1931, it was an actively performing college circus troupe. Now, with a rich, 82 year performance history, Gamma Phi has roughly 70 performers and holds highly attended performances every April, in conjunction with a rigorous year-round practice schedule.

I chose to focus my research on Gamma Phi because they …

Exploring Acupuncture In The American Midwest, Shuting Zhong '11

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

Through visual anthropological methods, I explored the mechanism, efficacy, and practice of acupuncture in the American Midwest. I took photographs during the clinical visits to include a visual component, which serves not only to illustrate the concepts, but as a mechanism to gain deeper insight about the healing tradition. The act of reviewing the photographs and the selective emphasis on certain concepts was a collaborative effort with Mr. Gu, commonly referred to as Dr. Gu, allowing for a blend of viewpoints from the expert consultants and my own conclusions. The feedback from Dr. Gu and
the office manager at each …

Getting High: An Inside Look Into College Students' Lives With Type 1 Diabetes, Amber Spiewak 11

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Luck Be A Lady: An Exploration Of The Bloomington Bingo Community Through Visual Ethnographic Methods, Monica Simonin 11

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Twin City Chess Club: A Visual Ethnographic Examination Of Chess, Morgan Tarbutton 11

Outstanding Ethnographic Research Projects

No abstract provided.