Digital Commons Network^™

From The Editor: What's The Story?, Lee Gutkind

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Disproportionate Impact Of Hiv On Young Women In Durban: Exploring Gendered Vulnerabilities And Socioeconomic Barriers, Adrian A. Nolasco

Capstone Collection

South Africa has a high rate of HIV, with young women in Durban especially affected due to social, economic, and cultural challenges. This study looks at the experiences of young women living with HIV and the views of healthcare professionals caring for them in KwaZulu-Natal. Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five women and three medical professionals to explore how HIV affects their lives, the challenges they face, and how they cope.

The findings show that both structural and personal barriers make it hard for young women to stick to treatment. Long waits at clinics, limited …

Changing Minds And Lives: A Substance Use Awareness Campaign, Alyssa Collins, Claire Wolfer-Jenkins, Rachel Isaac

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Introduction: In 2024, 48.4million Americans experienced a substance use disorder (SUD),with opioid use disorder representing a significant concern. In 2024, an estimated 8 million individuals misused opioids, contributing to 54,743 fatal overdoses. College students are particularly vulnerable, with 20% reporting illicit substance use within the past month, highlighting the urgent need for focused interventions in this population.

Project Overview: Boiler Substance Awareness Network (BSAN) is a campus initiative funded by the Lead Forward Fellowship grant. BSAN educates the Purdue community about SUD to reduce stigma and foster a recovery-friendly environment. The focus is on two objectives: preparing students to respond …

Inaccessibility Harms: Exploring The Impact Of Inaccessible Campus Organizations On Disabled Students, Francis W. Q. Corvin, Natalie G. Horgan

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

There are 3.5 million Disabled college students in the United States, with 4,671 utilizing disability services at Purdue University. Nationwide, 8–14% of students in higher education are Disabled, indicating a substantial number of students whose needs should be prioritized and supported. Inaccessibility impacts the way Disabled college students are able to engage with the college experience. Inaccessible classes, restrooms, clubs, job fairs, and campuses create significant barriers thatthat extend far beyond the classroom. Disabled students face challenges in securing scholarships, finding employment, graduating on time, and achieving long-term socioeconomic stability. Recognizing these barriers, HonorServes, a community service student committee at …

One Love: An Exploration Of The Rhetoric And Culture Of Bob Marley’S Lyricism, Kaitlyn Vasilko

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Sky High Reggae (SHR) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting multicultural community connections by ensuring access to reggae music by Bob Marley and other artists that centers on global healing. SHR helps build up reggae artists, minority business owners, other nonprofit organizations, and community members through art events, concerts, and classes, all with a focus on cultural awareness. SHR aims to “enrich lives through music” (Sky High Reggae, 2022) and also partners with local schools to provide access to art supplies to “empower youth through supporting creative expression.” While conducting research on the culture of reggae music and the …

Homeowner Well-Being And Community Livability, Leo Malachowski, Bridget Heindl

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Our project focuses on revitalizing the community by designing homes that reflect each homeowner’s unique preferences, fostering a sense of ownership and emotional well-being. In collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette and guided by Ruut Veenhoven’s quality-of-life framework, we aim to create affordable housing initiatives that meet both financial and personal needs while strengthening community connections. Our work with the first homeowner, Carla, demonstrates how personalized housing enhances safety and belonging, transforming a house into a home that inspires pride.

As researchers, participating in this project has broadened our perspective beyond Purdue, especially through meaningful connections with homeowners such …

Empowering Caregivers Through Informal Stem Counterspaces: A Reflective Analysis Of Parental Workshops, Renee Gibert, Desmine Robinson, Virgina Booth Womack

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Students’ academic success particularly in mathematics, where early mastery lays the foundation for critical thinking and problem-solving skills, can be directly tied to caregiver engagement (Jeynes, 2012; Epstein, 2018). Algebra by 7th Grade (Ab7G) at Purdue is a Saturday informal STEM counterspace that provides math tutoring and engineering-focused projects to participants in grades 1–10. Students are mentored by Purdue graduate and graduate students. The mentors facilitate mentoring, tutoring, and engineering projects. Ab7G is a hybrid format that meets for six sessions per academic semester on Saturdays. Duke Energy and Chevron provide funding for Ab7G, ensuring accessibility at no cost to …

Revisiting The Loneliness Of The Long-Distance Writer, Cynthia D. Bertelsen

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Getting Away From Getting Away From It All, Rachel Mabe

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Under The Stars, Sylvia Sukop

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Best Panaceas For Heartaches, Kristin Johnson

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Man Of Science, Man Of Faith, William Wan

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

"Shuddering Before The Beautiful": Trains Of Thought Across The Mormon Cosmos, Jamie Zvirzdin

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Search History, Rachel Wilkinson

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Encounter: This Essentially Meaningless Conflict, Lee Gutkind, Dan Sarewitz

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Contagious Empathy, Sherrie Flick

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

From The Editor: What's The Story?, Lee Gutkind

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Year Of The Buttered Cat: A Mostly True Story [Book Review], Valarie A. Turner

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

Lexi Haas's voice and body were stolen when unmonitored newborn jaundice caused her to develop a rare form of cerebral palsy. This dual timeline memoir takes you on a gift-discovering journey, illustrating that Lexi's spirit speaks volumes.

Back Matter

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Beyond Gimmicks: Performance Art Holds Valuable Lessons For Creative Nonfiction Writers, Renée E. D'Aoust

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Threaded Forms: Decentered Approaches To Nonfiction, Sarah Minor

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Ebb-Tide Optimism On A Climate-Changed Island, Rick Van Noy

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Something Like Vertigo, Elizabeth Rush

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

I'Ve Taught Monsters, Jessica Lahey

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Ink That Binds: Creative Writing & Addiction, Sheryl St. Germain

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Diving Deep: An Interview With Ted Conover, Joanne B. Mulcahy

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

What We Can't See, Hannah Lynn

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Gentleman's Guide To Arousal-Free Slow Dancing, Brendan O'Meara

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Rumors Of Lost Stars, Kim Kankiewicz

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

It's Complicated: The Joy Of Writing, Jennifer Niesslein

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.