Digital Commons Network^™

Tiny Truths

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Rickslist, Karin Killian

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

On Beginnings And Endings, Jenny Boully

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Peripheral Narratives: Shifting The Gaze To Find Meaning In Memoir, Laura Laing

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Piecing It Together, Pat Falk

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Makeup Of A Monster, Jamie Zvirzdin

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Prometheus Unbound, Elizabeth Fortescue

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Thumpity-Thump, Paulette Kamenecka

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Mystic Trinities, Kelly Hedglin Bowen

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Monsters, Margaret Wardlaw

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Assemblage, Randon Billings Noble

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Unafraid Of The Dark, Susan Bruns Rowe

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

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

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

What’S This Doing To My Brain?, Jennifer R. Hubbard

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

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 …

Back Matter

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Back matter for PJSL 12 (2025)

A Qualitative Analysis Of Progress, Successes, And Challenges Among Indiana Recipients As Part Of A National Initiative To Reduce Covid-19–Related Health Disparities, Marla Winters, Lily Darbishire

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided funding to states as part of the CDC Disparities Grant initiative. The aim of the funding was to reduce chronic disease and COVID-19–related health disparities among vulnerable communities through four unique strategies. Funding was awarded to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to begin an Indiana chapter of this initiative, called Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE). From 2021 to 2023, the IDOH provided I-HOPE funding to local communities (subgrantees) to support the design and implementation of programs to improve community health. For example, …

Improving Medication Insecurity Through Community Events, Lauren Soohoo, Theresa Blanke, Faria Chaudhry, Courtney O'Keefe, Rakhi Karwa, Jasmine Gonzalvo, Gicella Garcia, Carlyn Kimiecik, Adriana Gardner, Yejin Seo

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In the United States, 58 million Americans have difficulty paying for prescription medications due to lack of insurance, high prescription costs, unstable employment, and competing financial demands. High prescription costs reportedly contribute to medication nonadherence for 60% of patients. Medication nonadherence accounts for 30% of hospital admissions, further exacerbating the detrimental impact of medication insecurity such as worsening patient outcomes, quality of life, readmissions rates, and overall health care expenditure.

To understand the prevalence and address medication insecurity among the communities served by the Center for Health Excellence, Quality, and Innovation (CHEQI), a survey was developed and disseminated via a …

2300 Ferry, Kylie Miskovic

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Gateway to Hope is the syringe service program located at 2300 Ferry Street that provides not only syringes and other sterile medical equipment for injections but also wound cleaning, medications, and even toiletries. People can also receive basic health services there, and for many people who access these services, this is the only time they interact with the health care system. Located in the same building is the Recovery Café, a welcoming space for anyone in recovery from substance use disorders and anything else. Available to members of either organization is the clothing closet, where people can come and get …

A Reflection On What Pharmacists In Different Countries Can Learn From One Another, Aaryaman Khurana, Patricia Darbishire

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

What would be the first words that come to mind if you were asked about the US health care system? I asked that question to several of my friends and pharmacy peers and received mixed responses such as “expensive,” “confusing,” “hard to navigate,” and “best in the world.” This was not surprising considering the many options and the varying quality of medical procedures, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals available. I wondered how responses might differ if I posed the same question about their health care to those in a third-world country. So, I asked the same question of friends and family …

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 …

Bridging Gaps In Preventative Care: Pharmacy Students' Impact Through Point-Of-Care Testing And Education At Recovery Café Lafayette, Katherine Davis, Jailyn Jones

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Final-year student pharmacists Katherine and Jailyn served on the executive committee of Purdue’s chapter of the American Pharmacists Association–Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) as president and patient care vice president, respectively, during the 2023–2024 academic year. After striving for more community-based involvement with the APhA-ASP chapter, Katherine and Jailyn combined efforts and passions to serve the community by providing health services to a local community center. Preventative health services are vital for patients and also provide substantial benefit to students who are able to practice real-world counseling skills through these opportunities. Throughout the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum at Purdue, Katherine …

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 …

Editorial, Elizabeth B. Brite

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Editorial for PJSL 12 (2025).

Contents And Cover Art Information

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Table of contents and cover art information for PJSL 12 (2025).