PROBLEM STATEMENT
Despite the large number of resources in the Kansas City area, those experiencing homelessness and poverty lack knowledge of what and where these resources are.
NEED STATEMENT
an easy way to connect those experiencing homelessness and poverty to the many resources already available.
OUR SOLUTION
We have created a user friendly online resource map that maximizes knowledge of available resources and minimizes unnecessary hassle. the map will be distributed to those in need and the organizations that serve them throughout the kansas city area.
MEET OUR TEAM
Anna Gillespie I’m Anna Gillespie and I’m a senior at Notre Dame de Sion. I chose to participate in Designing Real World Impacts because I wanted to learn professional skills and experience unique opportunities that would be beneficial to my future in a business career. I have learned valuable skills such as elevator pitches, meeting with professionals, and presenting ideas in front of an audience.
In the class I chose to focus on the topic of homelessness because it is a pressing issue that I witness in my everyday life. On my drive to and from school, I always see houseless individuals on the side of the road, in close proximity to Sion. As my group and I dove into our research, we learned that while there are many organizations attempting to help those that are unhoused, many of the people that could benefit from these resources aren’t aware that they exist, or don’t have a great way to reach them. Through our team’s resource map, we hope to bridge the gap between resources and the people that need them. Our map offers an intuitive way for houseless individuals and those living under the poverty line to find resources close to them, decreasing time and travel. I look forward to refining our map and working with our partners to extend it out into the community. |
NOELLE BERTRAND Hello, my name is Noelle Bertrand. I am currently a senior at Notre Dame de Sion All-girls High School. I chose to enroll in Designing Real World Impacts at Sion because the class sounded interesting. Little did I know just how fascinating this class would be. Through DRWI, I have had the unique opportunity to form lasting relationships with politicians, business professionals, and a variety of community partners. Likewise, I have learned the art of pitching, communication, and, most importantly, how to think outside the box.
Within the course, I chose to focus my efforts on the topic of homelessness and poverty. I was initially drawn to this topic because it is such a prevalent issue not only within Kansas City but across the world. The stereotypes surrounding the homeless or those experiencing poverty have, in a sense, ruined society’s ability and desire to aid those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Through research, our group found that despite the numerous issues under the umbrella of homelessness, there are already organizations addressing each of these needs. Unsure of how to proceed with a project, we reached out to Reconciliation Services to receive input on the needs of the community, where we learned that despite the large number of organizations, there is a lack of knowledge of these resources. This prompted our group to create a resource map, compiling all of the resources available to the homeless and those in poverty into an easy-to-use map, saving on time and unnecessary travel. Going forward, I’m excited to continue refining our team’s map and can’t wait to see the impacts of our project. |
LUCY SHIVELY My name is Lucy Shively and I am Senior at Notre Dame de Sion All-girls High school. I chose to partake in Designing Real World Impacts because the class sounded different and beneficial for my future. Throughout the course I have learned how to use my communication skills further; meeting with community leaders, presenting in front of an audience, and learning how to elevator pitch.
Within the course, I chose to focus on the topic of homelessness and poverty. Initially I chose this topic because of the knowledge I had about Eden Village, a supportive and safe atmosphere offering single resident homes, and was fascinated with the work they do in the community. I knew that I wanted to anything to help the large homeless population. Throught the semester, our group found that though there are many organizations addressing the issues faced with homelessness and poverty, they too have a recurring conflict. During our visit to Reconciliation Services, we learned that organizations aren't always aware of all the other resources that are available in the city for those facing homelessness. This causes them to have to turn some people away without having a place to send them to. Our resource map will provide an easy way for the houseless community as well as nonprofit organizations to access the information of resources in the Kansas City area. The map compiles all the available resources in the KC area and will not only provide information that will be informative but also will help prevent the unnecessary travel. Going forward, I am excited to continue refining our map and see how our map will impact the community firsthand. |
