Sojourner Truth House

Indiana Campus Compact is honored to recognize our community partners without whom none of this work would be possible.

We recognize the incredible dedication and work that our partner institutions’ community partners put into co-educating their students, and we know that whether we talk about community service, service-learning, community-based research, or any other form of community engagement, institutions are not doing the work alone. It is only accomplished through strong reciprocal partnerships with community organizations.

In her nomination essay, Jodi Allen, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program said, “The Sojourner Truth House is a ministry of hope and help for homeless and at-risk women and children in Northwest Indiana. Through hospitability, advocacy, integrative services, and collaboration the vulnerable improve their quality of life and that of the community in a safe and trusting environment. Sojourner provides the basic necessities for daily survival, training in life skills, referrals to community agencies, and on-going support to maintain a stable home. Its community support programs include a food pantry, clothing, healthcare screening, and a community garden. Since 1997, Sojourner has helped clients address challenges with a holistic model based on healing mind, body, and spirit. The mission of Sojourner Truth House intersects with the Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing’s mission to providing high quality and affordable nursing education in a visionary learning environment that is responsive to serving students. The nursing curricula fosters a commitment to critical inquiry through experiential learning, scholarship, civic engagement, and community partnerships. Sojourner and the College of Nursing have been consistent partners for well over a decade. The interactions between students, from the baccalaureate to the doctoral level, and the vulnerable population reinforces the importance of the nursing process to aid in identifying health needs and maximizing health outcomes for this particular group. Sojourner is often evaluated as our students’ favorite clinical site because students are able to implement the science of the nursing process while also practicing the art of caring for some of our community’s most vulnerable members.