CEA: Afrocentric Hair Navigator Research Support

Seasonal role: 8/26/2024-5/15/2025 

Estimated pay: $14.00 per hour  

Company division: Institute for Engaged Learning  

Location type: On-site  

Academic year up to 10 hours per week 

Role Description  

DUE is home to IEL which is sponsoring these types of positions across campus. This specific position is part of the Community Engagement Associates program in which students work in a specific department on campus to support campus and community engagement initiatives. You will see more information on the specific job and department below.  

Department Sponsor:  

School of Liberal Arts 

Department of Africana Studies 

Research Support CEA  

The Community Engaged Research Support CEA works directly with a faculty or staff mentor to support the creation, expansion, or deepening of a community engagement project or program not connected to a specific course. In a research support role, employees are expected to operate with a high level of autonomy and self-direction to exercise judgement and decision making during their research responsibilities. Work may include but is not limited to: communicating research findings both written and orally, assisting with data collection and data analysis, assessing community needs or social issues, and applying developed research instrument and protocols based on project parameters.  

Number of positions available: 1 

Positions, Duties, and Tasks:  

Title: Afrocentric Hair Navigator  

Project Summary/Goals: The impact and life experiences of Black Hoosiers (Indianapolis residents) remains untold. In fact, many young Black Hoosiers are often unaware of the impact and contributions made by Blacks in Indianapolis, aside from perhaps Madam C.J. Walker. This community engaged research will focus on sharing the narratives and experiences of Black Hoosiers through the lens of Afrocentric Hair. Through this lens, we will explore hair as an expression and its historically manifestation within the Black culture taking the form of resistance, conformity, and empowerment. The goal here is to further explore the impact Afrocentric hair, a form of art and expression, has contributed to identity and social movements in Indianapolis among Black Hoosiers. As a result, establishing sanctuary spaces (safe spaces) for Black Hoosiers' narratives to be shared surround the topic of Afrocentric hair.  

Duties/Tasks: You will gain a foundation of Afrocentric hair, the city of Indianapolis (hair care industry, social and political influences/protests, and Black migration), and the experiences of Black residents living in Indianapolis.  

You will explore this foundational understanding by performing the following tasks:  

• Visit hair salons, barbershops, local schools, and community centers/pillars to learn more about the Black narratives in relation to hair
• Engage in some data collection (interviews/ participant observations) and data analysis
• Relationship building with community members and business owners
• Co-host events and exhibits throughout the summer, fall, and spring semester
• Expected to reflect (keep a journal) during the entire time with the project for blogging
• Meet with mentor biweekly; some weeks it may be weekly
• Work collaboratively with independent tasks
• Create marketing materials like fliers, website, brochures

Specific Skills/Major:  

• Any major, but must have a strong interest in Afrocentric hair and Indianapolis.
• Effective written and vocal communication skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Event planning (at least foundational knowledge/ideas)
• Due to many of the community outings: reliable transportation
• Foundational Research Skills
• Technological Skills (working with Adobe (Express, InDesign) and Microsoft 365)

Learning objectives:  

In accordance with the IU Indianapolis Profiles of Learning for Undergraduate Success, experience in CEA positions will help students meet the learning outcomes below and become acquainted with the following profiles:  

Communicator  

Convey ideas effectively and ethically in oral, written, and visual forms across public, private, interpersonal, and team settings, using face-to-face and mediated channels  

Describe the value of being involved in service or other forms of community engagement  

Community contributor  

Identify community or social issues that need to be addressed  

Demonstrate evidence of respectful engagement with their own and other communities and cultures  

Problem solver  

Make connections among ideas and experiences  

Availability needed for the CEA(s) schedule:  

Requires weekly availability between the hours of 12 PM - 9PM; occasionally weekend and morning availability which will be communicated in advance.