The Honors College works to metaphorically shorten the distance between Tuscaloosa and Marion through the umbrella of programming called 57 Miles. Through programs like Black Belt Action and Afternoons of Service, the Honors College brings students in to develop relationships with members of the community and use their skills to improve one of the poorest regions in the country.
Chris Joiner, the coordinator for 57 Miles, said the program began in 2009 when a group of University Fellows travelled to Marion to execute a number of service-oriented projects. Since then, the program has increased in scale, expanding to include a student living in Marion full-time on an economic development internship this year.
“We really believe in these immer sion experiences,” Joiner said. “It also allows us to have a greater impact than just flashes in the pan.”
Although the program has expanded in its success, Joiner said the focus is still on students and putting their abilities to use in the community.
“While we have lots of stratified ways to get involved, the idea is for students to come talk to us, have a passion, and then use that passion and build upon it,” Joiner said.
The Honors College recently started renting a building in Marion they are calling P3, a name centered on the concept of “the third place.” The structure is intended to be where community members and UA students and faculty alike can come to learn and grow together.
“We wanted to name our on-the-ground efforts in Marion something indicative of this space being as much ours as it is the community’s,” Joiner said.
The Honors College hosted a coffee hour on Oct. 6 n the P3 space for community members to come in and meet with people from the University.
Ben Burkeen, a junior majoring in management, is an intern for 57 Miles.
“We just kinda threw the doors open and said to the community, ‘Whoever wants to come in and talk and chat, do so,’” he said.
As time goes on, Honors intends to have other events in the space, including an open mic night on Nov. 7.
“We’re trying to get as many community members there as possible in all facets of the community,” Burkeen said.
Programs and facilities like P3 have benefits for the UA students working on them, but every project is designed to help the community grow first and foremost.
“Almost everything we do in the community is a response,” Burkeen said. “We hear what the needs are form the community, and then we find students who are passionate enough to tailor solutions to meet those needs.”
Burkeen started out in the program as a University Fellow as a freshman, and said he’s been building on his experience ever since.
“After working with 57 Miles for a year and a half now, I feel like I’ve started to build solid relationships with community members,” Burkeen said. “Having that consistency with the community has been really meaningful for me.”
One of the programs in its second year is spark!, a metoring program for freshmen at Francis Marion High School. Several times a month, student mentors from UA travel the 57 miles to work with students who don’t always have guidance.
Emily Peel, a junior majoring in history and biology, is a director of the spark! program.
“Even though we’re an hour away, we still want to have a positive presence in their lives and just create a relationship with them,” she said.
Peel also got involved through the Fellows program her freshman year.
“When Chris Joiner sent out the email about 57 Miles, I jumped on it,” she said. “I didn’t just want it to be my freshman year; I wanted to continue throughout the four years.”
Samantha Rudelich, a sophomore majoring in business management, is another director for spark! and a communications intern for 57 Miles.
“My big thing about these kids is they don’t have an outlet, they don’t always have someone to listen to them,” Rudelich said. “They talk about how they don’t get support, and we wanna talk about ‘Okay, how do you show support? How do you communicate in a supportive manner?’”
Rudelich said she hopes the mentor-mentee relationships allow the Francis Marion students to gather the skills to better articulate their thoughts and feelings about their community.
“We had this dialogue about their town and what they would improve, and they had these great ideas,” Rudelich said. “They’re always willing to share, it’s just nobody’s asked them.”
Like spark!, many of the programs under 57 Miles focus on education.
“Education is really what has made a difference in Marion and in the Black Belt, and we really believe that’s the spearhead that’s going to lead to change,” Joiner said.
Some programs are not held as often as others. The Honors College plans to visit Marion for Afternoons of Service twice this semester.
Megan Torman, a senior majoring in chemical engineering, participated in the Afternoon of Service on Oct. 4.
“While I’m involved with service at my local church and some clubs, I really miss being out in the community, getting my hands dirty,” Torman said.
Torman said she spoke with a couple who has lived in Marion since the 1940s and listened to them talk about progress over the years.
“I can only imagine the changes they’ve seen their town go through, and it’s humbling to help them restore some of the beauty to their community,” Torman said.
All of the programs under 57 Miles are designed to benefit both the Honors College and the Marion and Perry County communities. Ben Burkeen said in a short time, the program has made notable progress.
“We’ve only been around a year and a half, but the amount of connections and projects and partners we’ve developed has just been phenomenal,” Burkeen said. “I’m really excited about the direction that we’re going, and I can’t wait to get there.”
