FUSION

FUSION is a CentreWorks program that brings community members together to form Community Collaboration Groups with the aim of addressing complex challenges.

FUSION: Access to Fresh Food

The challenges associated with accessing fresh food in our community are complex and intimidating, but with the help of the Human-Centered Approach™ (HCA), it is possible to address its many layers. It’s important to note that we didn’t simply decide that we would address fresh food accessibility one day -- this issue was brought directly to us by community members during our first RESILIENCE Bootcamp in August 2020: An immersive experience for incoming Centre College first-year students where they learn HCA, the Entrepreneurial Mindset, engage with community members concerning an issue, and complete the HCA process in a concentrated form.

Over the following months, a FUSION team gathered comprised of students and community members dedicated to better understanding and appreciation of the challenges surrounding fresh food access. Check out some of our FUSION students!

Phoenix Staten

Centre College '23

Maddy Jenkins

Centre College '22

John Bingaman

Centre College '24

Lucy Swenson

Centre College '24

At CentreWorks, we define empathy as “listening to understand and appreciate” and we practice it in our empathy conversations. These conversations are our bread and butter! It’s these interactions that fuel the work of all FUSION groups and make up the bulk of the hard work associated with the Human-Centered Approach™ - the Empathize stage.

FUSION: Urban Innovation

Urban planning is a challenge in every town, big or small. The City of Danville approached CentreWorks with an idea to create a collaborative internship opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience in city governance and community based problem-solving. Using the Human Centered Approach™, our Urban Innovators engaged with individuals throughout our community to better understand what matters to them when it comes to navigating downtown Danville. In countless one-on-one conversations with community members, the Urban Innovators learned about both unique and widespread accessibility barriers and community needs. Kali, Isaiah, and John developed a report based on the insights that they gathered, and shared the words of the community with the Danville city government to inform future urban planning projects.

Kali Hernandes Fraire

Centre College Class of '25

Isaiah Arroyo

Centre College Class of '23

John Bingaman

Centre College Class of '24

FUSION: Better Living/Better Housing

Housing and living quality are broad and multifaceted issues. Community Collaborator Josh Will, principal and founder of Wealth Builder, LLC, came to our co-executive directors Andrea and Anthony Margida with an idea to use CentreWorks' Human Centered Approach™ (HCA) and Entrepreneurial Mindset processes to understand how our community defines affordable and quality housing. Josh has worked closely with our Better Living/Better Housing team with the project taking its first steps in June 2022.

Josh has over 15 years of real estate development and investing experience. A Centre graduate native to Texas, he founded Wealth Builders, LLC, a real estate investment firm. By collaborating with CentreWorks' Better Living/Better Housing FUSION team, Josh hopes to give back to the Danville community. The Better Living/Better Housing team is currently in the Empathize stage of the Human-Centered Approach™. They are conducting empathy interviews with community members from all different backgrounds to learn what they view as a housing situation of which to be proud.

Shortly after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Danville experienced a population increase. Danville is viewed as a small, safe community, so many people in larger cities like Lexington, Louisville, and even New York City relocated to Danville while working remotely. Interest rates in 2020 and early 2021 were at a low, incentivizing more people to become Danville homeowners. The cost of living in Danville is also significantly lower than in bigger cities. Many native Danvillians also relocated for a change of scenery during a time when many of us were stuck inside. Our Better Living/Better Housing team conducted over 10 empathy interviews. They quickly realized how complicated the issues of housing and real estate are, especially in Danville. This FUSION group is currently in progress, so be sure to check back for updates!