Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry

07/29/2026

Happy Birthday to Jim Davis!

We couldn't help but post one of our favorite paintings! Many VBC Alumni will remember this hanging in the upstairs hallway at the Kitselman house. 🎨🐈

07/15/2026

🚌 History is waiting just outside our doors.

Have you explored the Freedom Bus yet?

Now located at Minnetrista, this former MITS bus has been transformed into a mobile civil rights museum that shares powerful stories of courage, activism, and the ongoing pursuit of equality. Through compelling exhibits and local perspectives, visitors can discover how East Central Indiana played a role in the broader civil rights movement and how those stories continue to resonate today.

Step aboard to learn about the individuals who spoke up, stood up, and worked to create lasting change in their communities.

📍 Center Building Parking Lot
🕘 Available by request during regular museum hours
ℹ️ Please check in at the Center Building for access.

The Freedom Bus is a project of the Martin Luther King Dream Team, in partnership with Ball State University's Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, the City of Muncie, and the Muncie Human Rights Commission.

07/01/2026

If you missed The Hobby: A Documentary the first time, here's your chance to watch it! Ball State PBS will air it tonight at 5p.m. on their YouTube channel. 🎞️🫙

▪️Ball State Public Media's YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/

05/31/2026

🚌 Discover local civil rights history at Minnetrista.

The Freedom Bus transforms a former MITS bus into an immersive experience highlighting East Central Indiana’s role in the civil rights movement. Through powerful stories and educational exhibits, guests can explore how local voices helped shape the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality.

📍 Center Building Parking Lot
🕘 Available by request during regular museum hours

The Freedom Bus encourages dialogue, learning, and reflection for visitors of all ages while honoring the individuals who worked to create meaningful change in our communities.

The Freedom Bus is a project of the Martin Luther King Dream Team in partnership with Ball State University’s Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, the City of Muncie , and the Muncie Human Rights Commission.

05/21/2026

Listen to our last podcast in the Better Together series! Click below or visit the Ball State Public Media YouTube page! 🎙️🫶

"Minds in Motion with Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett"

Co-hosts Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett discuss juvenile mental health and the criminal justice system, and the staggering increase in the intersection of the two since the COVID-19 pandemic. They are joined by Dr. Janay Sander, a professor of Educational Psychology at Ball State University, whose research focuses on evidence-based interventions and the educational and mental health needs of youth who fall into the juvenile justice system.

Credits:
Scriptwriters – Madison Cox, Laighla Beck, Isaiah Decker Direction – J.R. Jamison, Angie Grimes, Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Audio Engineering & Production – Andrew Montavon
Hosts – Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett.

Minds in Motion with Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett:Co-hosts Aar...

05/14/2026

Check out the third podcast in the Better Together series! Click below or visit the Ball State Public Media YouTube page. 🎙️🚓

"Human Side of the Law with Abigail Richard and Grant Berry"

Co-hosts Abigail Richard and Grant Berry take a close look at how police officers and social workers collaborate to better serve the Muncie community, and bring to light the difficulties and potential benefits of the collaboration between the two professions. Later, they are joined by Dr. Sally Archer-Jones and Ashley Snyder, two social workers with the Muncie Police Department, who shed light on how this collaboration leads to a more productive and humane response to community needs.

Credits:
Scriptwriters – Gunnar Miller, Abigail Richard
Direction – J.R. Jamison, Angie Grimes, Stephanie Wiechmann, Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Audio Engineering & Production – Andrew Montavon
Hosts – Abigail Richard and Grant Berry.

Human Side of the Law with Abigail Richard and Grant Berry:Co-hosts Abigail Richard and Grant Berry take a close look at how police officers and social worke...

05/13/2026

The second podcast from the students of Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon's VBC project is here! Listen to it by clicking below or go to the Ball State Public Media's YouTube channel. 🎙️👂

"Better Together with Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon"

Co-hosts Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon visit the Whitely neighborhood in Muncie, Indiana, to explore the Adopt-A-Cop program and its community-building effects on both the police department and families. Later, they sit down with Arin Phillips of the Muncie Police Department and Frank Scott of the Whitely Community Council to discuss their experiences and long-term goals for the program.

Credits:
Scriptwriters – Kayla Siggers, Cassidy Purvis, Shiana Schwartz
Direction – J.R. Jamison, Angie Grimes, Stephanie Wiechmann, Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Audio Engineering & Production – Andrew Montavon
Hosts – Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon.

Co-hosts Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon visit the Whitely neighborhood in Muncie, Indiana, to explore the Adopt-A-Cop program and its community-building e...

05/12/2026

In case you missed the first podcast from students of Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon's VBC project, check it out here! 🎙️⬇️

"Behind Closed Doors with Alexandria Gulachek"
Host Alexandria Gulachek sits down with Tracina Greenleaf of the YWCA of Central Indiana to discuss human trafficking and its effects on marginalized communities, and to gain perspective on the realities behind one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world. The two explore the vital role everyday citizens and nonprofits can play in helping survivors heal and rebuild, while breaking cycles of exploitation and creating pathways to recovery.

Credits:
Research – Natalie Looper, Lindsey Snyder
Scriptwriters – Alexandria Gulachek, Libby Crouch
Direction – J.R. Jamison, Angie Grimes, Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Audio Engineering & Production – Andrew Montavon
Host – Alexandria Gulachek.

2 likes. "Behind Closed Doors: Fighting Human Trafficking"

04/28/2026

Listen to the other student podcasts from Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon's Virginia B. Ball Center's project on the Ball State Public Media YouTube channel! 🔗🎙️👂

▪️"Minds in Motion with Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett" - Co-hosts Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett discuss juvenile mental health and the criminal justice system, and the staggering increase in the intersection of the two since the COVID-19 pandemic. They are joined by Dr. Janay Sander, a professor of Educational Psychology at Ball State University, whose research focuses on evidence-based interventions and the educational and mental health needs of youth who fall into the juvenile justice system.

▪️"Better Together with Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon" - Co-hosts Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon visit the Whitely neighborhood in Muncie, Indiana, to explore the Adopt-A-Cop program and its community-building effects on both the police department and families. Later, they sit down with Arin Phillips of the Muncie Police Department, and Frank Scott of the Whitely Community Council, to discuss their experiences and long-term goals for the program.

▪️"Human Side of the Law with Abigail Richard and Grant Berry" - Co-hosts Abigail Richard and Grant Berry take a close look at how police officers and social workers collaborate to better serve the Muncie community, and bring to light the difficulties and potential benefits of the collaboration between the two professions. Later, they are joined by Dr. Sally Archer-Jones and Ashley Snyder, two social workers with the Muncie Police Department, who shed light on how this collaboration leads to a more productive and humane response to community needs.

04/26/2026

Don't forget to tune in to Indiana Public Radio at 6:30pm to listen to one of Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon's Virginia B. Ball Center student projects, a podcast called "Behind Closed Doors with Alexandria Gulachek". 🎙️🚓

Host Alexandria Gulachek sits down with Tracina Greenleaf of the YWCA of Central Indiana to discuss human trafficking and its effects on marginalized communities, and to gain perspective on the realities behind one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world. The two explore the vital role everyday citizens and nonprofits can play in helping survivors heal and rebuild, while breaking cycles of exploitation and creating pathways to recovery.