One of our partners, the Indianapolis chapter of Architecture for Humanity, is redefining parking this September.

AFH Indy had such a fun time bringing PARK(ing) Day to the Circle City for the first time last fall, that it will be doing it again on Sept. 17. And this time AFH Indy is calling on others to make the celebration bigger… much bigger.

Established by San Francisco art and design studio Rebar in 2005, PARK(ing) Day challenges urban dwellers and visitors to rethink infrastructure by transforming, temporarily, metered parking spaces into public parks.

“In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” said Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant urban human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the metropolitan landscape.”

Last year, AFH Indy took up the challenge by transforming two parking spaces into a 9′ x 40′ park — complete with sod, paving stones, flowers, trees and benches — in front of the Borders Bookstore on Meridian Street near the Washington Street intersection. This year, at the same location, the hope is to transform as many as 10 spaces typically reserved for cars.

“We are actively recruiting organizations to join AFH Indy in its PARK(ing) Day celebration,” said chapter founder ChunSheh Teo. “We are excited about establishing partnerships and collaborations that will have an impact on those who experience PARK(ing) Day in the shadow of Monument Circle in September and beyond. Everyone is invited to join us on September 17.”

In fact, those interested in partnering, sponsoring or volunteering can find out how to do just that by visiting the chapter’s blog. In the coming weeks that will be the best place to learn about the participating organizations as they commit to PARK(ing) Day 2010 in Indianapolis.

Architecture for Humanity is an international nonprofit organization, founded in 1999, which promotes architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises. The Indianapolis Chapter was founded in 2008.

But the entire experience of overseeing 115 at-risk high school juniors (and 13 Fellows ready to advise, mentor and instruct them) was more demanding than we’d thought.

By Day Three, I had blisters on both feet from running around campus. It was all hands on deck, all the time without a manual to prepare us for the issues we’d confront and resolve. I thought that less than a week into the experience, the Fellows had grown to dislike us as the job proved more intense than they’d expected.

But just today, the NCAA published a story about X-Mester. And given time to reflect, it is pretty clear that the Fellowship was impactful. Said Princeton University’s Trey Peacock, “At times you felt like giving up. You were tired, and things weren’t going perfectly. But it forced you to adapt. It was really rewarding. I’d say it’s probably the best thing I’ve done, program or job-wise, in my life so far.”

Wow! And the good news is, as the overseers of X-Mester, we learned so much that will help the next cohort of Fellows. Yeah, we will be doing it again.

In the mean time, SBCWorks is back. So stay tuned.

But now Patricia and I are heading back to school. Back to the dorms. For the first time in more than a quarter century.

No, it’s not some reality television show, even though it probably could be. Instead, we will be overseeing and providing support for X-Mester, an on-campus early college experience for 117 rising seniors from Indianapolis-area high schools.

It is a unique program where students, mostly first-generation collegians, will be earning college credit and participating in a wide array of extracurricular activities while receiving mentorship from the 13 Fellows we profiled here last week.

We will be writing about the program, the students and the university over at x-mester.com, but here we will be writing about returning to school… and the dorms.

Something we never dreamed of experiencing all over again.

The school grew to national prominence in the 1950s when basketball star Oscar Robertson led Attucks to state championships by reinventing the game, a up-tempo, improvisational style overseen by Coach Ray Crowe.

But the Indianapolis School District shut the school down in 1986 and reopened it a year later as a junior high school. In 2006 the school was reborn as a high school, a medical magnet, and its performance outpaced other schools in the city from the start.

Over the weekend Attucks had its first graduating class, and a diverse one, since 1986.

Elaina Blair was excited to watch her daughter, LaToyia Young (who is headed to Vincennes University, one of SBC’s deep partners), earn her degree from the same place she did in 1980. “I told her she would be starting history over again. She is the first class,” Blair told Melanie D. Hayes of the Indianapolis Star. “When I heard they were opening it up as a magnet program, I wanted her to come, especially because of me. We’d have another generation graduate from here.”

“Brittney is a mature, dedicated and caring person,” said Dartmouth basketball coach Chris Wielgus. “She is guided by a strong set of values and has a genuine concern for other people, which has been put into action through a commitment she has to community service. She has organized a campus-wide fundraiser for Haiti, acted as a big sister to youth in our community and conducted youth clinics. She is an excellent teacher with a knack for working with youths.”

X-Mester is a two-week, on-campus early college experience for students who have completed their junior year of high school. Designed to simulate the first year on a college campus, the high school students live in a dormitory at Vincennes University while taking accelerated coursework. The program integrates academic success, independent learning and leadership skills through rigor, extra-curricular experiences and residential life.

“[Irwin] demonstrates a maturity and a passion for learning rarely found in today’s college students,” said physics professor Edwin Meyer. “He has the intellectual skills, the determination and the maturity to conquer whatever he sets out to do.”

“Of the many capable and talented students, both among those I work with at Baldwin-Wallace College, I consider Bobby one of the finest,” said D. Marc West, Director of Student Life and Involvement. “It is the balance of Bobby’s natural presense and leadership qualities that will continue to contribute to his success.”

X-Mester is a two-week, on-campus early college experience for students who have completed their junior year of high school. Designed to simulate the first year on a college campus, the high school students live in a dormitory at Vincennes University while taking accelerated coursework. The program integrates academic success, independent learning and leadership skills through rigor, extra-curricular experiences and residential life.

“LaTasha is very goal oriented and self-motivated with an excellent background in leadership,” said Vincennes President Richard Helton. “She was very engaging and contributed to the governance of Vincennes University through her work as a member of the Board of Trustees.”

“LaTasha is a person of great honesty and integrity,” said John Livers, the VU Dean of Students. “I believe as her experiences and opportunities grow, she will grow with them, demonstrating the Vincennes University motto, ‘Learn in order to serve.’”

X-Mester is a two-week, on-campus early college experience for students who have completed their junior year of high school. Designed to simulate the first year on a college campus, the high school students live in a dormitory at Vincennes University while taking accelerated coursework. The program integrates academic success, independent learning and leadership skills through rigor, extra-curricular experiences and residential life.

“[Garnett] is extremely well spoken and a great communicator which allows him to be such a great leader,” said his academic advisor Jenna Sample. “Garnett will be attending graduate school … and getting his masters would not only allow Garnett to reach his goals, but would also encourage his former teammates to follow in his footsteps.”

“Despite the rigors of being a student-athlete, [Garnett] managed to keep a strong GPA and balance academics, athletics and his social life,” said EKU professor Dr. Wardell Johnson. “His above-average performance is a direct result of his hard work and strong focus.”

X-Mester is a two-week, on-campus early college experience for students who have completed their junior year of high school. Designed to simulate the first year on a college campus, the high school students live in a dormitory at Vincennes University while taking accelerated coursework. The program integrates academic success, independent learning and leadership skills through rigor, extra-curricular experiences and residential life.

“I have been struck with the maturity with which she has approached her ideas,” said Dr. Lisa Krissoff Boehm, chair of the Urban Studies program at the College. “We at Worcester State College are pleased to claim her as an alumna.”

“Tonia has a special ability to connect with others and communicate effectively,” said Judy Jeon Chapman, her French professor at Worcester. “Her intelligence, strength of character, common sense, good sense of humor and genuine concern for others earned her the trust and respect of her peers.”

X-Mester is a two-week, on-campus early college experience for students who have completed their junior year of high school. Designed to simulate the first year on a college campus, the high school students live in a dormitory at Vincennes University while taking accelerated coursework. The program integrates academic success, independent learning and leadership skills through rigor, extra-curricular experiences and residential life.

“She is without limits,” said Jennifer Ziarko, Assistant Athletics Director at the University of the District of Columbia. “Kenya is a naturally talented, ethical, captivating and intelligent hard worker. If I had a position at my University I would hire her in a second, but I think she is destined for greater things. She is a natural born leader.”

She is a student whom I will always remember as a model of diligence, integrity, and accomplishment,” said Dr. Monica A. Maxwell-Paegle, an assistant professor in the Center for Language Education and Development at the University. “Without a doubt, she represents the best of Georgetown.”

X-Mester is a two-week, on-campus early college experience for students who have completed their junior year of high school. Designed to simulate the first year on a college campus, the high school students live in a dormitory at Vincennes University while taking accelerated coursework. The program integrates academic success, independent learning and leadership skills through rigor, extra-curricular experiences and residential life.