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COMMUNITY ACTIVIST EARNS ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

INDIANAPOLIS - An IU graduate whose work helped significantly reduce the homicide rate in an east Indianapolis neighborhood has earned one of the social work alumni association's highest honors.

Laura Scott Coykendall, who earned a bachelor's degree in social work in 1997 and a master's degree in social work in 1999, is the recipient of the IU School of Social Work Alumni Association's 2001 Distinguished Service Award.

Coykendall is deputy director for neighborhood operations with the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside, Inc., (CAFÉ). She will receive the IU alumni award Nov. 1 during a reception at the National Association of Social Workers Indiana Conference meeting in Indianapolis.

The social work graduate spearheaded the development of the Apartment Manager's Roundtable. The Roundtable is a collaboration of the local Housing and Urban Development office, the county prosecutor's office, and managers of apartment complexes at or near Post Road and 42nd Street. The actions of the Roundtable, created to increase communication and deter violence and illegal activities within the far eastside community, were instrumental in the reduction of the area's homicide rate from 10 victims in 1997 to just one the following year.

Coykendall represented this group in May during a presentation on their accomplishments at Neighborhoods USA, a national conference held in Pennsylvania.

"One of Laura's strengths is her ability to define her role in the neighborhood as that of providing support and technical assistance, serving to empower neighborhood residents to take on leadership roles with the community," fellow alumnus Rob Richardson wrote in his nominating letter, quoting Anne-Marie Predovich, CAFÉ executive director. "Laura knows when to ask for input/advice, but also demonstrates the initiative needed to go out and make things happen."

Coykendall serves as the far eastside community liaison to CAFÉ. Her current responsibilities include overseeing efforts to enlist volunteers and secure resources for the development of an 88-acre neighborhood park. To date, she has facilitated the creation of a wetland area, a wildlife observation deck and the formation of walking trails in response to residents' wishes.

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