Ben VanHorn

I helped create the #DiversityIsOurStrength project, working as Digital Media (co-Lead), and on the Development and Wheatpasting teams.

My Family History

Both on my mom and my dad’s side there is a long history of farmers. This includes my grandparents farm being a century farm. My family on my mother’s side immigrated from Germany. My great great great grandparents became citizens in early 1917 in Allison, Ia. They began the farm life in Jefferson Township, Butler County, Shell Rock, Iowa. After a short time they moved to Ripley Township, Butler County, Aplington, Iowa. My other set of great great great grandparents also immigrated from Germany to Parkersburg, Iowa. They moved all around that area and finally settled on their farm in Aplington, Ia. I do not have much historical facts about my father’s side but they were also farmers and continue to be in the farming industry to this day.

Living in Iowa

I grew up in Hampton, IA. Being an Iowan to me is someone that is kind and accepting. Someone that sees the best in a person regardless of whether they are similar to you. I really like the aspect of community in Iowa. Growing up in smaller towns the closeness of community and the kindness people show is my favorite part. Iowa is also a good mix of small towns and bigger cities, and I being in the center of the country--no state is too far away.

My Dreams

I’m good at picking up new things. I am a quick learner and love learning new things as I feel it stretches me in beneficial ways. In the future I would love to work in the creative field, whether as a freelance photographer/videographer or working on a creative team for a business. I find a lot of satisfaction pushing myself in the creative world.

A Teacher Who Changed My Life

Mrs. Kingland-Hanson, English teacher, Hampton-Dumont High School. Mrs. Kingland-Hanson or K-H as we called her, made learning fun and actually cared about her students, both within and beyond the walls of the school. She set vision and encouraged us to be the best we could be.

My Favorite Thing

A picture of a Sony Camera.

My camera pushes me to create. It gives me an outlet to express myself in ways that I feel truly represent who I am. My camera allows me to interact with others, create new relationships, and capture what I enjoy about this world.

What #DIVERSITYISOURSTRENGTH means to me

I personally believe that diversity is a vital and necessary part of any community, so it can progress and move forward.

Alex Knospe Amanda Jensen Annebel Trumm Ben VanHorn Brett Foreman Colin Hughes Connor Gibson Dakota Davis Elexia San Nicolas Hannah Stater Kalei Owens Leslie Owusu Madison Watland Preston Larson Reagan Saul Sami Enos

#DiversityIsOurStrength is a public web and mural project developed by Interactive Digital Studies (IDS) majors at the University of Northern Iowa. IDS is an interdisciplinary program focusing on creating digital experiences. We are using what we’ve learned in our culminating IDS Practicum course to create a highly visible public project that both addresses the challenges and embraces the future of educational diversity in the Cedar Valley.

One inspiration for this project came from the 24/7 Wall Street article that identified Waterloo and Cedar Falls as the #1 worst metro area for Black Americans in 2018. Having this distinction continues to be disturbing for all of us. Our second inspiration comes from 1619 Project, a New York Times initiative led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Waterloo native Nikole Hannah-Jones. The project reframes the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.

Thank you to literacy educator Dr. Shuaib Meacham, Associate Professor at the University of Iowa, who has guided this project.

Also thank you to Anthony Woodley and Mack Vos for helping in the final stages of the project. Due to COVID-19, the project became delayed and was unable to be completed by the end of the spring semester, and without their help, the project could not have been finished.

PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

Contact Us

Email: diversitystrength@uni.edu