Dear Reader:
Welcome to the inaugural edition of South Shore Journal, an electronic publication designed to provide an outlet for scholarship relevant to Northwest Indiana. The Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council is pleased to sponsor this invaluable contribution to our ongoing deliberations as a community.
The Quality of Life Council serves as a public/private partnership dedicated to the promotion of economic development, environmental well-being, and social equity in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. Chaired on a rotating basis by the presidents and chancellors of Northwest Indiana's six colleges and universities, the Council is now comprised of over 120 members who represent various interests in the region, including the business sector, the environmental community, the faith community, labor, the public sector, civic interests, and academia.
Our role is agenda setting. Indeed, we have evolved – we think – into an influential catalyst for positive change in the region. And we're confident that the South Shore Journal can make an important contribution to the pursuit and achievement of our agenda-setting mission. Employing a symposium-style format, it should complement and advance our efforts to build a high quality of life that is truly sustainable over the long-term.
We are especially pleased that the first edition of our new journal focuses on gender issues. It thus reflects our fruitful collaboration with the Region Women's Initiative over the course of the last year.
Our special thanks go to Cynthia O'Dell, Ph.D., who ably served as editor for this edition of South Shore Journal, members of the editorial board who volunteered their time so generously, and Patricia Lundberg, Ph.D. of Indiana University Northwest's Center for Regional Excellence, who contributed significantly to this project.
Most importantly, we thank all of those who contributed to this edition of the South Shore Journal and you, our readers. Together, we can make Northwest Indiana a better place to live for our children and grandchildren.
Sincerely,
Daniel Lowery, Ph.D.
Executive Director