‘Terrific’ friends come together for community reading project

October 23, 2023October 23, 2023

‘Terrific’ friends come together for community reading project

A person in a green and white shirt sits on a low chair reading to children gathered around in an arc around him on the floor

Longfellow Elementary School student Isabella Foster reads Charlotte’s Web to Longfellow Principal Gerry Moore and her schoolmates A’Nyiah Shannon and Rashaud Hill. — Longfellow Elementary School student Isabella Foster reads *Charlotte’s Web* to Longfellow Principal Gerry Moore and her schoolmates A’Nyiah Shannon and Rashaud Hill.

“Some pig’ really brought the community together in September.
“Charlotte’s Web” was the focus of a community-wide reading initiative, culminating in Muncie Civic Theatre’s production of the classic tale at Southside High School.
The initiative, designed to get kids excited about reading, was led by a team of executives from Muncie Civic Theatre, Heart of Indiana United Way, Muncie Community Schools, and Muncie Public Library.

Highlights:

Every third and fourth-grade student in Muncie Community Schools received a free copy of the book, thanks to support from Northwest Bank and Altrusa Foundation.
Muncie Public Library locations offered audiobooks – in several languages – available for families to check out and listen to together.
Muncie Civic Theatre offered four free daytime school matinees for MCS students, sponsored by Meridian Health Services.
Muncie Community Schools students made “Charlotte’s Web”-themed art and prepared special songs that were part of the Civic Theatre performance.
Muncie Civic Theatre provided free performances of the play for families participating in this community read initiative.
Muncie Altrusa Club volunteered to read “Some Pig,” an early-reader picture book version of “Charlotte’s Web,” to elementary students.
Several childcare centers and after-school programs worked on crafts, activities, and games they shared with each other and families to build interest and fun around the story.
Muncie Civic Theatre presented “Charlotte’s Web” at Southside Middle School.

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

We had a blast at this year’s Bridge Dinner!

Article and photos by Michelle Kinsey, Communications Manager, Office of Community Engagement

“It’s my favorite event of the year.”

It’s a comment you hear often at Muncie’s Fall Bridge Dinner.

And what’s not to love?

This year’s event, on Sept. 21, brought hundreds of community members to the Washington Street Bridge on a beautiful evening to enjoy great conversation, music, and the beautiful views of the White River.

There was music (provided by a DJ), food vendors, Muncie-loving merch sellers and, new this year, an opportunity to get up close and personal with the river in a Canoe Country kayak.

The long community tables were decorated with fall leaves, created by art students at Burris Laboratory School.

Thanks to everyone who made the Bridge Dinner possible: Muncie Action Plan, Shafer Leadership Academy, Ball State Office of Community Engagement, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Ivy Tech Community College – Muncie, Riverside-Normal City Neighborhood Association, Old West End Neighborhood Association, Open Door Health Services, Polcz Volbrecht Homes at RE/MAX Real Estate Groups, Muncie Community Schools, Canoe Country, and Words with Jas.

Generous support for the event is provided by Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce, Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance, Muncie Central JROTC, Walls Furniture, and Woof Boom Radio.

July 11, 2023July 11, 2023

J.P. Hall, HVNA President receives David Sursa Leadership Award

JP Hall speaking about the Halteman project at the 2023 IDEA Conference

J.P. Hall received the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County’s 2023 David Sursa Leadership Award for his dedicated service to Halteman Village Neighborhood Association. Hall was instrumental in reorganizing the Halteman Village Neighborhood Association into a 501c3 nonprofit in an effort to turn the former private community pool into a public park. He was nominated by the neighborhood association for his work to improve the park, but also for his service to the Muncie Community as a whole. When plans to demolish the neighborhood’s recently closed elementary school were announced, Hall led the neighborhood’s “Kids not Condos” campaign that saw that building ultimately saved and turned into Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Resource Center. To read more about Hall’s work in the community please visit the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County’s award announcement.

July 11, 2023July 11, 2023

Halteman Village Celebrates Park Improvements

Halteman Village Neighborhood Association held their first park party Saturday, July 1st, and it was a huge success! Around 300 folks attended to celebrate the transformation of Halteman Park. To date, HVNA has raised over $112,000 towards park improvements that include new playground equipment, pavilion, and landscaping. The neighborhood association recently launched another campaign to raise funds to implement recreational and wellness opportunities for adults and seniors in the community. To learn more about past improvements and current goals as well as how you can make a donation, please visit: https://www.patronicity.com/project/halteman_park_phase_two#!/

June 22, 2023June 22, 2023

Neighborhoods USA Conference Recognizes Muncie

Photo of team that attended the conference to accept the award.

The Muncie team that traveled to the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Conference returned with an award, great feedback, and some wonderful neighborhood ideas.

The 48th annual conference, which brings together people/organizations committed to building and strengthening neighborhoods, was held in El Paso, Texas, May 24-27.

The team featured Heather Williams, Ball State Office of Community Engagement associate director and manager of the Building Better Communities Initiative; Krista Flynn, OCE program coordinator and MAP member; Megan “Mo” Orbin of MAP; Mitch Isaacs (executive director of Shafer Leadership Academy, MAP board president), and Dustin Clark (City of Muncie).

They placed fifth in Regional Best Neighborhood Program in the Social Revitalization/Neighborliness category for the IDEA Conference, which brings together leaders representing Muncie’s neighborhoods to develop and strengthen community-building skills.

“I learned that we are a part of a vast national effort to revitalize communities at the grassroots level. It’s not just Muncie that seeks to engage residents; it’s a movement happening across the county, ” Mitch said. “Judges and NUSA board members both commented on our passion for the IDEA Conference. They could tell we love the conference and believe in the impact it has on neighborhood leaders!”

Williams, Flynn, and Orbin also presented “Neighborhoods ARP Funding: Participatory Budgeting in Action” at the conference.

A description of the presentation from the NUSA program described it this way: “The City of Muncie, IN, allocated $1 million to help combat the effects of COVID-19 within Muncie’s neighborhoods. The process that developed to ensure the equitable distribution of those funds focused on residents’ voices and meeting the needs of each individual neighborhood association.”

Krista said it was “exciting to share how Muncie is utilizing the ARP funds.” ”Several folks from our session stayed after to ask more in-depth questions on how they can do the same in their community,” she added. Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) is a national, non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. Created in 1975 to share information and experiences used to build stronger communities, NUSA continues to encourage networking and information-sharing to facilitate the development of partnerships among neighborhood organizations, government, and the private sector for the ultimate goal of strengthening every neighborhood.

June 22, 2023June 22, 2023

Kindness Rocks at Be My Neighbor Day

Four colorful baskets, each labeled with a different location, sit in the grass. Each contains many decorated rocks.

Building Better Neighborhoods hosted a booth at this year’s Be My Neighbor Day on June 10th, asking families to paint a rock and then choose where in the community they want it placed. These “Kindness Rocks” with their little pops of color and inspirational quotes are meant to brighten the day of those who find them. You can see these bright additions at Heekin Park’s Memory Spiral, Canon Commons, various MITS bus stops, the Cardinal Greenway Trailhead, Minnetrista’s Children’s Garden, and Westside Park.