Be Heard – Local political action | CARDINAL HALL A
10:00:
Participating in local planning, growing the population and more
Presenters: Steven Brand, Gretchen Cheesman, Frank Scott, John West
11:00:
Update on Community Policing
Presenters: Andy Payne& TBA
1:00:
Neighborhoods and Political Participation
Presenter: Linda Hanson There is one important thing to note at the outset about political participation. Anyone can participate in politics. There are no age or citizenship restrictions on participation, with one exception: voting. Informed political participation is extraordinarily important to make our representative democracy function for all of us. Our elected officials make decisions on our behalf–but they are not mind-readers.
This session will focus on using the League of Women Voters Citizens’ Handbook (available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole online at https://lwvin.org/ ) as a resource for intentional development and engagement for neighborhood associations. The Handbook is designed to enable citizens to make their voices heard at the national, state, and local levels, but we will emphasize working with Muncie and Delaware County government using scenarios with actual neighborhood issues. We begin with an interactive civics quiz tied to content in the handbook.
CenterPoint Scholars Track – Everyone’s invited! | FORUM ROOM
10:00:
Diversity
Presenter: Melinda Messineo
11:00:
Understanding Local Government Structure and Finance
Presenter: Chip Taylor Citizen interaction with government occurs most frequently at the local level. Yet many citizens don’t fully understand the fragmented and overlapping nature of local government, making it difficult to know who is responsible for the delivery of vital services or how those services are funded. This session will provide participants with an overview of the structure, responsibilities, and funding sources for local governments in Indiana, with a focus on Muncie and Delaware County as examples.
Old IDEA’s Are New Again – You voted, we listened | CARDINAL HALL B
10:00:
Creative Space Action Plan
Presenters: Seth Beckman, Kallie Sulanke, Laura Williamson Discover how Muncie is shaping its future as a vibrant arts and cultural hub. This session introduces the Creative Space Action Plan, a community-driven roadmap to support local artists, expand creative spaces, and strengthen Muncie’s arts identity. Attendees will gain an overview of the plan’s development, key findings, and the community’s role in its success.
Learn about the bold actions being taken to create affordable spaces for artists, connect cultural hubs, and foster new opportunities for public engagement. The session will also highlight early progress since the plan’s release and outline key priorities for the months ahead. Whether you attended past public meetings or are hearing about this initiative for the first time, this presentation offers an inspiring look at how the arts can shape Muncie’s future. Join us to see how you can be part of this movement and help bring the plan’s vision to life.
11:00:
Land Banking, A springboard for collaborative, block-by-block comprehensive development
Presenters: Nate Howard, Brad King, Jeb Reece The Muncie Land Bank (MLB) is leading a transformative initiative to revitalize Muncie’s historic Old West End neighborhood. In collaboration with the Old West End Neighborhood Association and non-profit housing developers, including PathStone Corporation, ecoREHAB, the Old West End Neighborhood Economic Redevelopment Corporation, and Intend Indiana, the MLB is spearheading a multi-phase effort to construct 33 new homes, renovate 5 existing properties, stimulate small business growth, and create vibrant community spaces. This ambitious initiative is further supported by Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning, the City of Muncie, and the Delaware County Commissioners, whose resources and expertise amplify the project’s impact.
This session will examine how the MLB leverages land acquisition and planning to unlock financing and enable collaborative, block-by-block development in areas where high tax liabilities or deferred maintenance costs outweigh property values, or where widespread vacancy undermines neighborhood housing markets.
1:00:
Grant Writing 101
Presenter: Donna Browne Are you new to grant writing? Do you want to brush up your skills? Grant Writing 101 takes you through preparing a typical grant proposal, including preparation, what information to include, developing goals and objectives, writing tips, creating a project budget, and time management. This session will demystify the grant writing process, teach essential skills to get you started, and address some commonly held misconceptions about grant seeking.
Presenter: Joe Misiewicz A group or groups from various associations will spend time on a ‘quilt’ brainstorming a range of ideas and then break down their lists and ‘dreams’ into One of three categories. “We can do this early in 2025”, “Maybe we could start this in 2025”, or “May need more time for these ideas and goals.”All participants will leave with a commitment sheet to set up goals for 2025.
