Author: Jes Beals

When I moved to Muncie in 2016 to begin my career at Ball State University, I never imagined how deeply I’d come to care for this city and its people. Settling in the Anthony-Northside Neighborhood sparked my involvement in grassroots efforts, from leading the neighborhood association to helping launch a new park at the former Anthony Elementary School site. This work, along with a scholarship to the Shafer Leadership Academy’s Emergence Program, helped shape my approach to leadership—one grounded in empathy, strategy, and a belief that real change happens when we invest in people and meet them where they are.

That belief continues to guide me in my new role as Neighborhood Organizer with the Muncie Action Plan. Since 2018, I’ve contributed to citywide initiatives through MAP Taskforces 3 and 4, working on neighborhood development and climate resilience. Now, I’m eager to support and connect Muncie’s neighborhoods in even deeper ways. Whether advising students at Ball State, pursuing graduate studies in planning and environmental management, or collaborating with residents, I remain committed to building strong, adaptable communities—because lasting change grows from trust, connection, and the shared work of showing up for one another.