Kiwani Pine, Rachael Robertson, Isabel Heimlich, Joseph Scholl III, Eliana Heimlich, Sam Atlas McCollum (Jasmine Taylor not in photo) Photo by Shantanu Suman
Welcoming the Second Cohort of CenterPoint Scholars
Since 2010, Muncie Action Plan (MAP) has been supporting neighborhood leaders through its Neighborhood Leadership Council. In October 2023, MAP expanded this commitment by launching a new initiative—thanks to a generous grant from CenterPoint Energy—to train emerging leaders in grassroots advocacy. This initiative, the CenterPoint Scholars Program, offers a year-long leadership development experience focused on building skills that directly impact Muncie’s neighborhoods.
The program began with a competitive application process in January, and the second cohort of Scholars was officially introduced at the March 2025 IDEA Conference. In April, the Scholars participated in a weekend retreat at highlighted locations in Muncie to kick off the program. This retreat laid the groundwork for a year of learning, connection, and community impact.
We are excited to welcome our second cohort of CenterPoint Scholars:
This class of CenterPoint Scholars is exploring topics like project management, conflict resolution, and trust building, all while working on neighborhood-based projects designed to create lasting, positive change. They are joining our Neighborhood Leadership Council in monthly trainings from March 2025 through March 2026, and their efforts will culminate in a final presentation led by the Scholars at the 2026 IDEA Conference. MAP is proud to support these emerging leaders and excited to see the impact of their work across our community.
Kitselman Trailhead launch, completed in 2022. Photo by the Ball Brothers Foundation:
Did you know there are several new kayak and canoe launches located throughout Muncie?
There are! And several more in the works.
These launches are open to the public, so beat the heat this summer by grabbing a friend and bringing your favorite canoes and kayaks to one of these convenient spots.
The scholars: Isabel Heimlich, Joseph Scholl III, Kiwani Pine, Rachael Robertson, Eliana Heimlich, and Sam Atlas McCollum. Not pictured: Jasmine Taylor
THE PROGRAM
The 2025-2026 CenterPoint Scholars Program kicked off with a weekend retreat April. The retreat set the framework for the year-long program and built connections between participants.
Regular meetings were held monthly at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center (400 W. Minnetrista Blvd.)
Understanding Local Government Structure & Finance Code Enforcement Panel Increasing Relationships and Resources and Decreasing Barriers
Muncie Retreat- April 11-12, 2025
Developing Your Personal Why Project Management: Goal Setting Project Management: Budgeting Trust Building Effective Leadership Community Connections Panel An Introduction to Advocacy
Tuesday, April 15, 5 – 7 p.m.
The Importance of Neighborhoods
Tuesday, May 20, 5 – 7 p.m.
Effective Communication – Listening with your Eyes
Tuesday, June 17, (5 – 7 p.m.
How to Fund Your Association’s Work (panel)
Tuesday, July 15, 7 – 9 p.m.
Neighborhood Pool Party @ Tuhey
Tuesday, August 19, 5 – 7 p.m.
Conflict Management
Tuesday, September 16, 5 – 7 p.m.
Resident Listening
Tuesday, October 14, 5 – 7 p.m.
Pitch 2026 Projects
Tuesday, November 18, 5 – 7 p.m.
Celebrating Lessons Learned
Tuesday, December 16, 5 – 7 p.m.
Project Work Day
Tuesday, January 20, 5 – 7 p.m.
Recruitment
Tuesday, February 17, 5 – 7 p.m.
Presentation to Neighborhood Leadership Council and Elected Officials
The program will culminate with a presentation by the Scholars at the 2026 IDEA Conference, Saturday, March 7, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Ball State University Student Center.
The CenterPoint Scholars Program kicked-off with a weekend retreat April 19-21 at Hueston Woods, OH. The retreat set the framework for the year-long program and built connections between participants.
Meetings are held monthly at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center (400 W. Minnetrista Blvd.)
Building Relationships with Elected Officials How to Run a Meeting Effective Communication for Neighborhood Leaders (part 1)
Tuesday, April 16, 5 – 7 p.m.
Effective Communication for Neighborhood Leaders (part 2)
Friday, April 19 – Sunday, April 21 Retreat at Hueston Woods | Schedule
Developing Your Personal Why The Importance of Neighborhoods Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Active Listening Effective Leadership Community Connections An Introduction to Advocacy
Tuesday, May 21, 5 – 7 p.m.
Project Management and Goal Setting
Tuesday, June 18, 5 – 7 p.m.
Project Management and Data Analysis / Financial Literacy
Tuesday, July 16 7 – 9 p.m. POOL PARTY @ Tuhey
Neighborhoods Pool Party @ Tuhey
Tuesday, August 20, 5 – 7 p.m.
Trust Building
Tuesday, September 17, 5 – 7 p.m.
Crowdbased Fundraising
Tuesday, October 15, 5 – 7 p.m.
Pitch 2025 Projects
Tuesday, November 19, 5 – 7 p.m.
Celebrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Tuesday, December 17, 5 – 7 p.m.
Project Work Day
2025
Tuesday, January 21, 5 – 7 p.m.
Delegation
Tuesday, February 18, 5 – 7 p.m.
Presentation to Neighborhood Leadership Council and Elected Officials
The program will culminate with a lunch keynote presentation by the Scholars at the 2025 IDEA Conference, Saturday, March 8, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Ball State University Student Center.
The Neighborhood Leadership Council is an initiative of the Muncie Action Plan that brings together neighborhood association leaders from across the city of Muncie to share best practices, take advantage of educational opportunities, and connect with local resources and area non-profits. The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month on the third floor of the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center (400 W. Minnetrista Pkwy) at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
In 1927 Edwin Faye Kitselman was one of four brothers who were industrialist leaders in Muncie Indiana. The inventive Kitselman brothers originally made roller skates in a factory east of Muncie in Ridgeville, Indiana, and eventually the company became a manufacturer of steel and wire fences. Mr. Kitselman, who was also a golfer, hunter, politician, and fisherman, bought several wooded acres at what was then the west end of University Avenue. He and his wife, Edna F. Leach Kitselman, had four children: Richard, Alice, Nancy and Jean. They built the stately brick home pictured here. Unfortunately, a short time later, in 1928, Mr. Kitselman died, leaving the land and the home to his wife and children. Almost three decades later, in 1956, the surviving Kitselman children, Richard, Nancy and Jean (all now deceased) deeded the Tudor Gothic home and 2.65 acres to the Ball State University Foundation. The home became known as the Kitselman Center and was utilized by Ball State University in succeeding years as a venue for conferences and special events.
On October 12, 1956, the Gatewood neighborhood plat was proposed by J. Roberts Dailey (local realtor and civic leader) and other partners, and on November 8, 1956 the Gatewood subdivision was approved with 92 lots all designed as single-family residences with the exception of three lots on the south side of Riverside where duplex rentals were permitted. Over the next thirty years homes of varying styles were built and occupied.
In 1987, Lot 4 of the Gatewood subdivision was split into a north half and south half and sold to the homeowners of lots 3 and 5, thus ending the 60 years of Kitselman ownership of this segment of wooded land west of the city of Muncie. Gatewood has 92 homes and is a thriving neighborhood.
In 2000, Virginia B. Ball, local philanthropist and active supporter of education, the environment, the arts, and the humanities, established the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry at Ball State University. With the approval of the Ball State University Foundation, the Kitselman Center was chosen as the home of that center which still exists today.
Gatewood is bounded on the North by Riverside Avenue, the south by Gilbert Street, the west by Greenbriar Road and Bittersweet Lane and on the east by Forest Avenue, comprising 92 homes and approximately 80 acres. Today Gatewood is a neighborhood made up of accountants, artists, bankers, business men and women, children, counselors, doctors, engineers, fathers and mothers, grandparents, inventors, judges, lawyers, musicians, nurses, pharmacists, plumbers, professors, realtors, school administrators, teachers and very good neighbors.
In the early 2000’s, student rental properties continued popping up in residential neighborhoods in Muncie. The Gatewood Neighborhood Association was formed in an effort to sustain and support the Kitselman families’ original intent to develop a single family residential neighborhood and to support good neighboring.
In 2018 Gatewood completed neighborhood sponsored leveling, cleaning, tuck-pointing and restoration of the 1927 Gate Pillars at University and Forest Avenues.
Neighborhood Association
President: John Pinckney Vice President – Dan House Secretary-Treasurer: Sue Whitaker
Other Board Members and Street Representatives:
Bittersweet: Susan Leffler
Gatewood: Dan House
700, 704, 707 N Greenbriar + 3509 Riverside: Jim Wingate
University: Don Whitaker
Brentwood (north of University): Larry Stange
Brentwood (south of University): Larry Strange
Forest (west side of street – University to Riverside: Pat Nelson
Forest (west side of street – University to Gilbert + 3300 W Gilbert
Greenbriar: Molly Graybeal
Wildwood: Ron Martin
Committees:
Social Media Committee—Casey Stanley
Welcome Committee—Molly Graybeal and Anna McGlinchy
Government Liaison—Larry Strange
Newsletter Editor—Sue Whitaker
Neighborhood School:
West View Elementary, MCS 3401 W. Gilbert Street
Landscaping and neighborhood sign completed with ARP funding280 Items were collected at the Gatewood Holiday Party in December 2025 for the Clothing Closet at West View Elementary School.Below: Neighborhood Children building an igloo following the January 2026 SnowstormNeighborhood Easter Egg Hunt
