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Lucas PintMAP’s New Neighborhood Organizer

Lucas Pint, a man with a beard and crossed arms, leans confidently against a brick wall

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.

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Welcome to the new class of 2025 CenterPoint Scholars!

Kiwani Pine, Rachael Robertson, Isabel Heimlich, Joseph Scholl III, Eliana Heimlich, Sam Atlas McCollum (Jasmine Taylor not in photo) Photo by Shantanu Suman

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.

For more information about the CenterPoint Scholars Program, visit muncieneighborhoods.org/centerpoint-scholars.

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White River Canoe and Kayak Launch Sites

Map of the White River showing completed and future landing sites for canoes and kayaks
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.

Learn more about this and other cool projects aimed at championing our local waterways at the Ball Brothers Foundation Project Blueways page.

Check out more muncie neighborhood news and events:

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Ball State’s We Fly Fest to Offer Food, Fun, Entertainment, and Campus Tours on June 7

People gather at food trucks in the foreground with the amphitheater lit up in the background. the night sky is a deep blue and the grounds are brightly lit.

Ball State University will host its first We Fly Fest from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. This free, on-campus event is open to the public and will include campus tours, entertainment, live music, informational booths, games, and other family-friendly activities.

“We Fly Fest is the latest demonstration of our University’s commitment to fostering strong connections between our campus and the community,” said Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. “I am excited to welcome our friends and neighbors to experience the best of what Ball State has to offer.”

The event will begin at Ball State’s Brown Family Amphitheater, where guests can enjoy games and activities, food trucks, information tables, and a live DJ.

Fest attendees may explore campus through several self-guided tours or the Student Experience bus tour. Featured destinations on the self-guided tours include the Dr. Joe & Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, the Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass, the David Owsley Museum of Art, Christy Woods, and the Environmental Education Center. The Student Experience tour will highlight student housing, recreation, athletics, academic buildings, and more.

Additionally, the University’s Charles W. Brown Planetarium will offer three showings during We Fly Fest: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure—a favorite among children—at 3:30 p.m., and two showings of the staff’s program pick, We Are Stars, at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The evening will conclude with a free concert by the Ball State Studio Band at the Brown Family Amphitheater beginning at 7 p.m.

Parking
Parking is free in all campus parking lots on weekends—but look for “Free Parking Today” signs in front of lots closest to the Brown Amphitheater, such as the New York Parking Garage at 1001 N. New York Ave.

Community Shuttle Stops
Free shuttles to campus will run from 4:45-8:30 p.m. There will be three pick-up stops: in Muncie:

  • Buley Center, 1111 N. Penn St.
  • Common Market, 900 W 8th St.
  • P.O.P. Shop, 904 E Willard St.

For more information on We Fly Fest, visit bsu.edu/weflyfest.

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Won’t You Be Our Neighbor!

A header image that has "Be My Neighbor Day 2025" in various colorful rectangles. An image of a cartoon tiger cub is in the lower bottom left.

It’s going to be a beautiful day in the neighborhood on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Canan Commons for BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY 2025!

The free family event, set for 1 to 4 p.m., will include an appearance by none other than DANIEL TIGER, star of DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD on PBS KIDS.

At the heart of this event is the importance of being neighborly. So why not learn about some of our community’s greatest neighbors?

A map will lead children through the streets of a very special neighborhood, where they will meet people from community centers, arts organizations, charity groups and much more. At each booth, kids will be able to participate in fun activities, many designed to show the importance of being a good neighbor.

Parents and caregivers will discover ways to give back, from volunteer opportunities to support local arts and culture. Once the maps are completed, kids can claim their Good Neighbor awards!

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Ball State to Host Community Update on Village Revitalization, June 4

Ratio image of what the new Ball State Performing Arts Center will look like upon completion.

Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns invites members of the campus and greater Muncie community to attend a public update on the University’s revitalization efforts in The Village—the commercial district located next to campus and IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, in the Legacy Room on the third floor of Cornerstone Center for the Arts, located at 520 E. Main Street in Muncie. Parking is available in the Cornerstone lots off Washington Street.

After years of planning, the University has begun to implement its comprehensive Village Revitalization Plan—an ambitious, long-term initiative to transform the district through a collaborative public-private partnership involving city leaders and development partners, including Schahet Hotels and Trademark Construction.

The vision: to create a best-in-class, multigenerational district driven by arts and culture, entertainment, and innovation. The revitalized Village will feature new venues for living, working, dining, and gathering, including a new Performing Arts Center, a distinctive new hotel, a Center for Innovation and Collaboration, and a new residential neighborhood.

At the June 4 update, President Mearns will provide a progress report on key projects currently under construction and preview upcoming phases of development. The presentation will be followed by a brief Q&A session.

Featured project updates include:

  • The Performing Arts Center and adjacent Cantio Hotel, both scheduled to open in Summer 2026.
  • The Center for Innovation and Collaboration, designed to foster entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary partnerships, and hands-on learning.
  • New market-rate apartments, a Barnes & Noble community bookstore, and for-sale townhomes and single-family homes offering expanded residential options in The Village.

“These community events have been well attended, and I’m grateful for the strong interest in this project,” President Mearns said. “With construction underway on several sites, we’re seeing real progress.”

The June 4 forum builds on a series of public presentations and community conversations that have guided the revitalization effort since its early stages. Ball State’s planning has been informed by local feedback, philanthropic investment, and national models for transforming college-adjacent districts into destinations for creativity, commerce, and collaboration.

For more information and to follow the project’s progress, visit bsu.edu/thevillage.