Join the community for dinner on the bridge! FREE to attend, food trucks on site, kayaking, live entertainment, a unique dining experience, and a chance to get to know your neighbors!
Washington Street Bridge Dinner
NLC 2025-2026 Training Schedule
EVERYONE is welcome. You don’t have to hold an official role in your neighborhood to attend. Anyone interested in getting involved is invited!
Thanks to funding provided by CenterPoint Energy Foundation, we have developed a training schedule for our Neighborhood Leadership Council / CenterPoint Scholar meetings that we hope will help build everyone’s leadership capacity. Here’s what you can look forward to over the next 12 months!
| Tuesday, April 15 6-7 PM The Importance of Neighborhoods | Tuesday, October 14 6-7 PM CenterPoint Scholar Project Pitch |
| Tuesday, May 20 6-7 PM Effective Communication – Listening with your Eyes | Tuesday, November 18 6-7 PM Celebrating Lessons Learned |
| Tuesday, June 17 6-7 PM How to Fund your Association’s Work | Tuesday, January 20 6-7 PM Recruitment |
| Tuesday, July 15 7-9 PM Neighborhoods Pool Party @ Tuhey | Tuesday, February 17 6-7 PM Stakeholder Meet and Greet & CenterPoint Scholar Presentations |
| Tuesday, August 19 6-7 PM Conflict Management | IDEA Conference – March 7 9 AM – 3 PM |
| Tuesday, September 16 6-7 PM Resident Listening |
Come hungry! We always provide dinner at the start of the training.
FREE TRAINING offered by Shafer Leadership Academy!
Thanks to a generous grant, Shafer Leadership Academy is offering its highly sought-after program, Fusion: Leading Multi-Generational Teams, free of charge to the public. Typically valued at $250 per participant, the program will be held on October 29, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, at Ivy Tech’s Fisher Building in Muncie.
The grant was provided by American Electric Power Foundation, whose support makes it possible for a wider audience to access this dynamic leadership training. Fusion is an interactive workshop designed to help participants understand the perspectives and work styles of five distinct generations—from the Greatest Generation to Gen Z. The program uses Shafer’s proprietary Generational Game Board, fostering stimulating discussions and hands-on learning in a collaborative environment.
“This partnership with Indiana Michigan Power allows us to offer one of our most popular programs at no cost, opening the door for many who may not have had the opportunity before,” said Mitch Isaacs, Executive Director of Shafer Leadership Academy. “We’re excited to bring more people into this experience and help them foster greater understanding and collaboration across generations.”
Program Highlights:
- Interactive discussions facilitated by the unique Generational Game Board.
- Insights into the social, political, and economic influences shaping generational perspectives.
- Strategies to promote effective collaboration and leadership in multi-generational teams.
Due to the free access and popularity of the Fusion program, this session is expected to fill quickly. Those interested are encouraged to register early.
2024 MAP Annual Report to the Community
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024 AT 6:00 PM
Annual Report to the Community Muncie Action Plan (MAP) invites YOU to MAP’s Annual Report to the Community. Join us on Wednesday, January 31st at 6:00 in the Indiana Room at Minnetrista Museum and Gardens for a look back at the last year of MAP activities and learn about the exciting things to come in 2024.
Incoming MAP Board President, Heather Williams, will present updates on the 2023 MAP activities with highlights from each Task Force leader.
January – April 2024 Free Planetarium Show Schedule
Press release provided by the Charles W. Brown Planetarium
www.bsu.edu/planetarium
All regular planetarium programs are free of charge, cash donations are accepted at the door.
One free pair of solar eclipse glasses will be provided to each planetarium show guest for a suggested cash donation of $1, while supplies last. Glasses are partially funded through support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Simons Foundation.
January
The Universe Overhead
Fridays: Jan. 12, 26 at 6:30pm
Saturdays: Jan. 13, 27 at 6:30pm
The sky on cold winter nights has some of the brightest stars and the best-known constellations. Some of these stars are truly supergiants hundreds of times bigger than our Sun, while others are dwarfs the size of Earth. Along the winter Milky Way there are colorful clouds where new stars are being born. Come and enjoy a guided tour of this celestial wonderland, learn about the upcoming total solar eclipse, and use star charts to explore the night sky.
Suitable for all ages 8+, all ages are welcome.
We Are Astronomers
Saturdays: Jan. 13, 27 at 5:00pm
Narrated by David Tennant, we explore what exactly do astronomers do in this new program. Today’s astronomer is not the lone observer of past centuries. This program reveals the global collaboration, technology, and dedication required to answer the unresolved questions of the Universe and features info on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
Most suitable for all ages 8+, all ages welcome
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
Saturdays: Jan. 13, 27 at 3:30pm
“One World, One Sky” is a brilliant program that follows Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a new friend from China. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth. They will also find shapes in the sky that will help them find the North Star. This cross-cultural adventure opens children’s eyes to the sky, helping them see how people all over the world are connected.
Best suited for families and groups with pre-K through 1st grade learners, all ages are welcome.
February
Solar Superstorms
Fridays: Feb. 9, 23 at 6:30pm
Saturdays: Feb. 10, 24 at 6:30pm
A fury is building on the surface of the Sun… high-velocity jets, a fiery tsunami wave that reaches 100,000km high, and rising loops of electrified gas are energized by what is going on underneath its surface. Will these “storms” affect Earth? Find the answer as we venture into the seething interior of our star to learn how they are formed. Solar Superstorms takes viewers into the tangle of magnetic fields and superhot plasma that vent the Sun’s rage in dramatic flares, violent solar tornadoes, and the largest eruptions in the solar system: Coronal Mass Ejections.
Suitable for all ages 10+, all ages are welcome.
Eclipse: The Sun Revealed
Saturdays: Feb. 10, 24 at 5:00pm
There will be a total eclipse of the Sun visible from Muncie, Indiana on April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse is such a spectacular event, it is never too early to start planning for one. Come learn how solar and lunar eclipses happen, and about scientific discoveries that have been supported by total solar eclipses. This show also uses beautiful visuals to explore the historical and cultural view of eclipses, and explains how to safely see these awe-inspiring sights.
Most suitable for ages 10+, all ages are welcome.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
Saturdays: Feb. 10, 24 at 3:30pm
“One World, One Sky” is a brilliant program that follows Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a new friend from China. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth. They will also find shapes in the sky that will help them find the North Star. This cross-cultural adventure opens children’s eyes to the sky, helping them see how people all over the world are connected.
Best suited for families and groups with pre-K through 1st grade learners, all ages are welcome.
March
Eclipse: The Sun Revealed
Fridays: March 1, 22 at 6:30pm
Saturdays: March 2, 23 at 6:30pm
There will be a total eclipse of the Sun visible from Muncie, Indiana on April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse is such a spectacular event, it is never too early to start planning for one. Come learn how solar and lunar eclipses happen, and about scientific discoveries that have been supported by total solar eclipses. This show also uses beautiful visuals to explore the historical and cultural view of eclipses, and explains how to safely see these awe-inspiring sights.
Most suitable for ages 10+, all ages are welcome.
Kitz the Cat’s SuperMoon Adventure
Saturdays: March 2, 23 at 3:30pm & 5:00pm
Develop an understanding of the danger of space junk and humanity’s moon exploration while following adventurous cat astronauts! The Earth in the far future, where humanity no longer exists. Cats that survived in the debris left behind by humanity have evolved into intelligent beings. Three cats – Kitz, Tutti, and Pepe – are working as cleaners at NYASA and today’s mission is to clean up space junk. But these unpredictable street cats skip some of their work and fly to the Moon!
Best suited for families and groups with kids ages 6+, all ages are welcome.
April
Visit the Ball State eclipse website at https://bsu.edu/planetarium/eclipse-2024 for up-to-date information on additional special events and programs running in preparation for the Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.
We Are Stars
Fridays: April 12, 26 at 6:30pm
Saturdays: April 13, 27 at 6:30pm
Narrated by Andy Serkis, this program seeks to answer some of the biggest questions of all time. What are we made of? Where did it all come from? Explore the secrets of our cosmic chemistry, our explosive origins and connect life on Earth to the evolution of the Universe. A family-friendly film full of fun, adventure, and enlightenment.
Most suitable for all ages 8+, all ages are welcome.
Sunset Meditation
Saturdays: April 13, 27 at 5:00pm
How do STEM workers, including NASA professionals, cope with stress? Meditation is a powerful tool for maintaining psychological health and resilience. Since the planetarium offers a dark and quiet space for relaxation, it is the perfect place for meditation. Enjoy a free guided meditation experience from Ball State University. View an amazing sunset as you travel from the Grand Canyon to the North Pole. Then relax under a night sky filled with stars and glimpses of the Northern Lights.
Suitable for all ages 12+, all ages are welcome.
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
Saturdays: April 13, 27 at 3:30pm
Travel with Jack and Annie, stars of the Magic Tree House® best-selling children’s book series, as they search for answers to a mysterious riddle they discover in a written note signed “–M.” Peek into the treehouse and follow Jack and Annie on an exciting adventure as they meet a helpful astronomer and an astronaut. As they travel to an observatory and beyond into space, Jack and Annie nearly get … well, we don’t want to give the surprise away!
Best suited for families and groups with kids ages 6+, all ages are welcome.
Program Information
- Cost: FREE, cash donations are accepted at the door. Plan to arrive early as seating is done on a first-come, first-served basis and seating is limited.
- Runtime: Approximately 50 minutes total with live sky tour.
- We do our best to have doors open 30 minutes before show time.
Planetarium Information
- The planetarium is located on the west end of the Cooper Science Complex, at Charles W. Brown Planetarium, 2111 W. Riverside Ave., Muncie, Indiana 47306.
- Due to construction being done on the Cooper Science Complex, select parking and pathway access to the planetarium is blocked off. Plan to arrive early to safely navigate the area and arrive on time for the program.
- Food, drinks, gum or candy are not allowed in the planetarium.
- Cellphones and any electronics that emit light must be silenced or turned off at the start of all programs. Please refrain from wearing light-up shoes to any planetarium programs.
- Children 17 years and under should be accompanied by an adult.
- We greatly appreciate your support to make our programs possible, and cash donations are accepted at the door.
For directions and parking information, as well as general policies, please visit the Charles W. Brown Planetarium website at www.bsu.edu/planetarium.
Back by popular demand: “Beyond Meetings: Tips and Tools for Better Community Outreach”
RESCHEDULED: October 17, 2023
@ E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
(400 W. Minnetrista Pkwy)
Brian Blackford’s presentation at the 2023 IDEA Conference was so well received we’re bringing him back to share “Beyond Meetings: Tips and Tools for Better Community Outreach” with the NLC.
Engaging community members is more important and more challenging than ever. Simply hosting a town hall or settling for insights from the usual suspects is no longer sufficient. During this interactive session, participants review why community engagement matters and consider creative ways to make it more practical, productive, and meaningful.
Food will be provided! Check out and share the FB event page.