1. Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
My Community, My Vision
Jacob Sipe
Executive Director
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority

2. Encourage. Empower. Engage.

3. What is My Community, My Vision?
MCMV is a program created by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority in 2013.
The program partners a university, a state agency and Indiana youth to create a youth-led vision plan to guide development in Indiana’s communities.
See full plans and application materials

4. How did it begin?
Idea to teach Indiana high school students in rural settings about community development and urban planning
Address “Brain Drain”: many college educated people from rural areas in Indiana are moving out of their hometowns and Indiana
My Community, My Vision attempts to address both of these issues

5. Who is Involved? Partnership between IHCDA Ball State University
Youth groups and local leadership

6. Who is Involved?
5-6 youth groups from Indiana communities are chosen each year
High school students from each community are paired with a Ball State Urban Planning student
College students work directly with the high school students
Get them to think about their community in a different way
MCMV Kick-Off Meeting 2015

7. Student’s Roles To create a Community Vision Plan
Identify as a group what is missing from their community (e.g. places for teens to hang out, senior activities, places to shop, etc.)
Create a plan while teaching (by BSU students) and learning (by high school students) urban planning basics to help address those issues
Integrate community involvement in the process
To work with town officials to:
Create a plan as a compliment to or part of larger comprehensive plans, downtown plans, or action plans for youth involvement in the community
Implement the projects in the plan
Urban planning basics like Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, community engagement through public meetings, teach about local government processes.

8. Student’s Roles
Washington County high school students with their BSU mentor at the final presentation, 2015
DeKalb County high school students with their BSU mentor at the final presentation, 2016

9. Program Outcomes Youth Empowerment
Opportunity for youth to think about their community differently by asking “What if…”
Encourage youth to develop a future vision for their hometown community
Develop, promote, and engage leadership skills in the youth of Indiana’s rural communities
Shows local leadership that the youth voice is important and credible
2014 Kick-Off Meeting

10. Program Outcomes Youth Engagement
Involve youth in civic engagement, governmental processes and urban planning
Promote community development with youth in mind
Educate about career possibilities and future civic engagement opportunities
Muncie high school students presenting their plans to local officials, 2016

11. Program Outcomes Promote Rural Indiana
Encourage youth to stay or return to their hometowns by making them stakeholders
Promote Indiana’s rural communities as areas of destination
Give insight to rural communities in attracting and retaining youth and young families
FFA high school student group listens to presentations at the final event, 2015

12. Year 1 Communities Rushville Switzerland County Hanover2 3 4 5
Rushville
Switzerland County
Hanover
Washington County
Lawrence County

13. Year 2 Communities Gary Dekalb County Muncie Anderson Hamilton County1 2 3 4 5 6
Gary
Dekalb County
Muncie
Anderson
Hamilton County
Martinsville

14. Year 3 Communities Crawfordsville Greenfield Shelbyville Greensburg1 2 3 4 5
Crawfordsville
Greenfield
Shelbyville
Greensburg
Corydon

15. Process
Students explore and explain their vision for their community through conversations with their peers, community members, and local government officials
Submit a five page essay to IHCDA in September
5-6 youth groups chosen each school year
High school students brainstorm ideas and Ball State Urban Planning students create the plan
This occurs throughout the school year with various locally held meetings with the students, community members, local government and IHCDA.

16. Process
The Community Vision Plans are presented at a final event each spring with the all partners and the Indiana Lt. Governor
The plan could be adopted and used to guide future development in the communities to create places and spaces where youth will want to live out their dreams

17. What the Community Receives
A professionally produced document that can be adopted and used by the local governing body to guide future development within the community
A five-to-ten year outlook based on current community strengths and weaknesses and the youth’s perception of the current condition and future possibilities of the community
It will include aspects of comprehensive community development (such as affordable housing, transportation, community health, tourism, etc.)
$500 to begin to implement the plan

18. Evolution of the MCMV Program
First year, most of the communities were very rural. The next two years, communities of various sizes participated.
First two years, the whole process went through the schools. Year 3, the applicant and convener will be the local government.
Increase local government participation.
Increase adoption of plans.
Increase implementation.
More experience for both the Ball State and the high school students to be involved in the civic side of the program.
Less burden on the school system.

19. Highlighted Results
The Cities of Rushville and Muncie officially adopted their youth-driven plans.
The Anderson group raised approximately $4,000 in grants and donations to implement a community garden project.
Students from all of the communities met with their local elected officials, including county council members, mayors, legislators, and the State of Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor