1. Building Better Neighborhoods Heather Williams, Project Manager Ball State University, Building Better Communities

2. History Key leaders in the Muncie community expressed a need for assistance to develop neighborhood associations through partnerships, training and the support of members of the Muncie community.

3. Goals  BBN serves as a resource to the Muncie community:  Organizing fully-functioning neighborhood associations as the primary community development unit in all participating neighborhoods within the city of Muncie.  Partnering with individuals in the community and MAP Task Force 2 to identify unique needs in each neighborhood and boosting Muncie's effort to develop active and effective neighborhood associations.  Identifying, deploying, and evaluating the resources of Ball State University in relation to neighborhood association development.  Ball State resources may include consulting projects with faculty or professional staff, individual or group training programs, student-driven immersive learning projects, volunteer projects, mentor opportunities and research projects.  Engaging the local nonprofit sector to provide programs and services toward neighborhood needs.

4. Why are neighborhoods important?  Neighborhood Associations represent the critical infrastructure for pursuing and addressing additional projects of the Muncie Action Plan, VISION 2016 and related projects well into the future. A neighborhood is a network of “people who know each other, share some of their social life, help each other out in emergencies, and get together to manage community projects.” Jonathan Barnett, FAIA, FAICP – University of Pennsylvania

5. Neighborhood Associations 48 Potential Associations 24 Active Associations All levels of development (from Whitely to Aultshire) All types of interests & issues (from potholes to parking)

6. Importance of Neighborhood Associations  Facilitate achieving common goals by providing a single voice for the neighborhood  Anthony - 5 minutes with the Mayor & twitter to address potholes and parking issues  Gilbert/McKinley – Overlay district to encourage live/work development  Kenmore – I&M substation at entrance to neighborhood  Improve Quality of Life by organizing and helping residents work towards preservation and improvements within the neighborhood  Halteman Village – HHF demolition and pocket park  East Central – All Things Pumpkin (Emily Kimbrough House fundraiser)  Blaine/Southeast – track cleanup and playground equipment ($15,000 KaBoom grant)  Spring & Fall cleanups – in conjunction with the MSD  Build Community by planning and holding social activities for the neighborhood  East Central – Neighborhood pumpkin carving  South Central – Garden party

7. Strong Leaders Help Build Strong Neighborhoods  Neighborhood Presidents Council Monthly Meetings  Education & Information  Speakers: Mayor, Police Chief, Urban Forester  How to create FaceBook & NextDoor sites  Roundtable discussion – peer support  Leadership training  Recognition

8. Challenges  Size Too large to consider a “neighborhood”  Getting the Word Out Canvassing events; developing a digital presence

9. Neighborhood Association Development  Steering Committees (UH & JW/SK)  Newsletters  Articles of Incorporation  Welcome Letters  Bank Accounts  501c3 – grant opportunities  Leadership training – Life coaching  Code enforcement (junk vehicles/blight)  Neighborhood watches / NextDoor  Rain Gardens  Urban Gardens

10. BBN Website  Goal: Establish a website for BBN that includes best practices research for neighborhood development, links to local resources for neighborhood associations and success stories from the local community. http://neighborhoods.muncieactionplan.org/

11. Immersive Learning  Neighborhood Action Plans – Blaine/Southeast & Industry  Energy Planning – Thomas Park/Avondale & South Central  Education inside and outside of the classroom - Schools Within the Context of Community @ Southview Elementary  Sociological Surveys – Southside & Riverside/Normal City Neighborhoods  Urban Anthropology – stories of the neighborhoods  Historic Preservation – city wide preservation plan

12. Community Connections  Neighborhood Investment Committee  Hardest Hit Funds  Sesquicentennial Celebration  Maker’s District  Vectren Foundation  Community Health Coalition  B5 – Early Childhood Develpment

13. What Can You Do? AS A RESIDENT  Attend regular meetings of your association  Volunteer for activities  Pay dues and become a voting member  Attend regular association events and programs  Become a block captain  Join your neighborhood FaceBook and NextDoor sites  Get to know your neighbors AS A COMMUNITY LEADER  Attend regular meetings of as many associations as possible  Get to know the neighborhood association presidents and boards – offer to speak at meetings  Attend as many association events and programs as possible  Join ALL neighborhood FaceBook pages