Mayor Ridenour’s State of the City Address To Be Held at End of IDEA 2020 Conference

Aerial image overlooking the downtown area, Muncie Central High School, and White River. Photo by: Michael WolfeAerial image overlooking the downtown area, Muncie Central High School, and White River. Photo by: Michael Wolfe

By: Aimee West, Cornerstone Center for the Arts & Muncie Action Plan—

Muncie, IN—The City of Muncie finds itself in a state of transition, as Muncie Neighborhoods’ IDEA Conference enters year 5 in 2020, with Mayor Ridenour’s new administration now at the helm.

On March 7th,  at the Ivy Tech Fisher Building, Mayor Ridenour will issue his first State of the City address and his department heads will take the keynote stage at the 5th annual Muncie Neighborhoods IDEA Conference.

The conference portion of IDEA has reached maximum capacity (and is “sold out”). However, Mayor Ridenour’s State of the City address will be held at 2:30pm, at the conference’s end, and is open for all, upon registration.

Both the conference and the State of the City are FREE and open to the public.

Dan Ridenour is pictured immediately after being sworn in by John Feick, Delaware County Circuit Court 4 Judge in ceremonies held at Muncie Central HS on Dec. 28th. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Dan Ridenour is pictured immediately after being sworn in by John Feick, Delaware County Circuit Court 4 Judge in ceremonies held at Muncie Central HS on Dec. 28th. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

In the 5 years since IDEA’s inaugural conference in 2016, the community of Muncie and Delaware County has watched leaders, relationships and projects come and go, but through it all, the connection and common ground between neighborhoods strengthens, and the work of our neighborhoods continue, as does Mayor Ridenour’s participation in that work.

Since 2013, engaged and active Muncie neighbor Dan Ridenour began canvassing neighborhoods as a volunteer, was elected to City Council in 2015, took office in 2016, and was elected mayor in 2020.  Ever since, Ridenour has attended, participated, and sponsored the Muncie Neighborhoods’ IDEA Conference, year after year. Citizen Dan Ridenour, City Councilman Ridenour, and now Mayor Ridenour has attended 129 neighborhood meetings during this span of time, and counting.

The Muncie Neighborhoods IDEA Conference is led by the longstanding coalition: Krista Flynn, Ball State University/Muncie Action Plan, Mitch Isaacs, Shafer Leadership Academy/Muncie Action Plan, Aimee West, Cornerstone Center of the Arts/Muncie Action Plan, and Heather Williams, Building Better Neighborhoods/ Muncie Action Plan.

IDEA 2020 will include 10 unique sessions, spanning 4 tracks: Facing Challenges, Local Government, Capacity Building, and Community Initiatives. Keynotes will feature the City of Muncie department head lunchtime panel, which will be facilitated by Aimee West, Mayor Dan Ridenour’s first “State of the City” keynote address, and at IDEA’s conclusion, awards for Neighborhood Leader of the Year, Neighborhood Project of the Year, and Muncie Citizen of the Year will be announced.

IDEA 2020 Sessions include:

The State of Our Schools: Muncie Community Schools Panel
You Count! (and so do your neighbors) w/Kallie Sulanke, Muncie Delaware County Community Foundation
Grant Writing 101 w/Donna Browne, MAP, Ball State University
Art in the Community w/Rachel Cohn, Ball State University, MACC
Dementia Friendly Communities w/Mandy Williams, Lifestream
Making Democracy Work w/Teresa Basey, League of Women Voters
Visual Identities for Muncie Neighborhoods w/Shantanu Suman, Ball State University
What’s Next in Community Economic Development: w/Dr. John West, Ball State University and Bryan Preston, Delaware County GIS
Muncie Resilience Plan w/Dr. Michael Burayidi, Ball State University
The Public Bank and Its Relevance to Muncie’s Future, Andrew Dale
Resident Listening w/Joy Rediger, Urban Light
Web of Support: How Everybody Succeeds, Kyra Zylstra, Sustainable Muncie

IDEA 2020’s City of Muncie Department Head Panel includes:

Mayor, Dan Ridenour
Special Projects Director, Dustin Clark
Street Department Superintendent, City Engineer, Brian Stephen-Hotopp
Personnel Director, Nancy Larson
Animal Shelter Superintendent, Ethan Browning
Building Commissioner, Steve Selvey
Community Development Director, Gretchen Bookout Cheeseman
Controller, Trent Conway
Parks Superintendent, Carl Malone
Director of Communications, Jase Crehan
Economic Development Director, David Smith
Human Rights Director, Yvonne Thompson
Police Chief, Nathan Sloan
Fire Chief, David Miller

To attend the free and open to the public “State of the City”, address please register at www.muncieneighborhoods.org

When we fuel the vision for Muncie with the passion and engagement of its citizens, we see a brighter future, and build a stronger community.” –Mayor Dan Ridenour, City of Muncie