By: Mitch Isaacs—
Muncie IN—In March, 130 citizens gathered for the first Neighborhood I.D.E.A. Conference. The steering committee has now opened program proposals for the second conference, scheduled for March 4, 2017.
“Through the IDEA conference, Muncie’s neighborhood associations have gained access to tools and resources to sustain effective, collaborative neighborhood networks and keep open the lines of communication between residents and city leadership,” said Aimee Fant, Muncie Action Plan coordinator.
Heather Williams, program manager for Building Better Neighborhoods explained the 2017 conference will follow the 2016 template. “This year’s conference was a huge success, so we are keeping many of the same elements for 2017.”
The second annual Neighborhood I.D.E.A. Conference is scheduled for March 4, 2017 on Ball State’s campus. Over 100 of Muncie’s most active local leaders will gather to listen, learn and meet like-minded individuals to share ideas and best practices.
The theme of the conference is Intentional Development and Education for Association Members. Sessions will fall within four distinct tracks:
- Beautification and Infrastructure
- Partnering with Local Officials
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Association Development
“Strong program presenters were one of the many reasons why this year’s conference worked”, offered Mitch Isaacs, Executive Director for Shafer Leadership Academy. “We are, once again, calling on Muncie’s best and brightest to share their expertise with interested association members.”
The Neighborhood I.D.E.A. Conference is a collaborative effort between Ball State University’s Office of Community Engagement, Building Better Neighborhoods, Muncie Action Plan, and Shafer Leadership Academy. Sponsors include Ball Brothers Foundation, the City of Muncie, and the Vectren Foundation.
Interested presenters can contact Krista Flynn at kflynn@bsu.edu or 765-285-5679 to submit a proposal. Proposals will be accepted until January 9, 2017.
The Shafer Leadership Academy is a community leadership institute where people of all ages, backgrounds and interests can access the tools necessary to develop and enhance their leadership skills. Our aim is to provide expert and useful leadership training that meets the needs of East Central Indiana communities, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and private individuals. The Shafer Leadership Academy is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization funded through program tuition, corporate sponsorship, individual contributions and grants. The Shafer leadership Academy is headquartered at the Innovation Connector in Muncie, IN.
Mitch Isaacs is Executive Director, Shafer Leadership Academy
