By Juli Metzger—
MUNCIE, IN—You may not always get to see the result of your kindness, but never doubt that it leaves a mark. Lives are transformed not just by systems and shelters, but by people — people who choose to care, choose to give, choose to believe in someone else’s better future.
Nearly 400 supporters turned out for YWCA Central Indiana’s 2025 annual Walk In HER HEELS fundraising event recently. HEELS is an acronym for Help, Empower, Encourage, Lift and Support.
“None of us can know what it is like for the individuals seated next to us – none of us can know what they’re lives are like at home – what they face, what their challenges are or how they manage them,” says CEO WaTasha Barnes Griffin. “That is, until we get to know them or maybe even walk in their shoes. And so, we’ve adopted and adapted this phrase – Walk in Her HEELS. Help. Empower. Encourage. Lift. Support. It is our purpose—our mission—to get HER back on her feet.”
YWCA Central Indiana serves seven counties—Delaware, Jay, Blackford, Randolph, Henry, Grant and Madison—and is the only YWCA in the state to accept mothers with sons over the age of 10.
Our goal is to see all our women re-enter society, employed, confident, capable. We Help. We Empower. We Encourage. We Lift. We Support. And, too often, even that is NOT enough.
Barnes Griffin also updated supporters about progress of a new location for YWCA, an historic building built in 1910. She announced a capital campaign Cabinet and co-chairs Wilisha Scaife and Juli Metzger.
Cabinet members are:
- Kat Blankenbaker, owner of With the Keys Realty.
- Cheena Burtner, Operations Manager, First Merchants Bank and YWCA Board member
- Mary Dollison, Founder, Motivate Our Minds.
- Dr. Karen Dowling, Executive Vice President and Chief Culture and People Officer, Indiana Wesleyan University.
- Tredina Fowlkes, Wealth Manager, First Merchants Corporation.
- Rebekah Hanna, Realtor and YWCA Board member
- Michele Hockwalt, Community North/Marketing Director, Madison County Community.
- Dr. Mia Johnson, Chancellor, Ivy Tech Community College, Anderson, and YWCA Board member
- Akira Jones, Community Member.
- Jennifer Mearns, First Lady, Ball State University.
- Annette Phillips, Community Development Director, Pathstone.
- Arlicia Robertson, Regional Vice President, Community Lending Loan Officer, Northwest Bank.
- Lorraine Tomlin, Executive Vice President, Commercial Services, PrimeTrust Credit Union.
- LaShanta Vaughn, President and CEO, Horizon Convention Center.
- Rhonda Ward, Assistant Director, Muncie Area Career Center, Muncie Community Schools.
- Dorica Watson, Director of Community Engagement, Open Door Health Services.
Scaife is a respected leader in community and family engagement. A professional learning specialist at Ball State University, Wilisha is deeply connected to those most affected by inequality and brings a powerful, grassroots perspective on building stability and opportunity for women and children. Wilisha is known for mobilizing communities, driving meaningful conversations, and inspiring action – especially around the needs of Black families and marginalized populations. She’s not afraid to ask for what’s needed, and she knows how to deliver results.
Metzger is a former journalist and journalism educator. A former Ball State University teacher, and newspaper editor and publisher before that, today she owns The JMetzger Group, a boutique communications agency. Juli chairs the Indiana Youth Institute, serving more than 6,000 youth-focused organizations across the state, and Project Leadership, a nonprofit breaking the cycle of poverty through education. A Muncie native, she’s spent years building relationships with philanthropic partners, corporations, and community leaders – and she understands how to turn shared goals into real, lasting impact.
“We’ve been told it’s our turn,” Barnes Griffin said. “We’ve been told to build a campaign different from any other. We’re eager to do this work.”
MuncieJournal.com file photo.
