Articles by Mike Rhodes

Michele Owen addresses participants in a IMPACT X Muncie class. Photo by Mike Martin

Non-Profit June 14, 2023

‘Growing Remarkable Opportunities With Women’ (G.R.O.W.) Seeks New Members

By Ro Selvey— MUNCIE, Ind. – Growing Remarkable Opportunities with Women (G.R.O.W.) is seeking to “grow” more members as it fulfills an important role of helping women entrepreneurs within the Muncie community thrive. The organization aims to help local small business owners find resources and connections to grow their businesses. Starting out of an Impact Economics class sponsored by the City of Muncie and hosted at Ball State University in 2022, two of the students in the class, Brittany Scott…

Read More
From left to right; top to bottom: Reese Baker, Grace Bond, Sharon Edwards, Maddie Etchison, Rayven Luzadder, Elijah Owens, Tom Sheahan, and Allie Wilhelm.

Education June 10, 2023

Community Foundation Announces More 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Editor’s note: This is another in a series of scholarship announcements you will see on MuncieJournal.com over the next few weeks. By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN—Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients— Reese Baker, a graduating senior from Wapahani High School, is a recipient of the eKeeper Systems Unparalleled Excellence Scholarship. Reese plans to study Computer and Information Technology (Systems Infrastructure) at Ball State University. She is the daughter of Anna and Eric Baker. Grace Bond, a rising senior studying Exceptional…

Photo provided by Ball State PBS.

Entertainment June 9, 2023

Be My Neighbor Day Returns June 10th to Downtown Muncie

By Michelle Kinsey—  MUNCIE, IN — Won’t you be our neighbor? Ball State PBS’s Be My Neighbor Day is returning to downtown Muncie! Join Daniel Tiger for an afternoon of free fun 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Canan Commons. The event will also include more than 20 booths (neighbors) offering hands-on activities – from sunflower planting to rock painting to puppet making – for the whole family. This will be the first in-person Be My Neighbor Day since 2019…

Photo provided

Entertainment June 8, 2023

Delaware County Master Gardeners Association Brings Back Popular Garden Walk

By Kyle Koger, Garden Walk Committee— MUNCIE, IN—After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Purdue Extension Master Gardeners of Delaware County are pleased to welcome garden enthusiasts from across the state to the 2023 Garden Walk. The event will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023. The walk/tour begins at 9 am and goes until 3pm. You can visit the gardens in any order. Take the time to stroll through six unique and exquisite private residential landscapes…

Photo provided by Ivy Tech

Education June 8, 2023

‘WorkMatters’ Initiative at Ivy Tech Explained

By Lesley Devoss— MUNCIE, IN— Ivy Tech Community College, local employers, and the problem-solving courts joined forces in 2021 to form WorkMatters, a collaborative initiative aimed at developing a talent pipeline of highly trained employees for Delaware and Henry County. The program has grown since its founding, developing into a multifaceted program that provides support to more than justice-involved individuals. This multifaceted program focuses on supporting underrepresented groups including justice-involved, justice-impacted, and non-traditional students. The program supports students with credit…

Photo provided by Ball State University

Education June 7, 2023

Ball State Wins National Excellence in Community Engagement Institutional Leadership Award 

By Michelle Kinsey— MUNCIE, IN– Ball State University has been selected as the winner of the 2022 Ryan, Moser, Reilly Award for Excellence in Community Engagement Institutional Leadership award by the Engaged Scholarship Consortium (ESC) Awards Committee.   ESC awards recognize higher education institutions and their exemplary contributions to scholarship and the practice of community engaged scholarship.   “It’s an honor to be chosen by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium Awards Committee for this recognition,” said Kelli Huth, associate vice president for Community…

Business, Government June 6, 2023

New Holiday Inn to Bring 50+ Jobs

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—On Thursday, May 25th, a new 105 room hotel was approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals. This was the final step to bring a new Holiday Inn Express & Suites to Muncie, located on Hometown Boulevard, near the Greg Hubler Hyundai dealership. A 2020 hotel study showed that Muncie could support at least three new hotels. “There’s definitely a need,” commented Mayor Ridenour. “There are so many conventions and events hosted in Muncie, and our…

Volunteers continue work on the 'More Love' mural on south Walnut street. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit June 5, 2023

‘More Love’ Mural Currently Being Painted On Future Choices Building in South Muncie

By Barbara Schafer— MUNCIE, IN—The 8twelve Coalition and MuncieArts are proud to announce a public arts project in south Muncie—a mural to be painted on the Future Choices building located at 905 S. Walnut St. The project is the result of the collaboration between the Coalition, Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MuncieArts), South Central Neighborhood Association, and Future Choices. Through resident engagement in the South Central Neighborhood, the mural “MORE LOVE” was created by Chris Silva. Chris Silva’s creative pursuits are…

The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $340,000 in Community Grants during the second quarter of 2023, including a $25,000 grant to Project Leadership to support the cost of operations. A similar grant last year supported programs, including Scholar Success Program labs at Muncie Central, pictured.

Non-Profit June 5, 2023

$340K Awarded to Community Organizations

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN – The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $340,000 in Community Grants this month. Beginning in 2023, The Community Foundation shifted to a Community Grants program. Nonprofit organizations have a wide-open door for applications instead of separate applications for multiple grants programs through the Foundation. Organizations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to connect with Foundation staff. The flexibility of Community Grants allows the Foundation’s Program and Nonprofit Relations team to develop…

From left to right; top to bottom: Gannon Crosser, Tynan Dishman, Camryn Eldridge, Julia Hodes, Mason Lynn, Riley Powers, Evan Reed, and Kenzie Stark.

Education June 5, 2023

More Community Foundation 2023 Scholarship Recipients Announced

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN—Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients – Gannon Crosser, a senior at Yorktown High School, is a recipient of the Yorktown Lions Club Scholarship and Jim Leffler Memorial Scholarship. Gannon plans to study Exploratory Studies at Indiana University. He is the son of Lynn and Christopher Crosser. Tynan Dishman, a junior nursing student at Ball State University, is a recipient of the Patricia K. and Franklyn D. Brinkman, Sr. Nursing Scholarship. Camryn Eldridge, a freshman agricultural…