Articles by Mike Rhodes

Playable STEAM-Themed Street Pianos To Be On Display Throughout Muncie

Non-Profit July 30, 2019

Playable STEAM-Themed Street Pianos To Be On Display Throughout Muncie

By: Emily Helms, Project Organizer, Resonate by MADJAX— Muncie, IN—Local residents will have the chance to create music and memories with street pianos this summer and early fall. The five pianos were painted by local artists and will be displayed outdoors in various locations throughout Muncie. Madjax, a makerspace and community hub for innovation, collaboration, and design, is overseeing the project. The idea for the project originated with and is being organized by Emily Helms, a Madjax member who frequently noticed visitors to the building playing a member-donated piano. “I saw an opportunity for our makers to collaborate and to bring what…

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What Can Muncie’s Innovation Connector Do For Business Ideators?

Business July 29, 2019

What Can Muncie’s Innovation Connector Do For Business Ideators?

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, Indiana—Are you an innovator? An idea generator? Do you think BIG? Are you a dreamer? If so, then you probably have a little bit of entrepreneur in you— natural skills and abilities that make you a person that thinks “Why not?” instead of “Why?” Some people can answer those “Why not?” questions all on their own and simply start blazing their own trail with great success. For others, the road to fully realizing an entrepreneurial idea/venture can be fraught with uncertainty, fear, and a lack of focus. And that’s OK, because it’s fairly commonplace to “wander around…

John Carlson: A Model Upbringing

Carlson July 27, 2019

John Carlson: A Model Upbringing

By: John Carlson— As a person known for being an energetic “go-getter,” I have very little spare time. OK, that’s not true. Actually, as a non-energetic retiree pretty much known for being a human lump, about 99.9 percent of my time is spare. But sometimes, when I am looking to fill that time with something besides recounting the lines between the bricks in our fireplace, I consider building a plastic model airplane. Then I hesitate. Is model-building even a thing anymore? About everything else we once held near and dear seems to have been flushed down life’s commode. Models? In…

United Way Tweaks Plans for ‘Listen and Learn’ Session with CEO of Muncie Community Schools

Education, Non-Profit July 26, 2019

United Way Tweaks Plans for ‘Listen and Learn’ Session with CEO of Muncie Community Schools

By: Jenni Marsh, President & CEO, United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties— Muncie, IN—United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties is retooling the July 29th open to the public Listen and Learn session about Muncie Community Schools. Originally, the event had been capped at a very small number to hold a kitchen table conversation about families’ hopes for Muncie Community Schools. “When Director of Public Education and CEO of Muncie Community Schools Lee Ann Kwiatkowski was able to attend that conversation, understandably, more people wanted to attend so they could meet her,” explained United Way President & CEO Jenni…

White River Canal District Development Meeting To Be Held July 30th

Business July 25, 2019

White River Canal District Development Meeting To Be Held July 30th

By: Muncie Downtown Development Partnership— Muncie, IN—There will be a meeting held on Tuesday, July 30th to present information on the proposed Riverfront Phase I Housing and Public Space. This meeting is open to the public and attendees will have an opportunity to meet the developers, WS Property Group. http://www.wspropertygroup.com/ The meeting will be held at the Horizon Convention Center, 401 S High Street, at 4:30 pm in the Prairie Creek Room.   Click here to view a flyer about the development.

JD McPherson and Jennie Devoe To Perform at Free Concert At Canan Commons

Entertainment July 25, 2019

JD McPherson and Jennie Devoe To Perform at Free Concert At Canan Commons

By: Rick Zeigler— Muncie, IN– Acclaimed roots-rocker JD McPherson will be performing in a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2019 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. The concert will take place at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 3rd at Canan Commons (500 S. Walnut St.) in the heart of downtown Muncie, IN. Muncie’s own Jennie Devoe will open the show. Known for his highly resonant voice and vintage-inspired sound that nods to ’40s R&B and ’50s rock & roll, JD McPherson has cut a distinctive path on the roots and Americana scenes. McPherson initially broke through with his propulsive 2010…

Yorktown’s ‘Four for the Fourth’ Brings In ,000 For Trail Expansion

Government July 24, 2019

Yorktown’s ‘Four for the Fourth’ Brings In $25,000 For Trail Expansion

By: Pete Olson, Town Manager—  Yorktown, IN— Yorktown’s trail system will see additional updates, thanks to a donation from Four for the Fourth. The committee for the annual four-mile run announced at Monday’s Town Council meeting that this year’s event supported a $25,000 donation to the town. The money will go toward expanding the River Road trail 1,000 feet from where it currently ends to the Woodland Trails neighborhood. “This is a very proud moment for us and a huge win for everyone involved,” Four for the Fourth said on its Facebook page. Four for the Fourth began nine years…

US Department of Labor Announces Grant Program To Support Women Affected by Opioids

Government July 24, 2019

US Department of Labor Announces Grant Program To Support Women Affected by Opioids

By: Rhonda Burke, Deputy Director of Public Affairs— WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new grant program to help women affected by the opioid crisis re-enter the workforce. The Re-Employment, Support, and Training for the Opioid Related Epidemic (RESTORE) grant will award $2.5 million to organizations that assist in providing coordinated, employment-focused services to women. The RESTORE program will provide approximately four to eight grants to governments of states and outlying areas, Indian/Native American Tribal governments or organizations, state or local workforce development boards, or nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, including community-based or faith-based organizations. The recipients…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie Hires Director of Programs

Non-Profit July 24, 2019

Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie Hires Director of Programs

By: Amy Logan— Muncie, IN—The Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie would like to welcome Mark White as the Director of Programs. Plan to join White and other Club staff at a Meet & Greet Open House on August 27th at 5 p.m. This event will be held at the Madison St location, 1710 South Madison St. White will work closely with current BGC staff to oversee the youth programming at the Club. In addition, he will train and mentor new staff member to ensure the current and future Club Kids have positive interactions and experiences at the Club. As a…

Deadline Approaching for 2019 Fisher Governance Award Nominations

Non-Profit July 23, 2019

Deadline Approaching for 2019 Fisher Governance Award Nominations

By: Jud Fisher— Muncie, IN — Ball Brothers Foundation is accepting nominations for its annual John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award, which recognizes and honors the efforts of a board member of a Delaware County non-profit organization. The deadline to nominate someone is 4 p.m. August 15. “Board members play an important role in non-profits and, thus, our communities,” said Jud Fisher, president and COO of Ball Brothers Foundation. “This award is uniquely designed to honor one person’s strategic contributions to the success of their organization’s mission, financial stability and effectiveness.” The winner of the Fisher Governance Award…