Articles by Mike Rhodes

By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation— MUNCIE, IN— Ball Brothers Foundation, a family foundation committed to place-based grantmaking in Indiana for nearly a century, has awarded over $3 million in its spring round of grants for 2025. Among the funding awarded was a $75,000 grant that will significantly bolster public art efforts in Muncie—funding new installations, supporting long-term maintenance, and enhancing the city’s cultural landscape. The grant was awarded to The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. This funding builds on another grant made by Ball Brothers Foundation to The Community Foundation in late 2024, underscoring a growing…

By Missy Modesitt, Executive Director, Muncie BY5— MUNCIE, IN—Indiana’s early childhood care system is spiraling into chaos. From massive economic losses to unbearable burdens on families and providers, the situation is not only unsustainable—it’s indefensible. A recent report revealed the lack of reliable child care is costing Indiana more than $4.2 billion each year. These losses stem from working parents being forced to miss shifts, reduce hours, or quit their jobs entirely due to inconsistent or unaffordable care options. It’s not a theoretical problem—it’s happening in real time across the state. Nearly sixty percent of parents report missing work because…

By Molly Ford Flodder— MUNCIE, IN—Building on the success of a 50th anniversary Ice Cream Social last June and the current effort to raise money for a new outdoor basketball court,the Center is hosting a Scoops for Hoops event, set for Saturday, June 21, from 4-6 p.m. The event will offer free hotdogs, free ice cream sundaes, a raffle, and many activities for children and families. The staff hopes for more than the 300 who attended an ice cream social last year. Again, the location will be at the Center at 1110 W. 10th Street in Muncie. One of the…

By Theda Parker— MUNCIE, IN—JobSource is proud to announce the appointment of Ashley Soldaat as the new director of Muncie Scholar House. With deep roots in the Muncie community, extensive leadership experience, and a longstanding commitment to serving the region’s most vulnerable families, Soldaat brings a powerful vision and proven expertise to the role. “I am honored to step into the role of director at Muncie ScholarHouse,” said Soldaat. “Supporting vulnerable families has always been at the heart of my work, and I’m excited to continue that mission in a new way  by empowering student parents to achieve their educational…