Non-Profit

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…

By WaTasha Barnes Griffin, CEO, YWCA Central Indiana— MUNCIE, IN—YWCA Central Indiana has been recognized by PathStone Corporation for its outstanding partnership, ongoing contributions, and unwavering support of shared community goals. During the Annual Partnership Luncheon hosted by PathStone, YWCA was presented with a special honor acknowledging its leadership in advancing equity, empowering women, and families, and helping build stronger, more resilient communities in Central Indiana. PathStone Corporation, a national nonprofit dedicated to community development and self-sufficiency for underserved populations, commended YWCA Central Indiana for its collaborative spirit and commitment to addressing housing insecurity, workforce development, and the needs of women…

Title is ‘Facing Middletown’ Middletown, USA 100 Years Muncie, Indiana in 2025 By Aimee West— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie, Indiana, also known by researchers across the United States as Middletown, USA, has served as a national bellwether for American hometowns and small city life. In the spirit of embracing this identity and responsibility that comes with recording accurate and unvarnished histories representing everyday life in small cities across the United States, The Facing Project, Center for Middletown Studies, and community partners invite the people of Muncie, Indiana and those who wish to learn from them, to participate in the 100-year mile marker…

By Lisa Kemp— MUNCIE, IN—The Paul Revere Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 DAR Good Citizen Award. The prestigious honor recognizes outstanding students who exemplify the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. This year’s winners include Avrum Horsley from Cowan Junior Senior High School, Hailie Woodring from Delta High School, Jonah Smith from Muncie Central High School, Shelby Brannon from Wapahani High School, Piper Ann Stewart from Wes-Del Jr. Sr. High School, and Brycen Shively from Yorktown High School. Each year, local school administrators select a student…

By Dottie Kreps, Muncie Public Library— MUNCIE, IN — The Muncie Public Library (MPL) is proud to announce its inaugural “Live Well, Age Well Retirement Fair,” a free community event designed for adults aged 50 and older. The fair will be held on Monday, June 2, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Maring-Hunt Library. Although the thought of retirement can be exciting for many, others may dread the thought of having so much free time. This event aims to help attendees make the most of their retirement years by connecting them with more than a dozen local organizations focused on…

By Vicki Veach, Executive Director, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership— MUNCIE, IN — A revitalization project in downtown Muncie has officially been completed, highlighting a collaborative effort between the City of Muncie, the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, and Community Enhancement Projects (CEP). Finalized on May 22, 2025, the initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the city’s urban core. The project was designed to enhance public spaces, support local businesses, and attract further investment, representing a significant improvement in downtown development. “This is what progress looks like when people work together,” said Mayor Dan Ridenour. “This collaboration brings…

By Heather Williams— MUNCIE, IN—Since 2010, Muncie Action Plan (MAP) has been supporting neighborhood leaders through its Neighborhood Leadership Council. In October 2023, MAP expanded this commitment by launching a new initiative—thanks to a generous grant from CenterPoint Energy—to train emerging leaders in grassroots advocacy. This initiative, the CenterPoint Scholars Program, offers a year-long leadership development experience focused on building skills that directly impact Muncie’s neighborhoods. The program began with a competitive application process in January, and the second cohort of Scholars was officially introduced at the March 2025 IDEA Conference. In April, the  Scholars participated in a weekend retreat…

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $455,550 in Community Grants this week. Community Grants provide nonprofit organizations serving Muncie and Delaware County the opportunity to apply for funding to support their work. Grants are awarded to address the broad needs of Muncie and Delaware County. Organizations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to connect with the Foundation’s Program and Nonprofit Relations team. Through these conversations, Foundation staff and volunteers develop a deeper understanding of the needs within the community, identify resources and support beyond grantmaking, and provide nonprofits more time to focus…

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County has announced that Michael Lunsford received the 2025 David Sursa Leadership Award to recognize his dedicated service to the YMCA of Muncie. The YMCA of Muncie nominated Mike Lunsford in recognition of his exceptional leadership and service to the Muncie community. As a former board member, Mike’s visionary leadership, steadfast commitment, and passion for community development left a lasting mark on the YMCA. Mike has also served many other organizations across the community with transformational impact, including The Community Foundation, for decades. Mike served on the YMCA of…