Positivity

By Rigel Jackson— MUNCIE, Ind.—Photographing 40 women, 40 years of age and over, is not a new idea in the portrait photography world. However, I wanted to do MY version of it in a way that is meaningful to me and congruent with who I am, and what I believe— that all women are valuable and beautiful, strong and resilient, with so much potential for good and incredible power to change their world. Empowered Portraits was the result. My intention is to empower women to be who they are, right now. I want women to celebrate themselves and how far…

Editor’s Note: Today Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb issued a proclamation celebrating Juneteenth as an opportunity to reflect, rejoice and plan for a brighter future. By: Paul Brown— Today is Juneteenth—a holiday of which far too many of us are unaware. This celebration of freedom (the name is short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day in 1865 that news of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation reached slaves in Texas. In a couple weeks we’ll celebrate America’s Independence Day, but Juneteenth stands as a reminder for us that freedom did not come to all on America’s soil on July 4, 1776. We should all…

By: Meridian Health Services— Muncie, IN—Philanthropic endeavors have leaders who believe in the cause and champion for it!  For a decade, Charlie Sursa and Fred Reese have been particularly instrumental in Meridian’s philanthropic efforts and are being recognized as recipients of Meridian’s 2019 Spirit of Meridian Award. Philanthropy means the love of humanity—it is the pulse of not-for-profit organizations such as Meridian Health Services. Through the passion and dedication of Sursa, Reese and Meridian’s board and staff, Meridian has grown and expanded its services to communities offering “whole-person” healthcare through the integration of physical, behavioral and social services. Charlie Sursa and…

By: Nancy Carlson— Muncie, IN—Riverside/Normal City Neighborhood Association (RNC), in partnership with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, held an event called LAUNDRY LOVE this past weekend. With a grant from Thrivent, the partners provided a $10 roll of quarters to the first 25 families who came into the White Spot Coin Laundromat, the only one in the neighborhood. Brian Schrieve, the White Spot’s owner, said “Clean clothes are like a new haircut. They make you feel good about yourself.” Sixty percent of RNC’s population are renters, not home-owners. Many renters aren’t provided laundry equipment in their houses and apartment buildings, so…

By: Paul Ward, Spiritual Life Coordinator, Youth Opportunity Center— Muncie, IN—The signs of Easter are everywhere. Stores are covered in pastel colored designs. Chocolate eggs are on every shelf. Churches are practicing Easter plays. Lilies and daffodils will soon be in bloom. Even though the date of Easter changes, we never seem to miss it. There’s one sign that many of us don’t think about or even know about. Forty-six days before Easter, there will be an unmistakable sign. Many people will be walking around town with dark smudges on their foreheads. If you look carefully, you’ll see that the…

By: Zack Wallens— NEW YORK – The World Jewish Congress and Chelsea Football Club (Chelsea FC) on Thursday held the final competition in the US portion of a global campaign to combat widespread racism, anti-semitism and xenophobia in sports. Former Muncie resident Seren Fryatt, was named as the winner, receiving a $10,000 grant from Chelsea FC and the WJC to turn her dream into reality. The Pitch for Hope competition called on young people ages 18-30 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel to propose creative ideas for an initiative to harness the spirit of comradery in sports…