Community Connection

A Christmas Eve party. A missing ring. A down-on-his-luck private eye. It's a combination that has all the makings of a perfect mystery. Or should we say, “Chris-Mystery?” As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you IPR's production of A Chris-Mystery, IPR's radio drama broadcast live on Friday, Dec. 16, from Sursa Performance Hall at Ball State University. Written by local Radio Drama veteran Michael Kleeberg and produced by Jennifer Blackmer, with direction from David Little and musical direction from Michael Elliott, A Chris-Mystery is sponsored by Michelle Walker Thrivent Financial and The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory.

As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you IPR's production of This American Carol, our radio drama broadcast on Friday, Dec. 17, live from Sursa Performance Hall. This American Carol is a contemporary comedy mashup of A Christmas Carol and The Office, as told in the style of NPR's This American Life.  The new production is written for IPR by award-winning playwright, screenwriter and professor of theatre at Ball State University, Dr. Jennifer Blackmer. The main character is Carol, a successful branch manager who has a misguided idea of what celebrating the holidays at work actually means.  Carol, who wants things done in a very specific way, won't listen to anyone's input and, after a fit of epic proportions (her staff literally fear for their jobs), she decides to cancel the party. The next day, three mysterious meetings pop up on Carol's Outlook calendar (ghosts) who come along to teach Carol that respecting your coworkers and listening to them not only makes for a good team, but they can also become the family you need but never had.

Indiana Public Radio aired a live re-enactment of Orson Welles' famous "War of the Worlds" broadcast on the show's 70th anniversary in 2008. The IPR radio drama has since become an annual holiday tradition at Ball State University, growing over the years as a unique collaboration among community members, Ball State faculty, and Ball State students. "Comfort and Joy, An IPR Radio Drama Retrospective" reveals the process of creating this local holiday tradition and explores why storytelling in this format - "theater of the mind" - has found such an enthusiastic audience in today's fast-paced world.

Community Connection is proud to bring this special broadcast online. IPR's flagship station, WBST 92.1 FM, Muncie, celebrates 60 years on the air through a look back at the station's rich broadcasting history. This special broadcast includes audio from WBST's 50th Anniversary Show, produced by Brian Eckstein and broadcast on September 12, 2010, which in turn featured audio from WBST's 30th Anniversary Radio Program, produced by Dan Skinner and broadcast on September 12th, 1990. Host and producer Sean Ashcraft guides us through these past 60 years with a local programming update focusing on the last decade of Indiana Public Radio. New material for this special broadcast was written by Michelle Kinsey.

Michelle is joined by three Master Gardeners this month to talk about all that’s in store for the Delaware County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA) and their 30th anniversary this year. Founded in 1990, the Delaware County group is part of the original Master Gardener program created in 1972 in Seattle, Washington. The goal of DCMGA is to promote and teach good gardening and horticulture practices in cooperation with the Purdue University Extension Services, and membership is open to anyone who has successfully completed the Master Gardener Basic Training class and certification. 

Dorica Watson joins us this month for a chat about Second Harvest Food Bank's poverty elimination program, Forward S.T.E.P.S.. The acronym stands for "Support Transforming Empowerment Pathways to Sustainability," and this initiative is a relationship-based program in which social service agencies, businesses, and community members come together to support ALICE ("Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed") and other under-resourced individuals working to access their full potential. We also learn about an interesting educational experience program offered by the group that seeks to raise empathy and understanding about living in poverty.  To learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank itself, check out our recent episode featuring the group! 

YWCA of Central Indiana's CEO Watasha Barnes Griffin joins Michelle for a look-ahead discussion on the new year for the Muncie-based chapter of YWCA. The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, dignity and freedom for all. Their vision is that every woman in East Central Indiana has access to the resources needed to better themselves and the lives of those around them. In this episode, we hear all about how the Central Indiana chapter achieves that mission and how we can all help out.

As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you IPR's production of "Christmas Gifts”, our radio drama broadcast on Friday, Dec. 13, live from Sursa Performance Hall. Matthew Reeder directs a cast of local talent in a live performance of this story adapted by David Little. "Christmas Gifts" brings two O. Henry stories to life. "Gift of the Magi" and "The Last Leaf" are intertwined to tell a holiday story that spans generations and recreates the magic of old-time live radio programs with community actors, musicians, and foley sound effects.

Michelle speaks with Steven Knipp about the upcoming Muncie Pride event set for September 19th, 2020, at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie. The goal of Muncie Pride is to support social, educational and other activities for the LGBTQ community in Muncie and the surrounding area. They work closely with Muncie OUTreach which provide programming for LGBTQ youth. You can hear our recent conversation with that organization here.

November is a very busy month for Feed My Sheep, a Muncie group that feeds hundreds of area residents through served meals and delivery to homes on Thanksgiving Day. Michelle speaks with Steve Case about the groups plans for this year. In 1996, founders George and Teresa Huggins answered a heartfelt call to reach out to others and start an outreach that would fill a void for the lonely and less fortunate, while reaching across lines and uniting the Muncie community. Joined by a host of gracious, loving, and giving donors and volunteers, the Harvest Celebration Thanksgiving Day Dinner has grown to become a tremendous expression of the generous “spirit of community” very much alive in Muncie.

Michelle speaks with C.S. and Diane from Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana this month. Founded in 1983, Second Harvest is a non-profit organization funded by philanthropic and community support and is devoted to feeding the hungry, advocating for those with food insecurity, and providing nutrition education. They fight hunger by working with partner agencies, local schools, corporate partners, and a wide network of volunteers to serve hundreds of people each week. They are a member of Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. We last heard from Second Harvest back in 2014. Listen in to learn new ways you can get involved! 

Michelle speaks with a board member and the president of Interlock ECI, the local organization whose mission is to assist and educate families in East Central Indiana living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and to assist local special education classrooms to accommodate needs of students with autism spectrum disorders. We learn all about their family-friendly support groups, helpful resources, sensory-friendly events, and many partnerships that have made this all volunteer-run group a success.

It's a conversation with Mid-Indiana Trails (MINT) this month: our a local chapter of the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). The chapter covers east central Indiana, including the cities of Muncie, Anderson, Winchester, and New Castle. Their goal is to provide a local voice for trail users and bring the full resources of IMBA to our area. The chapter's current project is the Prairie Creek Trails Project located on the Southeast corner of Prairie Creek Reservoir in Delaware County. In this episode, we learn about their progress so far, their goals for the project, and how folks can get involved at either the Prairie Creek Trails Project Facebook page or the MINT Facebook page.

Yes We Care! Reading Everywhere! is a summer reading partnership that features pop-up reading sessions out in the community to inspire the public to read more. Motivate Our Minds, Muncie Public Libraries, Muncie & Delaware County BY5, and the Whitely Community Council all partnered together to bring this initiative to life. Times and dates for future reading sessions are posted to the Muncie Public Library’s website.

This month, we chat with the creator of the Muncie Three Trails Music Series, Rick Zeigler, about why the series we created, who is featured this year, and how the public can help out. The Muncie Three Trails Music Series seeks to bring critically acclaimed, national recording artists to Canan Commons, Muncie’s outdoor performance venue, located in the heart of Downtown. All concerts are free to the public. The series also promotes the many recreational, artistic, and cultural attractions located along, or in close proximity to, Canan Commons and Muncie’s popular “Three Trails” — The White River Greenway, The Cardinal Greenway, and The Muncie Arts & Culture Trail.

Michelle gets an update from the Alpha Center this month: the nonprofit adult day services organization that was established in 1978 to provide services in Delaware County and surrounding areas for individuals age 60 and over with cognitive and physical disabilities. Their mission is to provide services five days a week for older adults in a safe, stimulating, and structured environment. Susie Kemp talks about two new initiatives with the Alpha Center, just in time for Older American’s Month. First is their participation in the Vial of Life Project: a project dedicated to providing critical information for first-responders. And second is their development of a Villages initiative which helps connect neighbors seeking to help their neighbors. They are currently seeking volunteer inquiries and are looking to form a steering committee in the near future.

We catch up with Bob Ball, Executive Director of Inside Out, to learn more about their Fresh Directions program that teams with community organizations who serve a vulnerable demographic to provide food insecure children with nutritious meals and wholesome snacks. The Inside Out Community Development Corporation is located in Muncie, and their mission is to empower vulnerable people at the community’s core by providing job and life skill development as a means of transforming community. In other words, they believe personal and community growth comes from the inside out.

Michelle speaks with Marissa Rose from Muncie BY5 about their network of Family Navigators. BY5 is an organization for early childhood awareness in Muncie and Delaware County. Through a variety of task force and volunteer efforts, they seek to improve opportunities for children aged 0-5 to reach their developmental potential. BY5’s Family Navigators have access to up-to-date resources in order to support families in Delaware County. They work to establish a “No Wrong Door” policy for families in this community. More information about becoming a Family Navigator is available by reaching out to BY5.

Michelle talks with Annette Craycraft, the executive director of the East Central Indiana CASA program that serves Madison and Hancock counties. Annette shares some updated numbers since the last time we spoke with her in 2013, and we learn more about what it’s like to volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children. East Central Indiana CASA recruits, trains and supports CASA volunteers as advocates to get to know the abused or neglected child and determine their needs and what is in the child’s best interest for their future. The CASA volunteer communicates this information about the child to the court so the child’s voice can be heard and so the child does not become “lost” in the system. East Central Indiana CASA is also a member of the National CASA Association, where last year, more than 76,000 CASA and guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteers nationwide helped more than 251,000 abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes.

Jacqueline Hanoman, Executive Director, shares some updates about the Ross Community Center as well as some history and perspective. The mission of the Ross Community Center is to build community and lessen neighborhood tensions by providing and promoting programs, services, and activities for the advancement of education, health, and wellness in our diverse community. They connect people through harnessing the energy of their members and volunteers, broadening and developing deeper participation at the Ross Center and Muncie community.

Something a little different from the normal here, Community Connection is proud to bring you IPR’s production of an original piece by Michael Kleeberg, “A Few Houses Down”, performed live on Friday, Dec. 14, on-air and before an audience in Sursa Performance Hall on the Ball State campus. Kleeberg is an assistant professor of English at Ivy Tech Community College. His new radio drama, “A Few Houses Down” tells the story of two families brought together by Grandpa, who imagines himself to be all of the characters in a classic holiday novel. Directed by Matthew Reeder, assistant professor of directing and Shakespeare at Ball State. This performance features community actors, authentic sound effects (produced by a foley artist on stage) and a live ensemble of musicians.

The mission of the Madison County Local Food Network is to create a more vibrant community that provides equitable access to healthy, affordable, and nutritious foods to all Madison County residents. They aim to do this by promoting and providing information and education about local foods; advocating for and advising on policies and best practices that strengthen quality and equality in our local food system; and developing collaborative partnerships and relationships among all food system sectors.  Newly established in 2018 with plans to expand their organizational structure in 2019, the Madison County Local Food Network is hosting the Madison County Local Food Summit on January 17th in Anderson. More information can be found at their Facebook event page or their Eventbrite page.

Tips for Turkey is a local group that goes out into the community a few days before Thanksgiving and finds unsuspecting shoppers in local grocery stores that they think may be able to benefit from acts of goodwill and kindness. It’s all about changing peoples lives and spreading the love in hopes that they, at some point, will be able to do the same for other families in need. Last year, the group raised enough money to take care of over 151 households in Muncie. They have helped out 276 households in the past four years total. This year’s event is Saturday, November 17th, at The Fickle Peach in Muncie. Raffles and silent auctions from local artists and businesses will be used the day before Thanksgiving for their random acts of kindness. More information may be found by contacting the group’s founder, Derek, through the event page on Facebook.

Sponsored by Red-tail Land Conservancy and Ball State University, the Wildlife Warriors is a nature club for kids age 10-15. The club explores nature with experts in field biology and conservation. Monthly topics include searching for salamanders, birds & binoculars, archery, orienteering, insects & butterflies, fish & river ecology, and trees of our forests. They talk about environmental issues, and kids take part in real conservation work to impact nature in their community. This episode also features two special guests, Petunia and Chocolate: two rescued big brown bats native to our area. They’ve joined us in the studio to “talk” about the Wildlife Warriors’ upcoming Pulling for Bats! event in October.

Long-time listeners may remember our 2015 feature of this organization. In this episode, we learn about their majorly successful year in 2017 and other developments to this popular local service for teachers. The Back to School Teachers Store is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that procures and distributes quality classroom supplies at no cost to local kids in need through our community’s teachers and schools. A free teacher store offers qualifying teachers a place to shop for core classroom supplies such as pencils, dry erase markers, paper and glue at no cost, instead of worrying about having enough for the next class activity. Their organization is built on the generosity and commitment of individuals, businesses and partners who understand the importance of giving back. They also partner with a national network of forty resource centers through the Kids In Need Foundation who donates school supplies to them.

You may have heard about the Roy C. Buley Center – a cornerstone of the Whitely neighborhood since 1974 that offers recreational and educational programs in Muncie. We featured the center back in 2014 on our show, and this month, we’re excited to give you an update about their recent merger with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie Roy C. Buley Unit offers after-school programs to their members in kindergarten through fifth grade who attend West View, Longfellow and North View elementary schools. Their mission is to encourage their members to be educated, be healthy and be leaders through their programs, which include homework help, Project Learn, Indiana Kids, STEM & more.

Across the United States, communities are using traffic signal control boxes to develop attractive, vibrant places that reflect the culture of the area and engage the community with the public environment. Muncie Arts & Culture Council has partnered with the City of Muncie and Mayor Dennis Tyler to bring this popular public art movement to the city with Box! Box! MACC hopes to encourage bold designs and promote community engagement with a streamlined process that artists and groups can easily navigate from application to completion. MACC will provide a modest artist and supply stipend, install the vinyl wayfinding ribbon, and complete both the priming and final anti-graffiti clear coat for each of the completed project locations, 6 of which have already been prioritized for the 2018 pilot program. More information about the project and application process is available here.

Children’s Bureau, Inc. is a private nonprofit that has served children and families since 1851. Guided by their vision of a healthy family for every child, highly-trained case managers identify and address issues that tear families apart. Children’s Bureau is built on the belief that giving kids the chance to succeed creates stronger communities. They typically serve more than 40,000 children in over 20,000 families each year.

The Cornfed Derby Dames (CFDD) are Muncie’s premiere all women flat track roller derby league. Founded in 2010, the CFDD hope to bring together and empower women of all body types, race, age, and religion. It is their goal to make women’s roller derby a positive and lasting addition to the Muncie community. CFDD donates a portion of proceeds from all home bouts to organizations making a difference in our community and welcome skaters at all skill levels, from beginners to advanced.

The mission of Raise the Bar Indiana is to empower communities and alcohol serving establishments to create safer spaces for all. Raise the Bar certifies facilitators to train employees of alcohol serving establishments how to recognize the signs of potential sexual assault. They then equip the employees with tools, resources, and knowledge to intervene safely. Their goal is to create a statewide network of Raise the Bar Indiana certified establishments who have made a commitment to make their bars safer for their patrons and to work towards reducing sexual assault in their communities.

The Madison County chapter of Habitat for Humanity was established in 1988 and seeks to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope. A major goal for Habitat is to build a home that has a monthly mortgage payment around 30% of a family’s income so that they can have a nice home and the funds needed to thrive in today’s economy. One major source of funding for building projects and operations is through their ReSale Store located at 440 Main Street in Chesterfield.

Food Not Bombs is an international movement with hundreds of autonomous chapters sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people. The local Muncie chapter is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to nonviolent social change and recovers food that would otherwise be thrown out, making fresh, hot vegan and vegetarian meals that are served in public spaces to anyone without restriction.

Home Savers of Delaware County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that makes emergency home repairs and accessibility improvements for low- to moderate-income homeowners. They use volunteers whenever possible for office support and construction projects, and they hire contractors for roof replacement and for all work requiring professional license, such as electrical, plumbing and furnace repair. Home Savers uses teams of volunteers to build wheelchair ramps, providing opportunities for churches, businesses, neighborhood associations and other civic-minded groups to participate in “hands-on” projects that make a huge difference in the quality of life for our neighbors.

Much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to reduce drunk driving, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to demand action from legislators, state and federal; companies; and educational institutions to establish common-sense gun reforms. Founded by stay-at-home mom Shannon Watts in response to the devastating shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the organization quickly flourished into a leading force for gun violence prevention, with chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network of moms that has successfully effected change at the local, state and national level. This month's feature focuses on the local chapter of the organization.

Everyday Life in Middletown is a multi-media examination of ordinary life in Muncie, Indiana, led by the Center for Middletown Studies, whose mission is to build on the scholarship inaugurated by Robert S. and Helen Merrell Lynd in their landmark studies Middletown (1929) and Middletown in Transition (1937). These in-depth accounts of life in Muncie, Indiana, became classic sociological studies and established the community as a barometer of social trends in the United States. An earlier version of the Everyday Life in Middletown project was sponsored by the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry and the Center for Middletown Studies. The results from that seminar may be explored at this project page. The upcoming Everyday Life in Middletown project is gathering the many voices of Muncie to create a true representation of life in the city and seeks to create a rich historical archive that will be accessible to researchers and neighbors alike. The project is looking for participants, preferably by its next “diary day” on November 15th, 2017. Interested individuals may view this document for more information and contact project director Pat Collier, whose contact information is at the bottom of the document (a PDF viewer is required).

The Soup Kitchen of Muncie is a not-for-profit kitchen that serves those in need of food in Muncie and the Delaware County community. They seek to serve all who are hungry with dignity and respect, serving guests a hot meal and a sack dinner. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM.

Muncie OUTreach’s mission is to provide an accepting environment to enhance the personal growth of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth in the Delaware County area. They advocate for community awareness and acceptance of young people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. They provide a safe and positive environment for attendees to learn more about themselves through peer interaction and educational experiences. The organization creates opportunities for emotional growth and community awareness through workshops, volunteerism, and social events.

Pies for Peace is a group in Delaware county who seek to promote unity in area through unique community events. These themed events often bring together a number of local non-profit organizations and community leaders, focusing on positive commonalities, and using food as a spark for conversation. They aim to promote peace and a meaningful future for the community, and they seek to foster understanding and acceptance of all people regardless of perceived social groups. This episode focuses on their upcoming September 9th event at Canan Commons in Muncie.

Providing more than just a trail, Cardinal Greenways is a private, not-for-profit organization that encompasses the Cardinal Greenway, White River Greenway, Historic Wysor Street Depot and Cardinal Equestrian Trail. It is the longest rail-trail in Indiana and spans 62 miles from Marion through Muncie to Richmond in East Central Indiana. The organization is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of the region by developing and operating the trail system to connect people and communities, and it also provides a number of events and educational programs throughout the year.

We’re Trying Collective is a collective of four artists who seek to improve the community of Muncie through public art projects. Named after a slogan that caught the attention of the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, We’re Trying Collective is currently working on a large mural for the blank side of the Mark III Tap Room’s building in downtown Muncie.

Motivate Our Minds offers thriving educational programs on a thriving campus in Muncie. They provide year-round academic achievement and enrichment programs focused on empowering the next generation of educators, innovators, and leaders. In this month’s show, we hear from executive director Monique Armstrong talking about the group and its upcoming opportunities.

A group of volunteers recently started the Muncie TimeBank, and this month, we’ll learn about the concept of a Time Bank and hear about the local group’s efforts in Delaware County. Time Banks operate by having members offer their services to other members, thereby earning Time Credits for themselves.  Each hour doing something for others earns one hour of Time Credit.  That credit can then be traded for any other service offered in the Time Bank network.

The Alpha Center is a non-profit adult day services organization established in 1978. They provide services in Delaware County and surrounding areas for individuals age 60 and over with cognitive and physical disabilities. Their safe, stimulating and structured environment offers activities based on the client’s interest, skills and background as well as their physical, mental and cognitive impairments. They seek to give these persons a level of independence so that they have the ability to remain in their own homes and maintain self-sufficiency.

The Muncie Unity Center is a community center that seeks to unify the city’s communities by enhancing the quality of life for all of its residents in a safe, comfortable and supportive environment with cultural, educational, recreational and spiritual experiences and development of life skills, values, health and well-being. In addition to providing a wide variety of its own programs and initiatives, the Unity Center also provides space for other organizations’ events and collaborative efforts. Contact, rental and more information may be found at the center’s Facebook page.

Edible Muncie of Delaware County Inc. works to eliminate hunger in Muncie and Delaware County by gathering, organizing and advocating for the wise use of resources to assist those in need.  Edible Muncie supports and communicates with existing food programs and other community organizations to develop new programs until all in our community are EMpowered to secure the food needed to be healthy. Edible Muncie seeks to create a unified effort to tackle hunger and food insecurities throughout Muncie and Delaware County in Indiana. They are a certified 501 (c)3 non-profit. They’ve produced a short documentary that tells the story of the transportation problems some face with their day-to-day food needs, featuring those directly in need of a better long-term solution. You can view this video here.

The Whitely Community Food Pantry seeks to provide food insecurity relief for residents of the Muncie East-side neighborhood of Whitely. Currently, the Whitely community is a food desert. There are no available grocery stores in or near the community. The establishment and maintenance of this pantry is a first step in helping the food desert in Whitely begin to bloom. The food pantry was initiated by members of the Whitely Community Council. Volunteer and contact information can be found at the Whitely Community Council’s webpage. The Whitely Community Food Pantry also has a GoFundMe page, which facilitates online contributions to the effort.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, having begun nationally in 1904 and locally in 1971. The local Delaware agency is a full affiliated member of the national organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Positive long term outcomes with measurable impact are achieved through professionally developed and supported one-to-one mentoring relationships between children and screened and trained volunteer mentors. The agency’s program model is the catalyst to strengthen assets that all children need in their development to become confident, competent and caring adults.

The Ball State University Guardian Scholars Program is designed for Ball State students who are current or former foster youth. They not only provide scholarship support but also a variety post-secondary support and referral services to help recipients achieve their goal of a baccalaureate degree. They also provide consultation and support to Ivy Tech Community College staff on behalf of current and former foster youth enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College East Central campuses in Muncie, Marion and Anderson.