The annual State of the Neighborhood event, hosted by the Mid-North Church Council of Indianapolis (MNCC), will take place on Saturday, September 12, from 3:30 to 6:00 PM. The site of the event is just beyond the borders of Historic Meridian Park, on the grounds of Raphael Health Center at 34th Street and Central Avenue.
“This year’s focus is on the people of the entire Mapleton-Fall Creek (MFC) neighborhood, especially their talents, skills, interests, and passions,” according to Diana Creasser, president of MNCC. The event will consist of a stage presentation which will include a welcome by Creasser on behalf of MNCC, brief self-introductions by exhibitors, and a talent show. “We hope to feature neighbors performing their own special ‘thing,’” said Sarah Blandina, communications chair of both MNCC and SOTN and a member of Mapleton-Fall Creek Unity Group (MFCUG). “Some neighbors may tell a story, others may play a musical instrument, dance, show how they do or make something, sing, whatever it is they love doing.”
Why You Should Go
Organizers anticipate a great deal of interest in the event, called “SOTN” for short, since they are offering Mapleton-Fall Creek (MFC) residents, businesses and those entities that serve this area free exhibit space as well as free stage time. “We are encouraging booths to feature ‘interactive displays’ because we hope visitors will be enticed to engage in conversation with the exhibitors as well as other visitors,” elaborated Lorraine Phillips Vavul, SOTN booth manager, and MFCUG member. “We will also have informational tables, including some from agencies, even though SOTN is not an ‘agency fair,’” added Vavul. Additionally, organizers foresee places to sign up for further conversation, to form neighborhood-empowering groups such as block clubs, to post or list help wanted/job wanted notices, and to join a volunteer pool.
The main goal is to facilitate connections among neighbors based on their interests, strengths, and passions, with the possibility of long-term action plans that might include the formation of small ‘grass-roots’ groups committed to the further pursuit of these connections,” summarized SOTN committee member Rev. Karen King, Associate Rector for Mission and Outreach of Trinity Episcopal Church. Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation (MFCDC) Communications/Outreach Manager and SOTN logistical coordinator Brooke Klejnot agreed, “The focus is on the people and their stories that make Mapleton-Fall Creek a viable, vital, and friendly place to live and work.” Scott Semester, another SOTN committee member and board member of Freewheelin’, believes that “SOTN is a great way to connect, inform, and inspire neighbors and stakeholders.”
Several groups are collaborating with hosting organization MNCC in the SOTN event. They are MFCDC, Raphael Health Center, MFCUG, with support from the Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood Association. SOTN is funded in large part by a generous IMAGINE grant from Great Indy Neighborhood Initiative (GINI).
Volunteers Needed
Because of its scope and innovative nature, many volunteers are needed to work both with the organizing committee and during the SOTN event itself. Those interested in volunteering may contact Klejnot at Brooke@mfcdc.org or 317.956.9011. More information as well as an exhibitor/performer registration form may be found at www.midnorthchurch.org or www.mfcdc.org.
Accompanying Events
Two other events are being held in conjunction with SOTN. On Saturday morning, there’s Raphael Health Center’s annual Miracle on 34th Street Health Fair (September 12 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM). On Sunday morning, people of all faiths and backgrounds are invited to the Interfaith Combined Church Service of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church and Phillips Temple CME (September 13 at 10:30 AM). Both are on the grounds of Raphael.
“Two days, three events, one heck of a celebration!” touts Klejnot. She noted, “Raphael’s generous offer to allow us to piggyback onto its successful health fair makes it possible for SOTN to become an even larger community-based free affair.”
The State of the Neighborhood Event and MNCC
Begun decades ago, the original SOTN event was established to showcase the results of MNCC’s stabilizing influence on the MFC area. Its purpose ever since has been to give witness to how, in spite of the shifting demographics of the late 70s and early 80s, MNCC’s support of and cooperation with other facets of the neighborhood helped maintain essential qualities of MFC as a vital environment for individuals and fAMilies, along with their places of worship, work, and play. Each year, other stakeholder groups in the MFC area have joined with MNCC in celebrating the people and groups that help the neighborhood endure.
In 2009, the purpose of SOTN has been expanded to embrace four goals: (1) to provide a current snapshot of the neighborhood – its people, groups, and institutions; (2) to recognize and celebrate the influence and accomplishments of MNCC within MFC; (3) to empower on-going conversations aimed toward enhancing the quality of life for all the residents and stakeholders; and (4) to provide stimulus to participants to maintain connections made at the event through asset-based activities concerning quality-of-life issues throughout the year. The focus of SOTN 2009 is on the strengths of the neighborhood as a community of individuals and groups working in tandem, embracing change as it is respectful of the past, expanding on the best, and looking forward to the future.
Brought To You By…
The Mid-North Church Council consists of eight churches in and around MFC. They are: Bethlehem Lutheran, Broadway United Methodist, North United Methodist, Our Redeemer Lutheran, Phillips Temple CME, St. Joan of Arc Catholic, Tabernacle Presbyterian, and Trinity Episcopal. A variety of non-church organizations also count themselves as members of the Council.
Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that works to fight blight, provide safe and affordable housing, create economic opportunities through commercial development, and support community efforts in the MFC neighborhood. It will celebrate its 25-year anniversary in 2010.
Mapleton-Fall Creek Unity Group is a loose collection of individuals living in MFC who work together to unite neighbors through their collective strengths, passions, and common interests. Members are dedicated to building relationships that contribute to the common good of the area.
Raphael Health Center is a full-service neighborhood-based health clinic pledged to meet the primary health care needs for patients of all ages and to carry on its mission with respect and dignity for all people including the underserved and uninsured within a faith-based setting.
Great Indy Neighborhoods is a set of initiatives established to support Indianapolis neighborhoods. The goals of these initiatives are to encourage neighbors to work together across traditional boundaries to implement positive change in their neighborhood. It awards IMAGINE grants to help fund these efforts.
Print the flyer as a reminder!