Heritage Fund held a Leadership Convening on April 22 at the Crump Theatre. This is the third time we have reached out broadly to gather new and emerging leaders from across the community, representing for-profit, not-for-profit, education, healthcare and government sectors. We also deliberately invited representatives of the very rich fabric of diversity in our community.
We had a good crowd. Some folks came primarily to wander through the “oldest theater in Indiana” and enjoy the hard work by the scores of volunteers who have cleaned and brightened up the space. Others came to listen to a panel of next-generation leaders who are making good things happen downtown.
Visitors Center Executive Director Misty Weisensteiner, who came to Columbus about a year ago, noted that the passion of Columbus residents for the downtown is a tremendous asset and not evident in every community. The Visitors Center Board of Directors is working to create a destination master plan that focuses on experiences to draw even more visitors to our community.
Daniel Martinez, assistant professor of Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program, talked about how he and his wife, Lulu Loquidis of LAA Architects, are working to enhance the Sixth Street Arts Alley. Listening to residents’ desires to be together, enjoying music or other entertainment with food and drink, LAA has come up with a plan to make half of Sixth Street closed on a more permanent basis to enable more programming and entertainment.
Jason Hatton, executive director of Bartholomew County Public Library, shared a new way of thinking about how we “library”! The BCPL Board is implementing its new strategic plan that changes the way we think about a public library and its ability to be an important part of building community in the downtown and other neighborhoods across the county.
Ike DeClue, who leads the Office of Downtown Development, has spent the last year creating a roadmap of businesses and property owners downtown and cultivating relationships with potential businesses looking for new locations. Ike is leading efforts for amenities like a Downtown Outdoor Recreational Area (DORA) to enhance the downtown experience and encourage people to spend time enjoying wandering and visiting certain areas.
It was great to see the next generation of leaders generating and implementing new ideas. I was especially pleased to hear their desire to make downtown a place where the full range of diversity could be included and feel welcomed. It was a good evening!
Tracy Souza is president and CEO of Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. Contact the fund at 812-376-7772 to learn more about how they can help you do “Your Philanthropy. Your Way.” Send comments to [email protected].
