Michigan City Neighborhood Leadership Academy participants recently presented their projects and received graduation certificates.
The academy is a partnership between the City of Michigan City and the Economic Development Corp. Michigan City. During the 8-week session, participants learned about the city, its departments and processes. The goal of the Neighborhood Leadership Academy is to unite like-minded leaders and provide them with the education and resources to ignite opportunities and change in their neighborhoods.
“Participants showcased a passion for their neighbors and desire to make an impact,” said Clarence Hulse, EDCMC executive director, in a press release. “The sessions and discussions culminated in their ideas to work toward a larger sense of community in their own individual spots in the city.”
At the graduation ceremony, each group highlighted how they hope to help their neighbors thrive, based on the group’s own neighborhood assets and needs. Project ideas included a community calendar and social media channels to better create connections and share resources, block parties for celebrating their neighborhoods and providing opportunities for neighbors to meet and updating sidewalks and streetlights.
“I was heartened by the differences and needs represented by each project for the individual neighborhoods,” Erin Meisner, EDCMC community development manager, said. Meisner facilitated the leadership academy.
Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch attended the graduation ceremony.
“The Leadership Academy is a unique opportunity for our residents to get involved in a way that triggers dedication to our neighborhoods as well as a zeal for improvements and positivity,” Deuitch said.
The Class of 2024 included:
- Albertine Allen, Edgewood
- Jeff Balog, Trail Creek
- Antonio Conley, Near Westside
- Quayla Cooper, Eastport
- Horace Douglas, Village Green
- Vernessa Fry, Eastport
- Antoneo Garrett, Jefferson
- Kurtess Gillespie, Edgewood
- DeShawn Gordon, Eastport
- Daniel Higgins, Lakeside Glen
- Shauna Hill, Eastport
- Jackqueline Jones, Eastport
- Ashley Kazmucha, Midtown West
- Tina Mahone, Mott’s Woods
- Patricia Matsey, Jefferson
- Essie McMillon, Elston Grove
- Nicole Mitchell, Trail Creek
- Catrina Rose, Eastport
- Tristan Smith, Westside
- Tamara Thomas, Eastport
- Aprilla VanBuren, Westside
- Kimberly Williams, Eastport
- Kameesha Williams, Marsh
- Wendy Willis, Eastport
Graduate Horace Douglas aims to forge a foundation in Midtown by creating channels to share news and events and ensure residents are informed.
“You can’t have community without unity,” Douglas said. “We named our project Midtown Roundtable so there is no one at the head of the table and everyone has a seat at the table.”
The academy will kick off another session in the spring of 2025.
