Erin Jamison-Koenig, Communications Director
Launched in 2016, My Community, My Vision (MCMV) is a program for young Hoosiers to connect to the places they live and allow them the opportunity to make a positive impact in their communities. MCMV is a partnership between the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and Patronicity, and a collaboration with the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) and Aim.
The semester-long MCMV program accepts applications from youth council students and supports accepted groups, along with their foundation or local government sponsor, through a four-month course and project. Spring 2023 participants include the Batesville Mayor’s Youth Council, Frankton High School Students in Action, the Mayor’s Youth Council of Greensburg, Mishawaka Youth Advisory Council, the Monticello Next Generation Youth Advocates, the Ripley County Youth Outreach, and the Warren County Foundation Youth Council.
Students take the placemaking plan from design to execution by developing the idea for a place-based community project, determining the project’s scope and budget, and fundraising for the project through Patronicity. If the project is successfully funded, the place-based project comes to life in their community, whether it’s a trail, park, mural, or other concept.
The cohort utilizes Patronicity, a crowdfunding website that allows local units of governments and nonprofits to host a crowdfunding campaign page. In Indiana, CreatINg Places is a collaboration between IHCDA and Patronicity. The place-based crowdfunding program empowers residents, businesses, community organizations, and more to play a role in achieving community improvements. Projects that meet crowdfunding goals, including those created through MCMV, will receive a matching grant from IHCDA for $5,000 to $50,000.
During the Aim Spring Roundtable series, participants will hear from CreatINg Places and connect with a representative to learn more about the program in their community. Registration is open for the dinner events in Schererville (April 13), Montgomery (April 27), and Madison (May 4).
MCMV projects are currently raising funds on the Patrionicity platform. The campaigns are open for a limited time, allowing only a month or so for the fundraising goal to be met. Learn more about the innovative ventures proposed by young Hoosiers below.
Project Park Pizazz
Campaign Closes on April 9
The City of Batesville’s Mayors Youth Council is hoping to make a difference in the city by revamping the basketball courts at Liberty Park. The park serves as a gathering place for residents of all ages, and the Youth Council wants to improve the safety and appeal of the courts to entice more community engagement. There are two main goals of the project: improve the safety and usability of the courts by resurfacing the pavement and improve the overall appeal of the courts by incorporating more color. The funding will allow the park to be improved by grinding and resurfacing nearly 10,000 square feet of asphalt, adding a splash of color with painting and striping, and adding decorative picnic tables to match the remainder of the furnishings through the park. Read more.
Frankton Elementary Inclusive Playground
In Frankton, the Students in Action are working to raise funds to purchase at least two inclusive pieces of playground equipment, or possibly overhaul multiple playgrounds at the elementary school if even money is raised. As former elementary students, the Students in Action want all school age children to be able to enjoy playing during recess. The goal of the project is to allow kids with disability the ability to play with their peers on the playground in a safe and accessible environment. The current fundraising goal will add an accessible swing and merry go round, but the students are hoping to raise more than their goal. Read more.
Adding Art to the Park
Campaign Closes on April 20
Ripley Youth Outreach consists of teenagers across Ripley County and they are working to modernize the Daren Baker Memorial Park. The park is Milan’s only community gathering place and the group is hoping some renovations will reinvigorate community pride. With crowd funding, Outreach plans to renovate the main shelter, install new art features, add seating, improve the landscape, and install water bottle filling stations and trash and recycling bins. They are hopeful that the project will bring back community spirit and belonging to the Town of Milan. Read more.
Common Grounds Coffee Co.
Campaign Closes on April 24
A nonprofit coffee shop is coming to downtown Williamsport and the Warren County Youth Council is hoping to raise funds to create a sustainable family-friendly gathering space for people of all ages. After receiving a donated building, the Youth Council is crowd funding to be able to renovate the building into a coffee shop with new flooring, lighting, seating, counter, and equipment and provide the first year of internet, insurance, and utilities. The goal is to create a sustainable, inviting, and safe environment for the community to enjoy for years. Read more.
Transform the North Park Basketball Court
Campaign Closes on April 30
Greensburg Mayor’s Youth Council would like to create more outdoor activities for youth in the community. They found a great opportunity with the basketball courts at North Park, a Decatur County Park. While they do not have the funds to completely refurbish the basketball courts, they are working with the County Parks and Recreation to upgrade what they can within their budget. Through creative problem solving, the MYC saved money by hosting a county-wide school competition to collect battle caps for benches. The competition brought in enough bottle caps to make 4 to 6 benches. The Greensburg MYC is now raising funds to resurface the entire basketball court, paint all new markers on the court, purchase two new basketball polls, backboards, and nets, update current lighting, build the benches, and add landscaping. Read more.
Now Playing… Monticello!
Campaign Closes on April 30
Monticello Mayor’s Youth Council, Next Generation Youth Advocates (NGYA), is hoping to rejuvenate a small courtyard outside the local movie theater to allow young people and others a place to gather and engage with each other. The courtyard is located in the heart of downtown, between several businesses and behind the theatre. The area is currently bare, and ready for NGYA to create a vibrant, fun, and welcoming space. By adding color and freshening up the courtyard, the location will invite people to stay a bit longer, visit more businesses, and find more opportunities to connect. Funding from the campaign will cover the cost of demolition and clean up, artist fees and supplies for murals, landscaping, and seating, tables, and benches. Read more.
Mishawaka Pocket Park
Campaign Closes on April 30
In Mishawaka, the Mayor’s Youth Council is looking to bring the community together and recentralize downtown. While the city has numerous parks and walkways around the outskirts of the downtown area, the attractions can take visitors away from the central downtown, causing local restaurants and businesses to lack attention. By building a pocket park, the MYC is hoping to revitalize the inner workings of Mishawaka’s downtown. The park will be in front of the new city hall and will feature a mural depicting the history and landmarks of Mishawaka. To promote engagement, the mural will be a destination for photos by having the subject be the “I” in “Welcome to the Mish!” Seating will also be available so that visitors can sit and enjoy the outdoors while downtown. Read more.