Task Force 3: City Neighborhoods

Nurture Healthy Blocks for Healthy Neighborhoods
Cultivate partnerships around comprehensive, block-level strategies that utilize a wide range of tools to cover the fundamentals of neighborhood health.

Task Force Chair: Heather Williams
Task Force Vice Chair: Drew Hall
Committee Members: Cornelius Dollison*, Donna Browne*, Gretchen Cheesman, Nate Howard*, Mo Orbin*, Lucas Pint*

*non-MAP board member

Task Force 3’s primary focus is to cultivate partnerships around comprehensive, block-level strategies that utilize a wide range of tools to cover the fundamentals of neighborhood health. we aim to provide training opportunities for neighborhood leaders and develop support for neighborhood level education efforts. we oversee the administration of a matching grant program to help promote neighborhood improvements and engage with our partners like the Muncie Land Bank, non-profit housing providers, and local institutions to raise funding for future neighborhood level beautification, improvement, and planning projects.

Learn more about TF3

Affiliate Programs

 

Muncie Neighborhoods

Building Better Neighborhoods Initiative

Established in 2014 by a three-year grant from the Ball Brothers Foundation, the Building Better Neighborhoods (BBN) Initiative connects Ball State’s resources with neighborhood development efforts across Muncie and Delaware County.

Building Better Neighborhoods partners with Muncie Action Plan, 8Twelve Coalition, and other organizations to coordinate:

  • Collaborative immersive learning experiences with Ball State faculty, students, and neighborhood associations

  • Leadership development workshops and annual conference for neighborhood association members

  • Best practices and support for neighborhood associations

  • Networking and learning opportunities for neighborhood leaders

 IDEA Conference

Each year at the conference, outstanding neighborhoods are recognized for their leadership, projects, and beautification efforts! Check out our past winners to learn more about the amazing work being done by neighborhoods across Muncie.

Action Items

Establish Healthy Block Partnership (HBP); w/variety stakeholders including Muncie Land Bank (MLB) & non-profit housing providers.

  • Hire HBP Staff
  • Conduct Block level planning - tier neighborhoods

    • Continue to oversee ARP.

    Continue to implement neighborhood wayfinding and signage.

    Continue to provide neighborhood leadership training opportunities and hold Neighborhood Leadership Council (NLC) meetings.

  • Continue and expand storytelling/marketing and awards/recognition of neighborhood level work

    • Develop/support neighborhood level education efforts.

  • Coordinate literacy volunteers at the NH level to help build early childhood reading skills
  • Coordinate volunteers at schools to provide financial literacy to secondary students
  • Coordinate volunteer mentors from neighborhoods to support students and families

    • Continue a matching grant program to promote neighborhood beautification; encourage establishment of home improvement grants.

    Advocate for MLB & non-profit housing providers.

  • Encourage creation of capital fund to support strategic acquisition of property in targeted healthy block areas/ encourage capital fund to support strategic acquisition of troubled properties
  • Options for future funding to support beautification/home improvements
    •  

    Leadership

     

    Heather Williams

    Task Force Chair

    [email protected]

    As Associate Director of Ball State University’s Office of Community Engagement and Program Manager for Building Better Neighborhoods, Heather works directly with the city's neighborhood associations to help build capacity and make connections with BSU faculty, staff, students, and programs. She is actively involved in local housing issues as Secretary of the Muncie Land Bank and member of the 8Twelve Coalition’s Steering and Housing Committees. In her professional and non-profit work, Heather advocates for strong neighborhoods, safe - affordable housing, and sustainable living.  

     

    Lucas Pint

    Neighborhood Organizer

    [email protected]

    When I moved to Muncie in 2016 to begin my career at Ball State University, I quickly grew connected to the city and its people, especially after settling in the Anthony-Northside Neighborhood. My involvement with the neighborhood association—first as Member-at-Large, then Vice President, and now President—has fueled my passion for grassroots engagement and community-driven change. From organizing cleanups and beautification projects to helping develop a new park at the former Anthony Elementary School site, I’ve seen how strong neighborhoods are built through collaboration, care, and shared responsibility. This commitment also led me to participate in the Shafer Leadership Academy’s Emergence Program, which strengthened my ability to lead with empathy and strategy.

    Today, as Neighborhood Organizer for the Muncie Action Plan, I’m focused on supporting residents and neighborhood leaders across the city. Since 2018, I’ve contributed to MAP’s efforts through Taskforces 3 and 4, helping shape initiatives like the Resilient Muncie Climate Action Plan. My work is driven by a belief that real change happens when we invest in people and foster authentic connections. In addition to this role, I serve as an Academic Advisor at Ball State and am pursuing dual graduate degrees in Urban and Regional Planning and Natural Resources and Environmental Management. These experiences continue to shape my vision for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities in Muncie and beyond.