By: Jane Mullikin
Karen Mitchell, a resident of Grandville Co-operative and a recent graduate of Making Connections Indianapolis Resident Leadership Facilitation training was honored by Mayor Greg Ballard and Deputy Chief Mayor Olgen Williams with one of the 2008 Community Service Awards on December 16, 2008. Following is the essay nominating Karen for the award:
When Karen Mitchell says, “We’ve come a long way, but I’m not finished yet,” she means it--and the more she says it, the harder she works.
Karen worked as a Corrections Officer while raising a family of six, eventually becoming disabled after back surgeries. Not the kind of person who gives up or gives in, Karen became concerned about the dilapidated condition of the Grandville Co-operative on the near Southeast side of Indianapolis. Through the grapevine she learned the Co-op, a low income housing project, was close to bankruptcy created by a lack of oversight of the management company and was possibly on HUD’s closing list. Karen ran for the Board.
After gaining a seat on the Board of Directors in 2003, Karen began a vigorous campaign to revitalize the condition of the buildings and the grounds, to put in place proper oversight of the management company and to insure Grandville would be able to pass all audits and inspections. In her spare time, she went back to college.
Once the set of goals described above had been reached, Karen began her campaign to enrich and transform the lives of the community. She started with HOPE team and provided permanent housing for a group of Katrina families, Prenatal Housing Program from HIP, and has now added Making Connections Indianapolis’ Play and Learn for the preschoolers, Youth Leadership Facilitation training for the teens, a Junior Leadership Committee, and a Study Circle from Making Connections. Subsequently, with the raising of community awareness she was able to instigate a Grandville Planning Committee. She plans and oversees community social activities on a year round basis.
The Board Treasurer estimates Karen’s volunteer hours per month at about 167. Board meetings, hearings, orientations consume about 32 hours; administrative duties (there is no paid staff) at about 35 hours per month; direct services/security will consume around 100 hours. Karen is actually on duty 24/7 and makes every effort to be available whenever a community member needs guidance, comforting, and a ready should upon which to cry.
As the Southeast Organizer for Youth Initiatives with Making Connections Indianapolis, I have been working closely with Karen for some time now. I am a part of a world where many wonderful community members pour themselves into community service, and I still stand in awe of all that Karen Mitchell is accomplishing in the Grandville Co-operative. She stands head and shoulders above the crowd. --Jane Mullikin
Showing posts with label Greg Ballard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greg Ballard. Show all posts
Monday, March 9, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Mayor's Youth Council to Hold First Meeting of 2009
Meeting to be an Orientation Workshop for Council Members
By: Jessica Higdon
INDIANAPOLIS – On Saturday, the Mayor’s Youth Council will convene for their first official meeting of 2009. Members will gather at the Arts Center at Garfield Park for a morning of introductions, planning and team building exercises. Mayor Greg Ballard will attend the meeting to talk to the youth about the importance of servant leadership.
WHO: Mayor Greg Ballard; Deputy Mayor Olgen Williams; Annie Smith, Marion County Coordinator, Youth as Resources / United Way of Central Indiana; Pegg Anderson, LCSW Medical Social Worker/St. Vincent’s Home Care; and Members of the Mayor’s Youth Council
WHAT: Mayor’s Youth Council Orientation Workshop
WHERE: The Arts Center at Garfield Park
2332 Conservatory Drive
WHEN: Saturday, February 21
8:30 a.m. – Noon
*Mayor Ballard will be at the meeting from 9 – 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
2008 Mayor’s Community Service (MCS) Awards
2008 Mayor’s Community Service (MCS) Awards
By: Jane Mullikin
Karen Mitchell, a resident of Grandville Co-operative and a recent graduate of Making Connections Indianapolis Resident Leadership Facilitation training was honored by Mayor Greg Ballard and Deputy Chief Mayor Olgen Williams with one of the 2008 Community Service Awards on December 16, 2008. Following is the essay nominating Karen for the award:
When Karen Mitchell says, “We’ve come a long way, but I’m not finished yet”, she means it--and the more she says it, the harder she works.
Karen worked as a Corrections Officer while raising a family of six, eventually becoming disabled after back surgeries. Not the kind of person who gives up or gives in, Karen became concerned about the dilapidated condition of the Grandville Co-operative on the near Southeast side of Indianapolis. Through the grapevine she learned the Co-op, a low income housing project, was close to bankruptcy created by a lack of oversight of the management company and was possibly on HUD’s closing list. Karen ran for the Board.
After gaining a seat on the Board of Directors in 2003, Karen began a vigorous campaign to revitalize the condition of the buildings and the grounds, to put in place proper oversight of the management company and to insure Grandville would be able to pass all audits and inspections. In her spare time, she went back to college.
Once the set of goals described above had been reached, Karen began her campaign to enrich and transform the lives of the community. She started with HOPE team and provided permanent housing for a group of Katrina families, Prenatal Housing Program from HIP, and has now added Making Connections Indianapolis’ Play and Learn for the preschoolers, Youth Leadership Facilitation training for the teens, a Junior Leadership Committee, and a Study Circle from Making Connections. Subsequently, with the raising of community awareness she was able to instigate a Grandville Planning Committee. She plans and oversees community social activities on a year round basis.
The Board Treasurer estimates Karen’s volunteer hours per month at about 167. Board meetings, hearings, orientations consume about 32 hours; administrative duties (there is no paid staff) at about 35 hours per month; direct services/security will consume around 100 hours. Karen is actually on duty 24/7 and makes every effort to be available whenever a community member needs guidance, comforting, and a ready shoulder upon which to cry.
As the Southeast Organizer for Youth Initiatives with Making Connections Indianapolis, I have been working closely with Karen for some time now. I am a part of a world where many wonderful community members pour themselves into community service, and I still stand in awe of all that Karen Mitchell is accomplishing in the Grandville Co-operative. She stands head and shoulders above the crowd.
By: Jane Mullikin
Karen Mitchell, a resident of Grandville Co-operative and a recent graduate of Making Connections Indianapolis Resident Leadership Facilitation training was honored by Mayor Greg Ballard and Deputy Chief Mayor Olgen Williams with one of the 2008 Community Service Awards on December 16, 2008. Following is the essay nominating Karen for the award:
When Karen Mitchell says, “We’ve come a long way, but I’m not finished yet”, she means it--and the more she says it, the harder she works.
Karen worked as a Corrections Officer while raising a family of six, eventually becoming disabled after back surgeries. Not the kind of person who gives up or gives in, Karen became concerned about the dilapidated condition of the Grandville Co-operative on the near Southeast side of Indianapolis. Through the grapevine she learned the Co-op, a low income housing project, was close to bankruptcy created by a lack of oversight of the management company and was possibly on HUD’s closing list. Karen ran for the Board.
After gaining a seat on the Board of Directors in 2003, Karen began a vigorous campaign to revitalize the condition of the buildings and the grounds, to put in place proper oversight of the management company and to insure Grandville would be able to pass all audits and inspections. In her spare time, she went back to college.
Once the set of goals described above had been reached, Karen began her campaign to enrich and transform the lives of the community. She started with HOPE team and provided permanent housing for a group of Katrina families, Prenatal Housing Program from HIP, and has now added Making Connections Indianapolis’ Play and Learn for the preschoolers, Youth Leadership Facilitation training for the teens, a Junior Leadership Committee, and a Study Circle from Making Connections. Subsequently, with the raising of community awareness she was able to instigate a Grandville Planning Committee. She plans and oversees community social activities on a year round basis.
The Board Treasurer estimates Karen’s volunteer hours per month at about 167. Board meetings, hearings, orientations consume about 32 hours; administrative duties (there is no paid staff) at about 35 hours per month; direct services/security will consume around 100 hours. Karen is actually on duty 24/7 and makes every effort to be available whenever a community member needs guidance, comforting, and a ready shoulder upon which to cry.
As the Southeast Organizer for Youth Initiatives with Making Connections Indianapolis, I have been working closely with Karen for some time now. I am a part of a world where many wonderful community members pour themselves into community service, and I still stand in awe of all that Karen Mitchell is accomplishing in the Grandville Co-operative. She stands head and shoulders above the crowd.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Front Porch Alliance to Hold Leadership Summit
Front Porch Alliance to Hold Leadership Summit
Mayor to Address Leaders of Faith and Community Organizations
Mayor to Address Leaders of Faith and Community Organizations
INDIANAPOLIS – (October 3, 2008) On Wednesday, November 19, the Front Porch Alliance will hold a leadership summit in response to requests from local faith and community leaders to have access to information that will help them serve the community better. Participants will be able to attend specialized sessions that focused on topics including: working with government, working with the media, networking with neighborhoods, team building, addiction recovery and mentoring. There will also be sessions presented in Spanish.
“These sessions are open to anyone who is leading an organization or might have an idea for a new program. We are excited about the opportunity for leaders to talk with others who have been successfully running sustainable organizations,” said Douglas Hairston, Director of the Front Porch Alliance. “While the Front Porch has been attending other training sessions around the city with churches and organizations, we hope this will be the beginning of several trainings each year that will ‘Educate, Connect and Enhance’ organizations who are serving our communities.”
WHO: Mayor Greg Ballard and leaders of faith and community organizations
WHAT: Leadership Summit
Space will be limited, so please register now by
contacting Holly Renforth with the Church of Acts at
317-783-2287 or HollyRenforth@churchofacts.org
WHEN: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
8:00 - 8:30 a.m. - Registration & Breakfast
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. - General Session with Mayor Ballard
9:45 - 11:30 a.m. - Leader Sessions
11:30 a.m. - Noon. - 9,000 lb. Food Giveaway
12:00-1:00 p.m. - Lunch catered by Piper’s Restaurant
WHERE: Church of ACTS, 3740 S. Dearborn St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46237
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