Near Eastside residents have been invited to share their hopes, dreams and vision for the neighborhood at Near Eastside Visioning Day, set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Arsenal Tech High School.
At the event, neighbors will be asked to address local challenges head on through the creation of a new Quality of Life Plan. This plan will create new strategic goals based on neighbors’ assets and will positively impact the Near Eastside for generations to come.
Free lunch and childcare will be provided; individuals must RSVP by Saturday, Aug. 31, by contacting Alicia Baker, director of neighborhood engagement at John Boner Neighborhood Centers, at abaker@jbncenters.org.
The original Near Eastside Quality of Life Plan was created in 2007 to address concerns through the utilization of community assets. The plan established 175 objectives set by the community to improve the neighborhood and addressed a variety of core quality of life areas, including affordable housing, education, public safety, and economic development.
In 2018, neighbors voted to refresh the 12-year-old plan at the Near Eastside Neighborhood Summit. Neighbors will once again be empowered to take the lead developing goals for the Near Eastside based on the current state of the neighborhood.
Organizers described Near Eastside Visioning Day as an opportunity to identify current community priorities, ensuring the new plan is relevant and focused.
Community leaders said they are working hard to ensure that the new Quality of Life Plan is inclusive, equitable, and receives input from as many neighbors as possible. The Plan will be certified by the City of Indianapolis and will “ensure that official public policy is in line with community desires,” the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development stated.
“Your voice is important!” said Alicia Baker, director of neighborhood engagement at John Boner Neighborhood Centers. “We need as many people as possible to help create a plan that is equitable, sustainable, and truly driven by neighbors.”
To prepare for Visioning Day, individuals are encouraged to complete a survey (in English version or en Español). Those interested in partaking in a 10- to 20-minute interview designed to provide Quality of Life Plan community organizers with a deeper understanding of their vision for the Near Eastside should contact Ellen Bankston at ebankson@jbncenters.org.
Spanish and ASL interpretation will be available at the Visioning Day. Arsenal Technical High School can be reached by IndyGo bus route 3, and is ADA accessible.
