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Fountain City Forward–A Community Organization on a Mission
As Forward Wayne County kicks off Main Street month, we thought is would be fitting to introduce Wayne County to its newest Main Street Group, Fountain City Forward. Rett Foster, with the group, shares that they are a community organization on a mission.
Why Free Shakespeare in the Park?
As Forward Wayne County closes out its focus on Arts and Culture this month, we asked Ray Ontko, Richmond Shakespeare Festival board president, why public theater, and specifically free Shakespeare, is important. Richmond Shakespeare Festival (RSF) provides Free...
Murals Make Communities Beautiful
As we continue our focus on Arts and Culture, enjoy this week’s blog by Angel Gray with the Tourism Bureau. She shares how murals make communities beautiful: Imagine being a tourist in an unfamiliar place, walking through a downtown, turning a corner and unexpectedly...
An Important Fabric of the Community
When you consider everything arts and culture can offer a community, the possibilities are endless. Whether contributing to local economic development, building community, or attracting investments, there is always a case for a robust local arts scene. As we begin to...
From Aspirations to Achievements
As Forward Wayne County closes out its focus on Educational Attainment, we asked Cassandra VanDevender, Career Services Specialist with IU East, to discuss higher education and some ways IU East can help students navigate their academic journey. I was honored...
The Case for Lifelong Learning
Our learning never stops. We are constantly introduced to new ideas, concepts, and approaches that influence our lives. The is called being a lifelong learner and it's a familiar term for most. What exactly is lifelong learning? How can we pursue it? To continue...
Educational Attainment and the Local Workforce
The state of a community’s workforce is essential to the local economy. A workforce needs to have diverse skills and backgrounds to sustain job retention and growth. Education plays a crucial part in this by giving people the chance to learn new skills and become more...
Preserving Neighborhoods and Communities
We are closing out our focus on neighborhood development with a guest blog from Brittany Miller. As the Director of the Indiana Landmarks Eastern Regional Office, she is directly involved in historic preservation efforts across Wayne County. We asked her to discuss...
Community Involvement with the McLanes
What is a neighborhood without its people? Neighborhoods need passionate residents to create change and advocate for the community. Wayne County is full of individuals who fit that description. They work across all sectors to make a difference, whether big or...
Igniting Change Through Small Initiatives
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “Great things are done by a series of small things coming together.” This mentality applies to different scenarios. One of those scenarios is neighborhood development, where small projects can create massive impacts. As Forward...
People Helping People
People can do amazing things. Whether big impacts or small projects, everyone can contribute to positive efforts. However, finding those opportunities or the inspiration to get involved may prove difficult for some people. As Forward Wayne County closes out the...
Caring for Creitz: A People Project
You have heard us say it before, but Wayne County is full of some amazing people who genuinely care about their neighbors. It is one of the things that makes this community so great and contributes to the success of others. There are so many stories we could tell...
Gratitude for People
What is a community without its people? The truth is that people are the most important resource of any community. Wayne County is home to numerous people across several sectors who work to ensure the success of their fellow citizens. They are some of our strongest...
The State for Child Care in Wayne County
For our Early Childhood Success guest, we asked Misty Hollis, Executive Director of the Richmond Family YMCA, to talk about the state of childcare in Wayne County. Wayne County business leaders seem to constantly discuss the need for child care. While conversations...
The Regional Birth to Five Coalition
Aligning local and regional resources is critical in any collaborative effort. This is especially true for childcare services in East Central Indiana and Wayne County. That need led to the creation of the Regional Birth to Five Coalition, which supports childcare...
Early Childhood Learning Resources in Wayne County
Early childhood education is vital, and the first five years of life are crucial for brain development. Given this circumstance, parents must surround their children with the resources they need to fully learn and grow. Wayne County is full of those very resources....
