Encourage. Empower. Engage.

Today’s Agenda:

• My Community, My Vision (MCMV) general overview.

• MCMV partners and outcomes.

• MCMV program year process and the commitment.

• How to apply for the 2018-2019 MCMV program year.

What is My Community, My Vision?

• MCMV began in 2014 as a response to population loss in Indiana.

• The program partners a university, a state agency, local governments, and Indiana high school-aged youth.

• Each participating community will receive a youth-led community vision plan and $5,000 in grant funding to implement a project from that plan.

• The 2018-2019 school year will be the fifth MCMV program year.

Past MCMV Participants

Year 1 – Rushville, Switzerland County, Hanover, Washington County, Lawrence County

Year 2 – Gary, DeKalb County, Muncie, Anderson, Hamilton County, Martinsville

Year 3 – Crawfordsville, Greenfield, Shelbyville, Greensburg, Ft. Wayne

Year 4 – LaPorte, Logansport, Indianapolis - Purdue Polytechnic High School and Irvington Preparatory Academy

Who is involved?

• Partnership between:

• IHCDA

• High school youth

• IUPUI SPEA

• Local leadership

• AIM

Who is involved?

• IHCDA is the state agency/funder

• Five student groups• Each group has an adult leader who is our main point of contact

• Each high school group paired with an IUPUI SPEA graduate student

• Local government • Recruits and maintains the student group along with the adult leader• Is the applicant• Consulted in the planning process• Adopts the plan• Helps with project

• Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM)• Youth Council Summit

Students’ Roles

To create a Community Vision Plan:

• A plan that identifies steps to make their hometown the best it can be

• Identify as a group what is great about their community and what is missing

• Create a plan while teaching (by IUPUI students) and learning (by high school students) urban planning and other social science basics to help address those issues

• Integrate community involvement in the process

Students’ Roles

To work with local government officials to:

• Create the Community Vision Plan as a compliment to or part of other plans

• Ask questions about their community; consult with local government about feasibility of ideas and how to accomplish the plan

• Work with local citizens for community input

• Adopt the plan

• Implement at least one project in the plan

Program Outcomes

• Empowerment

• Engagement & Education

• Promote Indiana’s Communities

Program Outcomes

Youth Empowerment

• Opportunity for youth to think about their community differently by asking “What if…”

• Encourage youth to develop a future vision for their hometown community• Develop, promote, and engage leadership skills in the youth of Indiana’s

rural communities• Demonstrate to local leadership credibility of youth involvement

Program Outcomes

Youth Engagement & Education

• Involve youth in civic engagement, governmental processes and urban planning

• Promote community development with youth in mind• Educate about social topics, career possibilities, and future civic

engagement opportunities

Program Outcomes

Promote Indiana’s Communities

• Encourage youth to stay or return to their hometowns by making them stakeholders

• Promote Indiana’s rural communities as areas of destination• Give insight to rural communities in attracting and retaining youth and

young families

The Process

• Students explore their vision for their community

• Students explain their vision in a five page essay to IHCDA in September

• Chosen high school groups create their plan from September – April• Several brainstorming/working meetings • Other meetings where all MCMV groups are together• Meetings with public and local officials

• Presentation of final plans to other groups, IHCDA staff, and elected officials

• Work with local government to adopt the plan

• Choose a project and implement by fall 2019

The Commitment

• Four state-wide meetings = the kick-off, two mid-term events, and final event

• Meet 1-2 hours per week with the adult group leader and other students

• Six one-on-one meetings with IUPUI and the student group

• Work on the planning steps for the $5,000 project.

• Present finalized plans at final event in April 2019 in Indianapolis• Community and partners continue to work on implementing their $5,000

project during summer and fall of 2019.

What the Community Receives

• The Community Vision Plan

• A professionally produced document that will be adopted and used by the local governing body to guide future development within the community.

• Five-to-ten year look into the future based on current community strengths & weaknesses and the high school students’ perception of the current condition and future possibilities of the community.

• It will include aspects of comprehensive community development (such as affordable housing, transportation, community health, tourism, etc.)

What the Community Receives

• Community Project Funds• Each group will receive $5,000 from IHCDA to implement a project identified in

the planning process

• Take something from the plan to reality!

• IHCDA will help with implementation

• Partner with non-profits – start talking to them early

• IHCDA will approve and will disperse funds after project details are solidified

• Flexible funding to be expended by fall 2019

Past Program Success

Logansport Forum Walls with Private Donation

Irvington Job Fair for High School Students

LaPorte Video Equipment for Community Movie Nights

Rushville City adopted plan, expanded Farmer’s Market with SNAP

Application Essay and Other Documents

• Essay length: 5 pages maximum

• Essay must include the following information: • Current community description • Why the community will benefit from a youth led plan and a project• Identify the student group • Description of the student participation plan • How the LUG will support the process, from brainstorming to implementation• Preliminary ideas of how the $5,000 project funding might be used (non-binding)

• Required to submit:• Essay• Signed commitment pledges for ALL participants• Signed Photographic Consent and Release Form for ALL participants

Application Tips

1. Review past MCMV plans• https://www.in.gov/myihcda/mcmv.htm

2. Recruit students from local high school or other social groups• Connect with Mayor’s Youth Councils, FFA, JAG, local non-profits, etc.• 5-10 students is ideal but we’re flexible

3. Students and local mentors create the application essay• Think about what you want your community to be like.• Think of a low-cost project that you would like to have in your hometown.• Think about who can help you make your community better and include them.

4. Submit application on time and with all materials required

Program Timeline

September 10, 2018 by 5 p.m. Eastern Time – Applications due

September 14, 2018 – Program participants announced

September 29, 2018 – Kick-off event

October 2018 - March 2019 – Plan development (regular mentor meetings with groups, at least one stakeholder meeting, second state-wide group meeting)

February or March 2019 – Third state-wide group meeting

Mid-April 2019 – Final event (presentation of plans in Indianapolis)

Submission deadline: Monday, September 10, 2018 by 5 p.m. Eastern Time

Application materials should be submitted to CLethig@ihcda.in.gov as a PDF.

Selected participants will be announced on September 14th and should plan on attending a kick-off event in the Indianapolis area on September 29, 2018.

Contact Carmen Lethigclethig@ihcda.in.gov

317.234.6290

Visit: https://www.in.gov/myihcda/mcmv.htm