In 2024, we were thrilled to have over 200 attendees, speakers, volunteers, and vendors join us for our second annual Inspire Neighborhoods Conference at Electric Works! Thank you to everyone who made it an Inspiring event!

We had over 40 speakers and 9 vendors from Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Worcester, Massachusetts. There were 12 (50-minute) breakout sessions, 4 (80-minute) workshops, a keynote & plenary address, and a debut screening of the Harvester Neighborhood documentary! Featured speakers & presentations included:

• Plenary Speaker- Janell Lane of Courageous Living

In her plenary address, Janell focused on how community leaders can maintain their energy while supporting others, providing practical tools and insights and leaders can use to enhance their personal well-being as well as their community impact.

Learn more about Janell's work by visiting Courageous Living's website at https://www.courage2live.org/.

• Keynote Speaker- De'Amon Harges of The Learning Tree

In his inspiring keynote speech, De'Amon Harges reflected on the significance of truly seeing and recognizing people in our communities. Inspired by his daughter's research and the South African greeting "Sawubona," meaning "I see you," De'Amon explored the theme of belonging, discussing how being a good neighbor involves recognizing the potential in everyone through asset-based community development, and emphasizing the importance of listening, being present, and celebrating one another to build social bonds to unlock what is possible in our neighborhoods!

Learn more about De'Amon's work by visiting The Learning Tree's website at http://www.thelearningtrees.com/ or by viewing his TEDx talk here: Making the invisible visible | DeAmon Harges | TEDxIndianapolis.

• Movie Screening- Harvester (The East End) Neighborhood by producerWilliam Bryant Rozier

Harvester (The East End) Neighborhood was directed/edited by John Burkett and produced/scripted by William Bryant Rozier.

The short documentary highlights the difficulties of reclaiming- and breathing new life into- a neighborhood's identity once it's been forgotten. The film features interviews Harvester Neighborhood association leaders, members, business owners, and former residents.

For more information William's projects, please visit his website: Scrambled Eggs LLC – Media Production Company.

For a full list of our 2024 conference speakers, please check out our 2024 Conference booklet here: 2024 Inspire Conference Booklet I Issuu

We appreciate the generous contributions of our 2024 Lead, Accelerator, Activator, and Equipper-level sponsors! Thank you...

Visit websites of our Lead, Accelerator, and Activator sponsors by visiting the links below:

• Lead sponsor: AEP Indiana Foundation
• Accelerator-level sponsors: AARP Indiana, Premier Bank
• Activator-level sponsors: Foellinger Foundation, NIPSCO, Old National Bank
• Equipper-level sponsor: Rothberg Law Firm

Sponsorship opportunities are open for the 2025 Inspire Conference! If you would like to support our 2025 event, please contact a member of our Conference Committee team.

Check out our 2024 Conference Program and Photos below

• Photos: 2024 Inspire flickr Page
• 2024 Conference Booklet

We were thrilled to have 150 attendees, speakers, volunteers, and vendors join us for our inaugural Inspire Conference at Electric Works in 2023. Thank you again to everyone who came and made it an Inspiring event!

We had over 40 speakers and 11 vendors from Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Baltimore. There were 15 breakout presentations as well as a keynote & plenary address. Featured Speakers included:

• Bree Jones of Parity Homes in Baltimore, MD

In her inspiring keynote speech, Bree Jones detailed how she leveraged the simple power of social capital to tackle hyper-vacancy in one of West Baltimore’s most distressed neighborhoods, where 30% of buildings are vacant. In a market that most said was unredeemable, Bree has built a groundswell of galvanized neighbors new and old, who are purchasing formerly abandoned homes alongside one another in the spirit of community building and wealth building.

Learn more about her work at http://www.parityhomes.com or by viewing her TED talk here: Bree Jones: How to revitalize a neighborhood -- without gentrification | TED Talk.

• Terry Brooks Allen & Sharon Logan of the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC)

For a full list of our 2023 speakers, please check out our 2023 Conference booklet here: 2023 Inspire Neighborhood Conference by CityofFortWayne - Issuu.

Neighborhood Association of the year & Neighborhood Leader of the year were presented to recognize the accomplishments of 2 neighborhoods and 4 residents.

Thanks to our 5 sponsors: AARP Indiana, Premier Bank, Old National Bank, NIPSCO, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Check out our 2023 Conference photos program documents:

• flikcr photo album
• 2023 Conference Program