The 2024 Inspire Neighborhood Conference is a one-day event that energizes community leaders by providing...
- opportunities to network, build bonds and grow community,
- education & learning opportunities: where local and regional experts sharing best practices, innovations, and resources,
- encouragement and celebration of local neighborhood and grassroots leaders
- Register or submit your award nomination today!
Active Engagement Opportunities!
Use the links below to become a part of our 2024 Conference and Dinner! You can submit a community survey or apply to be a breakout session speaker.
Project Description
Inspire & be inspired! The Neighborhood Planning and Activation Workgroup (NPAW) is committed to ensuring residents, neighborhood groups, and community leaders have the tools they need to create and support strong and vibrant neighborhoods.
The Inspire Conference is designed to equip attendees with practical strategies and new ideas to do good work in their neighborhoods, and, to leave participants feeling refreshed, energized and celebrated! Panelists and speakers include both local leaders and national experts. This year's event is free and will include:
- Breakfast & Lunch
- 60-minute break-out sessions
- 90-minute workshops
- Plenary speaker focused on wellness
- Neighborhood Awards Dinner
The 2024 Conference will take place at Electric Works (1690 Broadway Street, Building 19, Fort Wayne IN 46802). Registration for attendees, volunteers, and vendors will open in July!
When: September 13, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the conference, with an awards dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Electric Works, 1690 Broadway, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46802
Conference registration is free for all Fort Wayne residents, but space is limited.
If you would like to help the Neighborhood Planning & Activation team before, during or after the conference, please let us know by using the same form to register as a volunteer!
The volunteer, vendor, and attendee registration form is open until September 6th!
(Descriptions of the 2024 Workshops & Breakout sessions can be found here: 2024 Session Descriptions.)
The City of Fort Wayne wants to recognize its neighborhoods and their hard work! Help us celebrate outstanding members of our community by nominating a neighborhood association or resident.
Submit a nomination in using our online form in the following location- https://form.jotform.com/24092322645515- or by scanning the QR Code below.
Calling all photography enthusiasts to showcase what inspires you of our beloved city, Fort Wayne. Whether it’s showcasing the beauty and diversity of our neighborhoods, festivities to everyday life, or heartwarming community moments, we want to see your perspective.
Let’s celebrate our city through the lens of our community!
Rules for submission
Eligibility: Open to all amateur and professional photographers
Submission Process:
- Each participant may submit up to 3 photos
- All photos must be submitted in high-resolution digital format (JPEG or PNG preferred)
- Include a brief description for each photo including the title, location, and the story behind the image.
Submission Deadline: All entries must be received by August 22, 2024 using the form on this website.
Photo Criteria:
- Photos must be original work taken by the entrant.
- Images should not include watermarks, signatures, or any personal identifying information.
- No photo’s containing explicit content, violence, or any material deemed inappropriate will be accepted
Usage Rights:
- By submitting a photo, you grant The City of Fort Wayne the right to display, reproduce, and promote the photo in relation to this exhibition and future events
- Full credit will be given to the photographer
Entry Submission: Submit your entry by using the entry form on this page
Your feedback is valuable to us! Check out some of our highlights from 2023 below.
Once the 2024 Conference has been completed, we would love to hear your thoughts. Please check back in after September 13th to share your thoughts about the conference- and help us make next year's event even better!
Participant Feedback
2024 Conference Overview
2024 Conference Overview
- Who: Residents and leaders of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
- What: Inspire Neighborhood Conference.
- Where: Electric Works, 1690 Broadway, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
- When: September 13, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the conference, with an awards dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Residents can register for both events or attend just one. At registration, you will have the opportunity to make your selection.
- Why: To energize and equip Fort Wayne's neighborhood residents and leaders.
- Food! Breakfast and lunch will be provided during the conference. Dinner will be provided for attendees of Inspire Awards Dinner.
Sponsors
We appreciate the generous contributions of our 2024 Lead, Accelerator, Activator, and Equipper Sponsors! Thank you...
Sponsorship opportunities are closed for the 2024 Inspire Neighborhoods Conference. If you would like to support our 2025 event, please contact a member of our Conference Committee team.
Attendees
Attendance is free of charge for participants!
Online registration is open until September 6th at 11:59 p.m. We encourage early registration to secure your preferred breakout sessions!
Details about the conference agenda and breakout sessions can be found below:
2024 Inspire Conference Workgroup & Speaker Session Descriptions
Neighborhood Association & Leader of the Year Awards:
The City of Fort Wayne wants to recognize the outstanding contributions of neighborhoods and residents who have positively impacted our community.
Take advantage of this opportunity to showcase the great work happening in your neighborhood or shine a light on others doing great work in our community!
Submit your nomination today by using this online application: https://www.jotform.com/240923226455152.
If you need inspiration for submission, you can check out our 2023 award recipients by clicking the "2023 Conference Recap" tab on this page!
2024 Event Documents & Photos:
Stay tuned for the release of Inspire 2024's booklet (featuring speaker bios and workshops descriptions) and photos!
2023 Conference Recap
Attendees
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!
Speakers & Vendors
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:
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 & Leader of the Year Awards
Neighborhood Association of the year & Neighborhood Leader of the year were presented to recognize the accomplishments of 2 neighborhoods and 4 residents.
Sponsors
Thanks to our 5 sponsors: AARP Indiana, Premier Bank, Old National Bank, NIPSCO, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Event Documents & Photos
Check out our 2023 Conference photos program documents:
