We, the residents of Muncie, Indiana, are calling on our city leaders to invest in our children by building a dedicated Youth and Community Center on the south side of Muncie in the Industrial Willard neighborhood, a community rich in potential but underserved when it comes to youth focused resources, recreational opportunities, and safe spaces for our children to learn, grow, and thrive.

For years, families in the Industrial-Willard neighborhood on Muncie’s south side have watched investment flow elsewhere while local opportunities for youth continue to shrink. The loss of community spaces, limited recreational options, and lack of accessible resources have left many children with few places to gather, grow, and engage in positive activities close to home.

As parents, grandparents, guardians, educators, and community members, we know that simply telling children to "make better choices" is not enough. We must provide them with better choices.

A Youth and Community Center would provide:

Safe spaces for children and teens after school
Educational support and tutoring programs
Mentorship opportunities
Sports, recreation, and fitness activities
Arts, music, and technology programs
Leadership and life-skills development
Community events that strengthen families and neighborhoods
I am the full-time guardian of my two oldest grandsons. Statistically, society already places obstacles in front of them because they are Black boys. Yet they are brilliant, hardworking A-honor-roll students with bright futures ahead of them. I refuse to stand by and watch them, or any child in our community, be failed because we chose not to invest in them.

Our children are not the problem. The lack of opportunities is.

I would also like to recognize the Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie for the incredible work they do every day. They continue to create opportunities for our youth and are currently working to transform part of their facility into a space specifically for teens. That kind of commitment deserves recognition and support. Thank you for investing in our children and believing in their potential.

We are not asking for a handout. We are asking for an investment.

An investment in our children.
An investment in our neighborhoods.
An investment in the future of Muncie.

These kids are our future. If we want them to become productive, successful adults, we must provide them with the resources, spaces, and opportunities to grow into the best versions of themselves.

We respectfully ask the City of Muncie to prioritize the planning, funding, and development of a Youth and Community Center in the Industrial Willard neighborhood on the south side of Muncie.

The time to invest in our children is now.

Sign below if you believe every child in Muncie deserves a safe place to learn, grow, and thrive.