The Collaborative Corner | Christi & Amanda Hille

by Brianna Datta-Barrow | Oct 2, 2024

https://youtu.be/x6l437kZhq8 In this episode, we're diving into the vibrant film culture of Fort Wayne with Christy and Amanda Hilly from Cinema Center. As board president and secretary, they’re also festival chairs for the Hobnobben Film Festival happening October 3rd-6th. Discover what makes Cinema Center a cultural hub for independent and foreign films, and how the festival brings together filmmakers, film lovers, and the curious alike to share in the magic of storytelling. For more information visit fwmediacollaborative.com or cinemacenter.org The Collaborative Corner is a production of the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative with the goal of connecting listeners to the stories and culture of Northeast Indiana. Hosted by WBOI Program Manager, Zach Bernard, and Digital Media Coordinator...

National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 17, 2024

by Julie Creek | Sep 13, 2024

To promote voting and civic engagement, volunteers representing eight (8) local non-partisan organizations: League of Women Voters of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne (IN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Alive Community Outreach - Peacemakers, Northeast Indiana National Organization for Women, Gen Action Club of Purdue Fort Wayne, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, A. Philip Randolph Institute, and Count US IN will provide voter registration and education opportunities in conjunction with National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 17th. The collaborative holiday, which includes thousands of community partners and over 100 major national organizations and corporations, is housed at and managed by Nonprofit VOTE which itself provides nonpartisan resources to help...

The Collaborative Corner | Rachel Blakeman

by Brianna Datta-Barrow | Jul 12, 2024

https://youtu.be/0c9D5O_gZcs Our latest episode of "The Collaborative Corner" features an insightful conversation with Rachel Blakeman, Director of the Community Research Institute (CRI) at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Learn about CRI's efforts to broaden its research scope beyond economic, workforce, and population data. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in community research and development. The Collaborative Corner is a production of the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative with the goal of connecting listeners to the stories and culture of Northeast Indiana. Hosted by WBOI Program Manager, Zach Bernard, and Digital Media Manager for the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative, Brianna Datta-Barrow. Produced by Brianna Datta-Barrow. Thank you to Fort Wayne Media Collaborative Program...

Land Banks: How They Work, and Why Fort Wayne Needs One

by Gabi Lorino | Jul 9, 2024

“We need land banks everywhere.” Nate Howard, the Executive Director of Muncie Land Bank, has seen what positive changes can come from rehabilitating abandoned and vacant properties in his area. An empowered land bank can reduce blight and save taxpayers money, plus contribute to the supply of affordable housing. He noted that in Ohio, most counties have their own land banks. Why not have more in Indiana? Within the state, the closest land banks to Fort Wayne are in Muncie and Indianapolis. “Where land banks really thrive, they are supported financially by the city, and the inventory they use comes through the county government. Where land bank legislation is more developed, a lot of those things are explicit in state law.” Land banks acquire property that has become tax-delinquent, and...

Full House: Generations of Families Share Homes and Lives

by Gabi Lorino | Jun 13, 2024

What happens when the adult kids come home to ride out the Covid lockdown and then settle in? Where can Mom or Dad go when they can’t live on their own anymore? Oftentimes, to conserve money and other resources, adult family members consolidate into one household. Due to the sharp jump in housing prices in Northeast Indiana and elsewhere within the past few years, this trend is increasing. According to the 2020 census, 7.2% of US homes were multigenerational. These homes were most common in the southern US and across the eastern seaboard as well as in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. By this measure, Indiana was only slightly below the national average, with the share of multigenerational households in most counties between four and seven percent. Similar trends were noted for children...

The Collaborative Corner | Zach Vessels

by Brianna Datta-Barrow | Jun 12, 2024

Meet the mastermind behind Creatorspace! In this episode of The Collaborative Corner, Zach Vessels shares how he built a thriving creative community from the ground up. Tune in to hear about his journey, the impact on local creators, and the power of collaboration in Fort Wayne. Check out the latest episode on our YouTube channel @fwmediacollaborative to watch the full episode or visit fwmediacollaborative.com! The Collaborative Corner is a production of the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative with the goal of connecting listeners to the stories and culture of Northeast Indiana. Hosted by WBOI Program Manager, Zach Bernard, and Digital Media Manager for the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative, Brianna Datta-Barrow. Produced by Brianna Datta-Barrow. Thank you to Fort Wayne Media Collaborative...

The Collaborative Corner | Kara Hackett

by Brianna Datta-Barrow | May 15, 2024

Episode 2 - Co-Founder and Editor of The Local Fort Wayne, Kara Hackett Welcome to The Collaborative Corner, where we dive into the heartbeat of Northeast Indiana! In this episode we delve into the pressing issues shaping Northeast Indiana with Kara Hackett, Co-Founder and Editor of The Local Fort Wayne. In this episode Kara discusses the key issues in Fort Wayne that her newsletter The Local covers. Kara brings a wealth of insight into Fort Wayne’s vibrant culture and ever-evolving landscape and uses her expertise to shed light on what makes Northeast Indiana truly unique. https://youtu.be/HAEzORlbF1I The Collaborative Corner is a production of the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative with the goal of connecting listeners to the stories and culture of Northeast Indiana. Hosted by WBOI Program...

Fort Wayne’s first Innovative Housing Showcase seeks to fill gaps in the local market

by Kara Hackett | May 9, 2024

As an architect from Detroit, Rena Bradley noticed Fort Wayne was lacking diverse housing styles when she moved here in 2015. At the time, she was working for Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries on the city’s Southeast side, addressing challenges in the neighborhood, like a housing shortage and a surplus of smaller, empty lots. Bradley thought that if she could bring a concept, like shipping container homes, to Fort Wayne it could benefit families and the city alike, giving residents an attainable path to homeownership and reactivating vacant lots too small for traditional housing. As an added bonus: It would give her more interesting homes to choose from, too. “I wanted to bring the type of housing to our community that I myself wanted to live in,” Bradley says. “Something...

Mobile Home Living in Fort Wayne: Get Grounded on the Rules, Rights, and Regulations

by Gabi Lorino | May 8, 2024

Roiann Smolinski of Fort Wayne lived in a mobile home with her family about 40 years ago, and remembers it well. “We had a small court, maybe only 30 homes, in a convenient location close to work. The court got plowed out early from snow. We had three bedrooms and two baths, and a nice sized kitchen. It served our purpose for living, until we bought a house six years later. My dad lived in the same court, so that was a bonus.” Smolinski also noted a few drawbacks, such as no access to covered or reserved parking spaces. Smolinski paid $135 for the home plus $190 for lot rent per month, which included landscaping and snow plowing but not utilities. Despite the arctic chills that visit Fort Wayne each winter, their mobile home stayed cozy. “We didn't have any trouble with...

Home Free: How the Forty Percent Live

by Gabi Lorino | May 1, 2024

Fort Wayne homeowner Kate was surprised to discover how she felt when she made the last mortgage payment on her home. “I thought the day I paid off the house would be the best day ever, but it is really the next month, when you don’t have to make that payment and you suddenly realize how much money you have to spend on something else.” At first she devoted her extra money to fixing up her house, but once those tasks were done, her options expanded. “Now we have money to go on vacations and relax and look toward retirement with less stress. My husband says that this house is our guarantee that we won’t have to eat cat food,” she joked. Their home has nearly tripled in value since they purchased it in 1996. She recommended making a full commitment to the home and its location to make...

« Older Entries

The Collaborative Corner | Christi & Amanda Hille

National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The Collaborative Corner | Rachel Blakeman

Land Banks: How They Work, and Why Fort Wayne Needs One

Full House: Generations of Families Share Homes and Lives

The Collaborative Corner | Zach Vessels

The Collaborative Corner | Kara Hackett

Fort Wayne’s first Innovative Housing Showcase seeks to fill gaps in the local market

Mobile Home Living in Fort Wayne: Get Grounded on the Rules, Rights, and Regulations

Home Free: How the Forty Percent Live

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The Collaborative Corner | Christi & Amanda Hille

National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The Collaborative Corner | Rachel Blakeman