Advertise on podcast: Community Connection, from Indiana Public Radio

As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you IPR's production of This American Carol, our radio drama broadcast on Friday, Dec. 17, live from Sursa Performance Hall. This American Carol is a contemporary comedy mashup of A Christmas Carol and The Office, as told in the style of NPR’s This American Life.  The new production is written for IPR by award-winning playwright, screenwriter and professor of theatre at Ball State University, Dr. Jennifer Blackmer. The main character is Carol, a successful branch manager who has a misguided idea of what celebrating the holidays at work actually means.  Carol, who wants things done in a very specific way, won’t listen to anyone’s input and, after a fit of epic proportions (her staff literally fear for their jobs), she decides to cancel the party. The next day, three mysterious meetings pop up on Carol’s Outlook calendar (ghosts) who come along to teach Carol that respecting your coworkers and listening to them not only makes for a good team, but they can also become the family you need but never had.

Indiana Public Radio aired a live re-enactment of Orson Welles' famous "War of the Worlds" broadcast on the show's 70th anniversary in 2008. The IPR radio drama has since become an annual holiday tradition at Ball State University, growing over the years as a unique collaboration among community members, Ball State faculty, and Ball State students. "Comfort and Joy, An IPR Radio Drama Retrospective" reveals the process of creating this local holiday tradition and explores why storytelling in this format - "theater of the mind" - has found such an enthusiastic audience in today's fast-paced world.

Community Connection is proud to bring this special broadcast online. IPR's flagship station, WBST 92.1 FM, Muncie, celebrates 60 years on the air through a look back at the station's rich broadcasting history. This special broadcast includes audio from WBST's 50th Anniversary Show, produced by Brian Eckstein and broadcast on September 12, 2010, which in turn featured audio from WBST's 30th Anniversary Radio Program, produced by Dan Skinner and broadcast on September 12th, 1990. Host and producer Sean Ashcraft guides us through these past 60 years with a local programming update focusing on the last decade of Indiana Public Radio. New material for this special broadcast was written by Michelle Kinsey.

Michelle is joined by three Master Gardeners this month to talk about all that’s in store for the Delaware County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA) and their 30th anniversary this year. Founded in 1990, the Delaware County group is part of the original Master Gardener program created in 1972 in Seattle, Washington. The goal of DCMGA is to promote and teach good gardening and horticulture practices in cooperation with the Purdue University Extension Services, and membership is open to anyone who has successfully completed the Master Gardener Basic Training class and certification. 

Dorica Watson joins us this month for a chat about Second Harvest Food Bank's poverty elimination program, Forward S.T.E.P.S.. The acronym stands for "Support Transforming Empowerment Pathways to Sustainability," and this initiative is a relationship-based program in which social service agencies, businesses, and community members come together to support ALICE ("Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed") and other under-resourced individuals working to access their full potential. We also learn about an interesting educational experience program offered by the group that seeks to raise empathy and understanding about living in poverty.  To learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank itself, check out our recent episode featuring the group! 

YWCA of Central Indiana's CEO Watasha Barnes Griffin joins Michelle for a look-ahead discussion on the new year for the Muncie-based chapter of YWCA. The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, dignity and freedom for all. Their vision is that every woman in East Central Indiana has access to the resources needed to better themselves and the lives of those around them. In this episode, we hear all about how the Central Indiana chapter achieves that mission and how we can all help out.

As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you IPR's production of "Christmas Gifts”, our radio drama broadcast on Friday, Dec. 13, live from Sursa Performance Hall. Matthew Reeder directs a cast of local talent in a live performance of this story adapted by David Little. "Christmas Gifts" brings two O. Henry stories to life. "Gift of the Magi" and "The Last Leaf" are intertwined to tell a holiday story that spans generations and recreates the magic of old-time live radio programs with community actors, musicians, and foley sound effects.

Michelle speaks with Steven Knipp about the upcoming Muncie Pride event set for September 19th, 2020, at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie. The goal of Muncie Pride is to support social, educational and other activities for the LGBTQ community in Muncie and the surrounding area. They work closely with Muncie OUTreach which provide programming for LGBTQ youth. You can hear our recent conversation with that organization here.

November is a very busy month for Feed My Sheep, a Muncie group that feeds hundreds of area residents through served meals and delivery to homes on Thanksgiving Day. Michelle speaks with Steve Case about the groups plans for this year. In 1996, founders George and Teresa Huggins answered a heartfelt call to reach out to others and start an outreach that would fill a void for the lonely and less fortunate, while reaching across lines and uniting the Muncie community. Joined by a host of gracious, loving, and giving donors and volunteers, the Harvest Celebration Thanksgiving Day Dinner has grown to become a tremendous expression of the generous “spirit of community” very much alive in Muncie.

Michelle speaks with C.S. and Diane from Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana this month. Founded in 1983, Second Harvest is a non-profit organization funded by philanthropic and community support and is devoted to feeding the hungry, advocating for those with food insecurity, and providing nutrition education. They fight hunger by working with partner agencies, local schools, corporate partners, and a wide network of volunteers to serve hundreds of people each week. They are a member of Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. We last heard from Second Harvest back in 2014. Listen in to learn new ways you can get involved! 

Michelle speaks with a board member and the president of Interlock ECI, the local organization whose mission is to assist and educate families in East Central Indiana living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and to assist local special education classrooms to accommodate needs of students with autism spectrum disorders. We learn all about their family-friendly support groups, helpful resources, sensory-friendly events, and many partnerships that have made this all volunteer-run group a success.

It's a conversation with Mid-Indiana Trails (MINT) this month: our a local chapter of the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). The chapter covers east central Indiana, including the cities of Muncie, Anderson, Winchester, and New Castle. Their goal is to provide a local voice for trail users and bring the full resources of IMBA to our area. The chapter's current project is the Prairie Creek Trails Project located on the Southeast corner of Prairie Creek Reservoir in Delaware County. In this episode, we learn about their progress so far, their goals for the project, and how folks can get involved at either the Prairie Creek Trails Project Facebook page or the MINT Facebook page.