On The Ground

Francisco Reyes sits outside his house in Southeast Fort Wayne where he's building a culture around Hip-Hop.

Meet a Fort Wayne artist building Hip-Hop culture in Southeast

Francisco Reyes is working to support his neighborhood with graffiti art and Hip-Hop culture.

Rolling with it: Photos from a free Back to School Skate Night by Black Women of Excellence

In a particularly stressful Back to School season, Black Women of Excellence hosted a fun way for local families to roll into the new academic year.

Gregg Smith-Causey is a father himself in Southeast Fort Wayne.
Infant mortality rates in Southeast reveal health gaps in Fort Wayne and inspire support for fathers

A Black father in Southeast Fort Wayne is heading up a new initiative by Healthier Moms & Babies to help families amidst broken systems.

In 2019, Jon Rehwaldt launched The Workbench on the city’s Southeast side.
Need a prototype of your product? This Fort Wayne venture is helping others get started

Jon Rehwaldt of The Workbench shares how his makerspace is evolving during COVID-19 and inspiring innovation on the Southeast side.

Kendra Smiley and her daughters Kendall and Kenyale as well as two of the children she cares for at her home-based daycare service.
Community Heroes: COVID-19 draws attention to child care providers and teachers serving Southeast

As the nation goes back-to-school amidst a pandemic, local child care providers, educators, and parents alike are feeling the strain.

The Human Agricultural Cooperative and the Family and Friends Fund in collaboration with Hyper Local Impact is hosting an old school telethon planned for August 14 and 15.
Get details on an ‘old school’ telethon to support Southeast Fort Wayne

"With the telethon approach, we are able to speak directly to the community while highlighting many of the great things that are already starting to take root."

Diane Rogers was one of the organizers behind Friday's protest to save Ward School.
Demolishing hope: How the fight to save Ward School became the fight to stabilize a neighborhood

“How do you destroy a community? There are several ways you do that.”  

Jacqueline Redd has lived in the same house in Southeast Fort Wayne for 41 years.
What does living in Southeast Fort Wayne mean to you? Residents fill us in

Four residents share firsthand experiences living in the 46803 and 46806 zip codes.  

Britney Breidenstein, Input Fort Wayne's On the Ground Southeast Project Editor, emceed the event.
Reflections on our first On the Ground Southeast event

On Thursday, Aug. 6., Input Fort Wayne's On the Ground Southeast program partnered with Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Center to host a Story Slam in the Mount Vernon Park neighborhood.

Rebecca Ridley enjoys her front porch in the Renaissance Pointe neighborhood.
‘We see you, and we see good in you’: Southeast Fort Wayne residents share hopes for the community

Reflecting on Southeast Fort Wayne’s past, present, and future, residents share challenges and opportunities they see.

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