You

Everyone has a role; Everyone can be a contributor. Whether it’s giving tours at the Ruthmere, coaching soccer, launching a festival, or serving food at the Elkhart County 4H Fair, everyone in this community has an opportunity to participate in the Vibrant Communities movement. Vibrant Communities has flourished because of the involvement and feedback of Elkhart County residents who love the place that they live.

No matter your background, your input to the Action Agenda and volunteerism throughout our community is making a difference . Ready to get involved? Tell us what your interests you, and we’ll find a place a place for you to plug into the movement. Thank You!

The Vibrant Communities Next Chapter (Action Agenda 2.0) effort involved hundreds of engaged community members, community volunteers, and leaders. A huge thank you to everyone involved.

Organizing Committee

Ray Caldwell
Mary Cripe
Arvis Dawson
Bend Eldridge
Tanya Heyde
Jon Hunsberger
Phil Jenkins
Natasha Kauffman
Holly Landis
Cindy Ostrom
Corinne Straight
Suzie Weirick
Candy Yoder
Mike Yoder

Steering Committee

Idris Busari
Lindsey Caterina
Lela Crawford-Benson
Mary Cripe
Arvis Dawson
Ben Eldridge
Mayra Garcia
Dina Harris
Tanya Heyde
Sheri Howland
Mike Huber
Levon Johnson
Stephanie Kabel
Natasha Kauffmann
Nick Kieffer
Jeff Kitson
Holly Landis
Mixhi Marquis
Ashley Boling Molyneaux
Tara Morris
Bil Murray
Rick Newbill
Tanzie Nielsen
Ron Norman
Cindy Ostrom
Gilberto Perez
Phil Jenkins
Brittany Short
Corinne Straight
Steve Thalheimer
Suzie Weirick
Candy Yoder
Mike Yoder

Sponsors & Partners

City of Elkhart
City of Goshen
City of Nappanee
Community Foundation of Elkhart County
enFocus
EyeDart Creative
Goshen Chamber of Commerce
Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce
Indiana University South Bend
Middlebury Chamber of Commerce
Nappanee Chamber of Commerce
PlanningNext
Town of Middlebury
Town of Millersburg
Town of Wakarusa
Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce

Outreach Committee

Monica Abair
Carmen Carpenter
Brian Cook
Chris Garner
Janet Graham
Derald Gray
Kristi Helmkamp
Sharon Hernandez
Andrew Hershberger
Steve Hope
Kay House-Clark
Hugh Johnson
Ashley Jordan
Angie Kearns
Tom Labuzienski
Brooklyn Moore
Cynthia Murphy
Todd Nunemaker
Steve Peterson
Jim Pinkerton
Sharon Sarber
Keith Sarber
Troy Smith
Elizabeth Stokes
Jill Swartz

Community Task Force

Monica Abair
Becky Bontreger
Darald Bontrager
Judy Briganti
Amy Brown
Mary Cripe
Jamison Czarnecki
Ben Eldridge
Jessica Frye
Amber Gingerich
Tanya Heyde
Allan Kauffman
Holly Landis
Phil Mason
Karen Martin
Tara Morris
Bil Murray
Adrienne Nesbitt
Rick Newbill
Ron Norman
Cherri Peate
Carol Reeves
Theresa Sailor
Jesse Sensenig
Philip Sleeseman
Troy Smith
Jill Swartz
Mackenzie Taylor
Crystal Welsh
Marcia Wetzel
Marcia Williams

Event Locations & Coordinators

Beacon Health and Aquatic Center, Staff
Elkhart Black Expo 50th Anniversary, Robb Taylor
ECS, Greg Stover and Michelle Yoder
Elkhart County Historical Museum, Julie Parke
Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Joel Miller and Mikaela Yoder
Goshen Farmers Market, staff
Goshen Theater, Susan Visser and Robert Tombari
Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, Ginger Lyons
Elkhart Jazz Festival, Ben Decker
Main Street Roasters, Cassie Weaver
Middlebury Town Hall, Mary Cripe
Millersburg Town Hall, Ben Eldridge
Nappanee Public Library, Jason Fields
NorthWood Middle School, Tim Hershberger, Wakarusa Town Marshal
Shanklin Park/Schrock Pavilion, Tanya Heyde
Wakarusa Town Hall, Holly Landis
Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Eric Garton