Turning Outward

At Heart of Indiana United Way, we believe the best way to strengthen our community is to listen first. That’s why we continue to turn outward—engaging neighbors in meaningful conversations that help guide our work and priorities.

In 2024, we hosted 20 dynamic Heart to Heart Talks, bringing together neighbors from across our region to share what matters most in their lives and communities. People spoke openly about their hopes, challenges, and aspirations, highlighting the importance of safety, belonging, and support for those facing hardship.

 

Hope in Action Playbook
These conversations created valuable Public Knowledge—community-driven insight that helps outline a path toward more connected and resilient communities, where every person is seen, valued, and supported. From these discussions, four key themes emerged that reflect the shared aspirations and concerns of our community. Together, these themes paint a clearer picture of what people want for their neighborhoods and for the future. At Heart of Indiana United Way, these voices guide our work because the people experiencing these realities understand what is truly needed. What we heard clearly is a desire for safety rooted in connection—not fear—and for equity that ensures everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

4 Unique Themes Identified

Safety & Well-Being: People shared that the global pandemic had a lasting effect, creating feelings of isolation and fear. Many are seeing addiction within the community resulting in higher crime rates and loss of life. They envision a safe community with lots of activities for adults and children creating a greater sense of community pride.

“COVID impacted us and caused more isolation and fear of the unknown.”

Belonging: Generational and cultural differences can sometimes make it difficult for people to feel a sense of belonging. International immigrants sometimes struggle to find their place in communities while attempting to overcome barriers such as language difference and finding resources.

“Culturally we have changed, and our kids now have social media, video games and other things so they don’t go and hang out places like [we] did.”

Community Dynamics: Both tangible and heartfelt, the struggles within communities such as homelessness, food insecurity, and addiction emerged from participants’ experiences lived or encountered. Amidst these difficulties, they hope for communities in which citizens work together to tackle the problems with greater empathy and less judgement.

“(I want) a community village where everyone looks out for each other.”

Economic Challenges: Throughout all the conversations, financial struggles were raised along with hopes for economic growth and security.

“There are inequities between income levels… (I want) a community with a plan for growth and resources.”

I am interested in either being a part of or hosting a Heart to Heart conversation in my community. 

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