8twelve Coalition amplifies resident voices in neighborhood change
Community Partner Spotlight
In the mid 2010s, many U.S. Habitat for Humanity affiliates were adding a focus on neighborhood revitalization to their housing access work. As a key player in this work, in 2015 Muncie Habitat convened a coalition of Muncie residents, non-profit organizations, local officials, and businesses to align agendas in a way that could transform quality of life in two historically underserved Muncie neighborhoods: Thomas Park/Avondale and South Central. The group adopted the name “8twelve Coalition,” referring to the space between Muncie’s 8th and 12th streets, which are the north-south bounds of the Coalition’s footprint.
With an interest in improving health alongside residents of these neighborhoods, Open Door Health Services became an 8twelve Coalition partner in 2017. Because the Coalition prioritizes resident involvement at every level of planning and implementation—often surveying residents or participating in listening sessions—Open Door receives insights into the health-related barriers, perceptions, and needs among 8twelve households. Working closely with residents and Coalition partners, Open Door serves these neighborhoods in the following ways:
Placing Open Door neighborhood ambassadors at Ross Community Center, Maring-Hunt Library, Common Market, and weekly Avondale community meals to build relationships and help residents connect with support resources, make healthcare appointments, and enroll in insurance coverage
Helping to plan and sponsor the Thomas Park/Avondale Last Day of School Party
Serving on 8twelve’s business and wellness action teams and initiating a monthly outreach worker networking meeting
Participating in events like the Big Idea food distribution at South View Elementary School, health fairs at Ross Community Center, and 8twelve’s Halloween Trunk or Treats
By 2022, both Habitat and the Coalition decided the Coalition had grown to a point where it was ready to launch into an organization that would provide a larger organization home, and that had mission alignment of broad social and community support. Open Door became that new home in July 2022. In this partnership, the Coalition contributes considerable expertise in neighborhood engagement to Open Door’s outreach efforts, while Open Door provides administrative support for 8twelve.
Jena Ashby, the 8twelve Coalition director, is proud of the resident-driven work the Coalition and Open Door have contributed to over the last several years, and she’s eager to see what the future holds for community work in the 8twelve neighborhoods. “We are grateful for the shared vision of improving quality of life and the many ways we can work with neighbors to see their gifts, dreams, and concerns upheld,” says Ashby.
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Open Door Health Services operating in East Central Indiana! While caring for community members under different names during that time, the organization has seen a rich history of patient-focused care and intentional relationship-building with community partners.
To help celebrate this history of partnership, each month we'll be featuring the story of Open Door's partnership with an area organization. Thank you to our partners for helping us celebrate the impact we make TOGETHER on quality of life.