Op/Ed: Want to make Indianapolis better? I do too; here's how we get there: volunteer.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Understanding the phenomenal transformation of Indianapolis since the election of Richard Lugar as mayor in 1967 requires the ability and necessity to think both above and beyond partisanship.
To paraphrase a famous legal term, a city should remain stable but never stand still.
While Indianapolis would be nearly unrecognizable to someone who lived here in the 1960s; the question now is, where do we go from here? Stadiums, trails, buildings, and their cousins are all amazing. The marvelous connectivity that continues to blossom in our city is beautiful and splendid.
The foundation of Indianapolis, however, is not structures — but service. The volunteerism that makes events and their attendees want to come here and famous sportscasters never want to leave here.
One of Indy’s quietest leaders and willing volunteers is David Lewis. The Eli Lilly alumnus’ resume of civic service is as impressive as you will find. Super Bowl committees, Indiana Sports Corporation board, and David currently serves as president of the Indy Championships Fund. He is as renowned as he is respected.
More:317 Project: This Indianapolis man can't say no to helping. But he also doesn't want to.
David and I are conducting a running dialogue about our capital’s next phase of growth and what Indianapolis will look like for the next generation. One of his most compelling points is that our city needs to magnify and support a renewed sense of commonality through volunteerism.
A significant number of commentators have theorized the coarsening of our modern society is due in large part to the atrophying of community and service organizations. We used to gather more often in settings other than concerts and sporting events.
So how do we inspire people to reconnect in a meaningful and personal way while at the same time giving back to the city that means so much to us?
One of David’s ideas is to create an IndyCorps initiative focusing on teens, young adults, retirees, volunteers, coaches, teachers, et al. An organization to foster people working together and filling the gaps in our institutional systems while supplementing the efforts of people who are working in the trenches every day.
Opportunities at all levels of our Indianapolis community are plentiful. Working a shift at the USO office at the airport, picking up trash, helping someone learn to read, serving at a domestic violence shelter, volunteering at one of our major events … the list is endless; the need is boundless.
More:105-year-old World War II Navy veteran Hellen Guthrie reflects on service, life
“We Hoosiers excel at the emotions of kindness and friendship,” said Lewis. “We have done amazing things, but we need to reenergize our sense of working for each other.”
He’s right. We lose so much by living in small bubbles of our own construct. Indianapolis needs the power of its citizens to make our future identity as compelling as our current one.
IndyCorps could be the idea that starts a broader and more critical discussion: How do we use the power of our people to address many of our community’s problems?
A renewed sense of volunteerism would have a tremendous impact on our city’s quality of life. We would get to know each other again while at the same time using our friendships as a force multiplier for positive change.
“Every challenge facing Indianapolis can be overcome with a renewed spirit of community at the grassroots level and a willingness to put aside our differences to work for the common good,” continued Lewis. “An initiative like IndyCorps could serve as a catalyst for bringing us back together to serve one another.”
Is our society fractured in a way unique in our history? Is it too late to do anything about it? How we answer these questions (and more) will define Indianapolis throughout the 21st century and beyond; the IndyCorps idea is a step in the right direction.
Now, who is willing to take the first step?
Robert Vane is the principal at public relations firm Veteran Strategies Inc. He was deputy chief of staff and communications director in the Mayor Greg Ballard administration and served in the United States Army.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Helping others can improve connection, quality of life in Indianapolis
