What are Neighborhood Power Lab Workshops?
In recent months, we've noticed an increase in the number of citizens showing up at public meetings, like City Council, seeking to share their concerns and ideas with elected officials. So when we heard the City of Fort Wayne's Department of Neighborhoods in Community Development was launching a series of Power Lab Workshops to provide citizens with tools and information to get more engaged in civic life, we couldn't resist the opportunity to sign up for a few sessions ourselves and learn more about the effort.
Our reporter Chrystel Lopez sat down with Neighborhood Planner Réna Bradley for a quick Q&A about these meetings, which include free meals for attendees. The next one, "Owning the Mic: Public Speaking Essentials" with Chad Chenowith, is April 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the ACPL's Main Branch, Meeting Room A. (Free RSVP required.) See additional workshops, and register here.
The Local: Tell us more about the intention behind the Neighborhood Power Lab Workshop series, and what inspired each topic you're covering this year?
RB: The Neighborhood Power Lab provides workshops that equip neighborhood residents to improve their community, elevate community voices, and cultivate a collaborative spirit within our community. By attending our workshops, participants gain access to knowledge and tools they can use to take their efforts to the next level! The bonus is that much of this content is presented by “citizen experts” – local Fort Wayne-ites – who live, work, and are active members of their own communities, our neighborhoods.
This year, topics were inspired by Fort Wayne residents themselves! Through focus groups and more informal feedback and conversations, residents let us know what their areas of concern are and how those may be stumbling blocks to community success.
With these workshops, we ultimately hope to help neighborhoods transform topics that may be pain points – like public speaking, fundraising, and advocacy related to public projects – into points of power. We hope to help residents overcome knowledge gaps and understanding that is embedded deeply within our community.
The Local: How can citizens in Fort Wayne empower their neighborhoods and communities?
RB: I think that everyone possesses an innate power and capacity to shape change that no one in this world can either give or take away. What we can do is embolden, encourage, and provide safe space for that power to be recognized, developed, and ultimately, applied. The best place to start is where you are with what you have. What you’ve learned, share openly; where you have passion, engage actively; when you see progress, celebrate and encourage those making it!
This is what it means to not just encourage growth in a community, but to be a member of it, lending your strength(s) to a common cause and emboldening those around you to realize their own capacity to shape change.
Given that people tend to go where they feel welcome, stay where they feel valued, and contribute where they think their actions can make a meaningful difference, I think one of the best ways to empower a community is by being supportive and open to ideas from everyone.
The Local: Input Fort Wayne recently declared 2026 the "The Year of the Neighborhood." In what ways do you see Fort Wayne residents advocating for their neighborhoods?
RB: The list is so long!... and that’s a beautiful thing. Many residents contribute in the ways we traditionally associate with advocacy – distributing and signing petitions, casting their ballots, organizing cleanups and block parties, serving on boards, focus groups, and committees, etc. But just as powerful are the everyday acts of kindness and care that often go unseen. I’ve heard countless stories of neighbors practicing compassion for one another.
Here are just a few:
- Neighborhood youth are making an impact by tutoring younger children to improve literacy and help them pass IREAD exams and even creating resource guides to support immigrant and non-native English-speaking neighbors as they navigate the city.
- Everyday residents are mentoring youth, growing and sharing fresh produce, helping repair homes, clearing storm drains to prevent flooding, and organizing efforts to advocate for infrastructure improvements like signage and bus shelters.
- Association leaders are helping install accessibility ramps, launching book clubs to build leadership among block captains, hosting social gatherings to strengthen community bonds, and showing up in deeply personal ways—mowing lawns, picking up trash, supporting single moms, and simply offering a listening ear.
As Gret Machlan, the President of Harvester Neighborhood, shared with Input Fort Wayne, “Beyond the practical aspect, … Seeing a tangible improvement lifts our spirits and shows us what’s possible when we work together.”
The Local: What makes Fort Wayne's neighborhoods unique?
RB: For one thing, the sheer number of our neighborhoods. For example, Detroit and Chicago have about 200 and 240 neighborhoods, respectively, while Fort Wayne has over 450! That’s 450+ different identities, economic mixes, cultures, and design aesthetics. Yet, in the midst of that variety and diversity, we see more and more residents and neighborhoods desiring and making steps to learn from and strengthen one another. Working collectively and toward our common goal of having strong, healthy communities is what makes Fort Wayne’s neighborhoods so powerful. Neighborhood Power Lab is here to help support and develop that legacy.
Local: How was your first Neighborhood Power Lab Workshop in March on Winning Sponsorships for Neighborhood Projects?
RB: We had a fantastic turnout! We were at our maximum capacity of 24 attendees, which included some youth who came with their parents. The attendees rated the workshop 4.8 stars out of 5 and very much appreciated the practical information Tiffany Shelby-Sewell, from East Central, and Lori Stombaugh, from Northside, shared. One participant shared, “It was great hearing from people who have succeeded doing this work.”
The next Neighborhood Power Lab Workshop is on "Owning the Mic: Public Speaking Essentials," on April 30 at 5:30 p.m. (Free RSVP required here.) All workshops are held at the ACPL's Main Branch, Meeting Room A, and include a free dinner.
- Speak up! Expressing Dissent or Support for Public Projects with Connie Haas Zuber on May 28 at 5:30 p.m.
- Avoiding Burnout and Developing Resiliency with Alice Muhammad on June 25 at 5:30 p.m.