We’re so excited to welcome Blake Johnson to the IndyHub team. Blake will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day management, operation and strategy for IndyHub and the IndyHub Foundation, along with our Live Indy initiative, No Mean City. He’s been on the job for officially one week so far, and we figure he’ll be coming up with a whole lot more in the new year as we head into a strategic planning year!
Blake comes to us from Complete College America and is an elected member of the Indianapolis City-County Council where he sits on the Administration and Finance, Rules and Public Policy, Ethics, and Community Affairs Committees. He also chairs the Council’s Education Committee and is a member of the Early Intervention Planning Council at MCCOY and Indianapolis Charter School Board.
In his spare time, Blake enjoys spending time with his wife Natalie and their two, wildly spoiled dogs, Jack and Jamison. Enjoy learning more about Blake below!
How long have you lived in Indianapolis, and what neighborhood do you call home?
I moved to Indianapolis in 2009 to teach in the Indianapolis Public Schools as part of Teach for America. I always knew I’d end up in this city, though, dating back to when I was a kid and I attended my first Indianapolis Indians game. For me, Indy was love at first sight. When I first arrived, I lived downtown. Now, thanks to having met and married a lifelong Eastsider, I call the Community Heights neighborhood home.
Where are you originally from?
Daleville, Indiana, population 1,600 (I usually just say Muncie.)
You’re a Councillor- what’s going on in your district right now?
There is no shortage of energy and activity happening on the Eastside, from new developments and businesses popping up to community organizations leading the charge in making neighborhoods stronger. Right now, I’m most excited that so many of our neighborhoods are being invested in and in really big ways: the new Community Justice Complex in Twin Aire, a major renovation at Community East Hospital in Community Heights, new businesses and developments in Irvington and Englewood and countless families moving into Christian Park, Little Flower, Emerson Heights and Rivoli Park.
What program or initiative (or a few, let’s be honest there’s a lot to choose from) are you most excited about digging into here at IndyHub?
I’ve always been a big fan of IndyVolved. For so many people, it’s a powerful entry point not just to IndyHub but to the many, many opportunities that exist to make a difference and to shape our city. I’m also eager to get engaged with our 1828 Project leadership program, Hello Neighbor! and this year’s Passport to the Arts.
[Editor’s Note: Pssst, our Passport Indy arts samplers are on sale now– and make a great last minute gift for your favorite young leader!]
Our city is constantly in a state of development, especially in the past five or so years. What things will be crucial for Indy to nail during this time and how will it set us up to be a more competitive city to attract the best talent?
We have to stop being humble. Indianapolis is unique, with countless to build meaningful connections, get engaged in incredible organizations and causes and grow both professionally and civically. Not to mention, this is a fun city to live in, too. We have to get focused on how we share that story not just here, but all over the country. People here don’t just live in Indy, they live Indy – by getting involved, by making a difference and by collaborating to ensure we just keep getting better and better as a community.
On June 13, 2019 we’ll gather thousands of 20- and 30-somethings who are looking to get civically engaged at IndyVolved 14. We know you’ve attended in the past, but what are you looking forward to the most now that you’re on the team and will see the behind-the-scenes magic of the event?
More than anything else, I’m excited to hear from our attendees and participating organizations about why they’re excited to call Indy home. IndyVolved is our city’s premier gathering place for people who care a whole lot about how this city is growing and changing. I can’t think of anything more incredible than a room full of thousands of people who have a single mission: make this city the best place to live, work and play. It’s an electric experience, and I’m thrilled to be involved.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I love a great meal (and Indy delivers a lot of options). You can also find me at concerts throughout the city, out with my family in one of Indy’s 211 local parks, or attending a neighborhood meeting (one of the 14 I represent on the Council). I’m truly passionate about connecting people to opportunities – to better themselves, to make a difference in their communities. For most of my career, that has taken the form of work in education, but in my new role as President of IndyHub, I’m excited to leverage that passion in a new way.
Where is your go-to spot for people that are new to town or visiting?
Indy is home to some incredible monuments and memorials (second only to DC in the number we boast). As a history lover, I’m always eager to show them off, carting my friends to Monument Circle along with a stroll up the American Legion Mall. I also love sharing the Landmark for Peace at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park with first-time visitors.
What’s a hobby you wish you had?
I wish I was more into camping and fishing. In theory, I think they are both incredible and peaceful activities to do. In practice, it just never happens. My wife and I have a tent that has never been opened. Maybe we’ll break it out in 2019.
Where can people find you when you’re looking to grab an adult beverage?
I can often be found at a few neighborhood haunts, including Black Acre Brewery in Irvington, or if it’s a Friday night, karaoke at the Shi Kay Lounge in Little Flower is a go-to.
Throughout our signature events and programs, we’re always looking for the best advice to give Indy’s young leaders- what was the best advice you were given and how has it helped you get to where you are today?
I’ve always loved that Indy is a place where no matter how old you are and whether you’ve lived here your whole life or you’ve fallen in love with the city as an adult, there is a place for you and limitless opportunities for you to play a big role. My advice: dive in head first. And a great way to do that is to connect with IndyHub – whatever your passion may be, we can help plug you in to the organizations and opportunities that make this one incredible place to call home.
