City of Fishers Launches Community Ambassadors Advisory Committee
Writer / Renee Larr
Photographer / Amy Payne
Last September the City of Fishers launched a resident advisory committee called Community Ambassadors, to help residents feel more connected to the city and each other. The committee is comprised of a diverse group of 30 Fishers residents.
“We wanted to select a group of diverse individuals for this program,” says Stephanie Perry, assistant director of community and public relations for the City of Fishers. “We wanted racial diversity, age diversity, marital status diversity, diversity in how long they’ve lived in Fishers, and diversity in their professions. We have longtime residents, new residents, business owners and nonprofit leaders. We wanted to ensure we were representing different demographics.”
During the summer concert series, two group members will be stationed at the Community Meetup Tent at the Tuesday night concerts at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. The goal is for residents who love the city to meet up and learn about each other and the community.
“The goal is for the ambassadors to help you get connected with other community members,” Perry says. “These people are very engaged in different aspects of the community. They might have a great recommendation for a restaurant to try or a social club to join. They will have information on upcoming events. If you’re a longtime resident and want to meet people, the tent is a space where you can socialize and network.”
The Community Ambassadors launched their website on June 1 with profiles of each member. Each member profile features a list of topics that applies to their life, such as vegan food, parenting, cultural events, health and wellness, and youth athletics. Residents can reach out through the profiles to get more information on exciting topics.
“Even if you don’t feel connected to the city through the government or you don’t attend local events, you can reach out to our ambassadors,” Perry says. “They can help you find resources on gardening or whatever areas you’re interested in as a resident.”
Bethann Buddenbaum joined the group to help spread the word about all that Fishers has to offer. She says her goal is to be a community connector.
“I am continually impressed by the dedication to making this city dynamic and diverse,” Buddenbaum says. “I look forward to this program growing, both in size and opportunities for engagement. Connecting with a neighbor to get objective information and insight into personal experiences is helpful and authentic. It builds trust. I am excited to be a part of this bridge-building opportunity.”
Scott Spillman is executive director of Mudsock Youth Athletics, grew up in Fishers, and says he joined the group to help curate the same experience he had growing up here for other residents. He says the culture of Fishers is unique because the city grew substantially from being a small town, in a relatively quick amount of time. He thinks the city has done a great job incorporating vibrant culture and history.
The group also worked to revamp the new resident guide in conjunction with Fishers Magazine. For more information, visit thisisfishers.com/community-ambassadors.
