Registration is now open for the free 2026 Inspire Neighborhoods Conference, which welcomes all residents interested in learning about practical and innovative strategies for improving their neighborhoods.
News release from the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana:
Free conference set to INSPIRE neighborhood leaders
Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 29, 2026) – Registration is now open for the free 2026 Inspire Neighborhoods Conference, which welcomes all residents interested in learning about practical and innovative strategies for improving their neighborhoods.
Residents can register now at www.inspirefortwayne.com. Registration will close August 31, 2026.
Hosted by the City of Fort Wayne’s Department of Neighborhoods, the conference will take place September 11 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Electric Works, 1690 Broadway. An awards dinner will follow the conference from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Residents can sign up for both events or attend just one.
“This will be our fourth annual Inspire Conference, and it grows each year,” said Réna Bradley, neighborhood planner and chair of the event. “The conference offers dozens of learning opportunities for grassroots leaders, but the best part may be the connections and collaborations that develop among participants.”
Registration includes attendance and access to workshops and speakers, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner. The conference is free for Fort Wayne residents, thanks to generous sponsors NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation, AARP Indiana, Input Fort Wayne, Foellinger Foundation, Bowen Health, Fort Wayne New Markets Revitalization Fund, Partners 1st Federal Credit Union and 1st Source Bank.
This year’s conference theme is “Resilience: Together we are stronger.” The luncheon and dinner keynotes will highlight themes of building strong leaders, teams and communities. The luncheon keynote “Resilience in Action: Practical Tools for Stronger People, Leaders and Communities” will be presented by clinical psychologist and former United States Secret Service Agent, Mary Beth Wilkas Janke, PhD. The awards dinner keynote, titled “I Am Because We Are: Answering the Call for our Communities,” will be delivered by Lem Cartman, manager of community relations for Henry Ford Health and founder of WE Inc. (With Everyone).
Fort Wayne residents who attend the 2026 Inspire Conference will be eligible to apply for a Sparked at Inspire micro-grant presented by the Indiana Michigan Power Foundation. Sparked at Inspire micro-grants allow conference attendees to apply for up to $1,500 to implement projects in Fort Wayne neighborhoods. After the conference, attendees will be contacted with application information.
The City of Fort Wayne’s Community Development Division works to establish Fort Wayne as the Community of Choice for residents, visitors and businesses by growing the economy, strengthening neighborhoods and supporting housing options. Visit CityofFortWayne.in.gov/CD for more information.
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