When there’s a data center coming to your neighborhood and you want to understand the zoning process, a mayor’s neighborhood advocate can explain it to you.
When there’s more potholes than ever on your street, a mayor’s neighborhood advocate can help you fill out a request to fix them and follow up with the right city department.
Or if you want to start your own neighborhood association, you can call a mayor’s neighborhood advocate.
Mayor’s neighborhood advocates, or MNAs, work in 10 different areas of Indianapolis. It’s their job to be a bridge between city government and neighbors.
Carla James, 52, lives in the Brendon Park neighborhood in Lawrence Township, where she’s asked mayor’s neighborhood advocates to help out with bad street conditions and to join neighborhood meetings. Her neighborhood is in area 1.
“They can guide when we have questions about the things that are going on in our neighborhood,” she said. “They understand the inner workings, they understand the different departments and areas of the city.”
Each MNA does things a little differently, but generally, they go to neighborhood meetings and meet people at community centers or libraries to share resources, explain updates from the city and listen to feedback.
In area 7 on the north side of Indy, Carrington Sanders fulfills his role as an MNA by showing up to nearly 20 neighborhood meetings each month.
Ivan Holder runs the Bellaire Neighborhood Association, a community group for an area near the Indiana State Fairgrounds. He knew the mayor’s neighborhood advocate for area 7 before Sanders, and Holder said he’s seen Sanders grow into the role.
“Carrington’s been coming to all our meetings, which gives us full support. And I can text him anytime—he’ll get back with me or call me,” said Ivan Holder, who runs the Bellaire Neighborhood Association, a community group for an area near the Indiana State Fairgrounds that’s within area 7.
“You can tell the people who listen, the people who don’t. And I think his word is really good,” Holder added.
On the south side, Bruce Bye, 79, runs the Southdale Neighborhood Association. He lives in area 3, where Delia Novak is the MNA. Bye said she’s helped him understand who to contact in the city about rundown motels in his area. She comes to neighborhood events and she also connected him to a state office to help Bye’s church keep their nonprofit status up-to-date, even though statewide issues are not her job.
“She’s in tune, she listens and she has excellent follow up,” Bye said.
James Williams, 47, lives in Nora, a north side neighborhood in area 1. He described past interactions with MNAs as mostly positive.
“I think they are limited by the position itself, just what it’s designed to do,” Williams said. “Obviously, if they had smaller areas and could devote more time (to each neighborhood), I think that that would be helpful.”
“They’re not in a position that’s not designed to be one of ‘I will make this happen for you,’” he said. “I think they really seem to be about just disseminating information and trying to connect you to the right person.”
To become an MNA, you have to have a bachelor’s degree or four years of related work experience. The starting salary is just above $55,000 a year. The Mayor’s Neighborhood Advocate who’s been in the position the longest started in 2016.
If you have a question an MNA can’t answer, or you want to share a compliment or complaint, reach out to the Mayor’s Action Center. Call the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622.
How to find out which Mayor’s Neighborhood Advocate represents you
There are 10 areas covering the whole city. These are different from the district city-county councilors represent. You can use this map to see where you would fit, or you can put in your address online to find out who represents you. Note: the Area four MNA position is open.
Meet your mayor’s neighborhood advocate
Area 1: Lawrence, north east side
Dhara Marquez
Phone: 317-327-5140
Cell: 317-833-4938
Email: Dhara.Marquez@indy.gov
Area 2: Far eastside
Sydney Starks
Phone: 317-327-5126
Cell: 317-833-4933
Email: sydney.starks@indy.gov
Area 3: Southeast side
Delia Novak
Cell: 317-429-7807
Email: delia.novak@indy.gov
Area 4: Southwest side
Currently vacant. If you live in this area and need help, reach out to the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622.
Area 5: Northwest side
Joseline Medina
Phone: 317-833-4530
Email: Joseline.medina@indy.gov
Area 6: Near Northwest
Susan Martinez
Phone: 317-327-5115
Cell: 317-429-7806
Email: Susan.Martinez2@indy.gov
Area 7: Northeast side
Carrington Sanders
Phone: 317-327-5119
Cell: 317-777-2391
Email: Carrington.Sanders@indy.gov
Area 8: Near eastside
Rosemary Stockdale
Phone 317-327-5128
Cell 317-452-0336
Email: Rosemary.Stockdale@indy.gov
Area 9: South east of downtown
Charles Russell III
Phone: 317-327-5127
Cell: 317-452-0316
Email: Charles.RussellIII@indy.gov
Area 10: Near Westside
Ana Santiago
Phone 317-327-5542
Cell 317-495-4523
Email: ana.santiagobaeza@indy.gov
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Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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