Category Archives

Engaged Citizens

Planting Seeds for a Career in Leadership

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: March 7, 2025
Categories: Engaged Citizens, News & Features, Volunteers, Youth Tree Team

For Jillian Lain, her career in community engagement and leadership began with a shovel in hand and a passion for making a difference. As a Youth Tree Team (YTT) leader in 2007, Jillian didn’t know then that her summer job with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) would shape the way she approached her professional journey, leadership […]

Volunteer Spotlight: Maithilee Das Lappin

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: January 21, 2025
Categories: Adopt-A-Block, Clean Neighborhoods, Engaged Citizens, KIB Ambassadors, Tree Tenders, Volunteers

This month, we are thrilled to shine a light on an exceptional volunteer, KIB Board Member, Adopt-A-Block Captain, Tree Tender, and Ambassador, Maithilee Das Lappin. Maithilee has been a driving force in the KIB community since she moved to Indianapolis after graduating from Purdue in 2015. Always eager to make a difference, she quickly became […]

KIB Board Welcomes New Members and Honors Legacy

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: December 18, 2024
Categories: Awards & Recognition, Engaged Citizens, Partners, Volunteers

As we enter a new year at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), we are thrilled to introduce two new board members and highlight updates to our leadership team. These individuals bring a wealth of experience and passion for making Indianapolis a greener, more vibrant place to live, work, and play. At the same time, we want […]

From Trailer Park to Urban Oasis: The Remarkable Transformation of Shelton Heights GreenSpace

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: October 16, 2024
Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Clean Neighborhoods, Engaged Citizens, News & Features, Partners, Volunteers

If you’ve ever seen a before-and-after photo that made you do a double take, get ready to be amazed by the transformation story of Shelton Heights GreenSpace! This once-forgotten piece of land, previously a trailer park riddled with crime and neglect, has now blossomed into a vibrant community park, thanks to the dedication of neighbors, […]

Rebuilding Indianapolis’ Tree Canopy: The Good, the Bad, and How to Get Involved

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: October 1, 2024
Categories: Community Forestry, Education, Engaged Citizens, KIB in the News, News & Features, Research & Data, Tree Tenders, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Volunteers

As the President and CEO of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), I’m writing to you with a story that has both a challenging side and a hopeful future—especially if we work together. Let’s start with the tough part. A recent study by American Forests found that over the past decade, Indianapolis’ tree canopy has declined—from covering […]

Shook Construction Celebrates 30 Years with KIB: Transforming Northwest Landing GreenSpace

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: September 25, 2024
Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Engaged Citizens, Partners, Volunteers

In honor of their 30th anniversary, Shook Construction teamed up with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) for a special workday at the Northwest Landing GreenSpace. This event was not just about celebrating a milestone, but also about giving back to a community they care about—one they’ve helped uplift through their commitment to service and partnership. Shook’s […]

Five Powerful Ways High School Students Can Make a Difference

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: July 8, 2024
Categories: Adopt-A-Block, Education, Engaged Citizens, Great Indy Cleanup, Uncategorized, Volunteers, Youth Tree Team

Volunteering plays a vital role in building a strong, vibrant community. When we give our time and effort to help others, we not only improve the lives of those around us, but also enrich our own lives. At Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), we believe in the power of community and the difference each person can […]

Join the Effort: Enhancing Tree Equity in Indianapolis

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: June 7, 2024
Categories: Community Forestry, Education, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Partners, Research & Data, Trees and Native Habitats

If you could plant 3,000 trees anywhere in the City, where would you plant them? And, why? This is the question Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is faced with answering each year. We know trees provide incredible benefits like cooling our neighborhoods and reducing air conditioning costs, while also soaking up stormwater to prevent street flooding. With […]

Meet our Urban Naturalists!

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: May 28, 2024
Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Community Forestry, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Urban Naturalists

Summer is around the corner, which means its time to welcome our newest team members: our Urban Naturalists! This year’s Urban Naturalists (UNs) represent four universities and will spend the next few months doing meaningful, environmental work for our city while engaging neighbors in community-based environmental stewardship. What kind of work exactly? The Urban Naturalists […]

Greening Urban Neighborhoods from the Ground Up

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: April 18, 2024
Categories: Clean Neighborhoods, Education, Engaged Citizens, News & Features, Partners, Research & Data, Trees and Native Habitats

How can community members come together, using data and community input, to address environmental concerns and effect change? That’s what The Greening Urban Neighborhoods from the Ground Up Initiative, a collaborative effort between Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) and Indiana University, is seeking to understand. The initiative aims to amplify community input regarding environmental issues impacting quality […]