The week is coming to a close, and I’m reminded how much Evansville grows through collaboration.

We kicked off this morning with our final Block-by-Block neighborhood cleanup of 2025 … and what a way to end the season. Our city crews and volunteers were out in the Howell neighborhood patching potholes, trimming trees, hauling debris, and helping residents connect directly with city services.

We launched it all by demolishing another blighted home, bringing our total number of structures demolished through the Fight Blight program this year to 55.

In just two years, the Block-by-Block program has grown into a model for community engagement and revitalization: seven cleanups this year alone! Each one focused on restoring pride, safety, and stability in our neighborhoods.

One Howell resident, Nicole, shared a message afterward that truly captures what this work is all about. She wrote:

“It is a blessing to our community and brings my hope back for this city! When I couldn’t move a large piece of furniture to the alley for pickup, the volunteers came right to my yard and carried it for me. That alone lifted a weight that many won’t understand. Thank you for caring about the WHOLE community!”

Stories like Nicole’s are exactly why this initiative matters. Every cleanup isn’t just about removing debris, it’s about rebuilding connection and hope, one block at a time.

I’m so proud of the collaboration that’s made this program a success, and I’m grateful to everyone who joined us today and throughout the year to help move our neighborhoods forward.

Supporting Recovery and Reentry

This morning, I also had the honor of standing alongside Sheriff Noah Robinson as he announced the launch of Southwest Indiana Recovery and Empowerment (SWIRE). This is a new, peer-led nonprofit now operating inside the Vanderburgh County Jail to help individuals struggling with substance use disorders begin their recovery and reentry journey while still in custody.

SWIRE was made possible partially through our City of Evansville Opioid Settlement Funds. It’s an investment that will help create real, lasting solutions to addiction and recidivism in our community. SWIRE’s certified peer coaches will work with participants from inside the jail through their return to the community, walking alongside them every step of the way.

This is the kind of innovation we envisioned when we created Evansville’s Opioid Settlement Fund grant program last year. Applications for the next round of funding are open now and due Tuesday, October 28. You can find details on the City website.

Community Events and Partnerships

Throughout the week, I was grateful for the chance to support several of our community’s strongest nonprofit partners: the YWCA, Holly’s House, and Youth First. Each of these organizations plays an essential role in strengthening families, supporting youth, and ensuring Evansville remains a compassionate, connected city.

Members of my team also represented Evansville at the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) Ideas Summit in French Lick, a conference where local leaders from across the state came together to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing Indiana cities and towns. A major topic of discussion was Senate Enrolled Act 1, and the impact it will continue to have on city budgets statewide. Look for more information from my office on this important topic soon.

Welcoming Future Leaders

Tonight, I’m excited to attend another event aimed at moving our community forward, when I’ll join business and community leaders from across the region to meet the candidates for Evansville’s next class of Orr Fellows.

For more than two decades, the Orr Fellowship has helped launch the careers of some of Indiana’s brightest young professionals. Last year, Evansville joined that story,  and we’re already seeing the impact. Our inaugural cohort of 15 Fellows is thriving, and the interest in our city continues to grow.

It’s energizing to see talented young leaders choosing Evansville as the place to build their future.

Looking Ahead

Our final Traveling City Hall of 2025 will be at Eastland Mall at  5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 3 This one will be a little different: we’re turning it into a Utility Resource Fair, connecting residents with organizations that offer energy and utility assistance.  We already have eight community partners participating, including the Indiana Energy Saver Program. I hope you’ll join us and take advantage of the resources available.

And finally, don’t forget to check out my latest Ask the Mayor segment airing tonight. I’ll be answering the five questions you selected on our Facebook page, and talking about how we are working to continue moving our community forward.

Thank you for reading this week’s Friday Focus. Every week, I’m reminded that Evansville’s progress is built on collaboration: neighbors helping neighbors, organizations stepping up, and residents who care deeply about their community.

Have a wonderful weekend, Evansville!

- Stephanie