Brownsburg Magazine June 2019 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

JUNE 2019

MAGAZINE

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NO BULLIES: THIRD-GRADER WRITES ANTI-BULLYING BOOK IN HOPES OF CREATING SAFER CULTURE IN SCHOOLS

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JUNE WRITERS

Christy Heitger-Ewing / Jamie Hergott Stephanie Singh

JUNE PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Payne/ Kelly Downton

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The Brownsburg Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Brownsburg area residents. Magazines are distributed to more than 16,000 Brownsburg area homeowners and businesses each month.

21 Business Spotlight: uPaint Pottery

Brownsburg Parks Summer Calendar Features Wide Range of Activities

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9 Welcome To Splash Island: Popular Plainfield Water Park Officially Opens For Summer

26 Turning The Page: Local 96-Year-

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14 Former Kiwanis Indiana District Lt. 29 No Bullies: Third-Grader Writes Governor Frank Davis Demonstrates Servant Leadership

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18 Keep Moving This Summer

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Brownsburg Parks Summer Calendar Features Wide Range of Activities Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided

While most were trudging their way through winter, Brownsburg Parks and Recreation staff were working hard to get ready for a summer full of activities, fun and programs. Mary Louise Bewley, Community Engagement Manager for Brownsburg Parks, takes her job seriously and takes pride in the offerings of the department this summer. “We see our job as to help to create a healthy community through recreation, health and wellness, nature conservation and nature education,” Bewley says. “We provide activities to help bring the community together to build a strong Brownsburg.” The events this summer span from May to September, kicking off summer with the opening of the ever-popular Watermill Splash Pad at Williams Park. This will open Memorial Day weekend and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. through September 29. The first weekend, Bewley expects a very large crowd and encourages families to plan accordingly. One new offering this summer is Plein Air Painting within Brownsburg Parks. Plein Air Painting is the act of painting within the landscape. This will be led by a former Brownsburg Parks employee and local entrepreneur Rachel Davis of the Purple Palette. All ages are welcome to come and enjoy the parks in a whole new way by making beautiful art within their landscapes. These will take place on June 15, July 20 and August 10 from 10 a.m. to noon at Williams Park in Shelter 6. Party in the Park debuted last year and was so popular, it’s back on the schedule for this summer on July 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at Williams Park. This is the end of summer bash that features musical entertainment, inflatables, food trucks, outdoor games and other activities: all free and appropriate for all ages.

Safety and building relationships with law enforcement in a positive way are also a focus this summer. Bikin’ in the Burbs, which will take place on June 8, will expand to include the Town of Avon and Washington Township Park. This ride takes place on the B&O and is a celebration of safety on the trails. This event will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. on June 8 on the B&O and will also feature Bike With a Cop, Touch a Truck and a local bike shop offering information on equipment and riding. There are several very popular events that will be making a comeback this year. The Summer Concert Series is back, taking place on June 20 and July 18 at Arbuckle Acres from 7 to 9 p.m. These evenings feature live bands in the park, so bring friends and family, chairs and snacks for a fun at the open-air local concert. Brownsburg Fourth of July activities are always a favorite way for Brownsburg residents young and old to celebrate the nation’s freedom. This year, the Fourth of July parade will be on Thursday, July 4th at 10 a.m. followed by a live concert by the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra at 7:45 p.m. on the field across the street from Brownsburg West Middle School. Fireworks will be set off from the grounds of Brownsburg High School at 10 p.m.

6 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / JUNE 2019 / BrownsburgMagazine.com

The most anticipated event of the summer is the Fourth of July Extravaganza, a carnival hosted by the Brownsburg Lions Club, at Arbuckle Park July 2 through 6 from 5:30 p.m. until close. There will be carnival games, food and wristband nights, which are July 2, 3, 5, and 6. The very popular Silly Safari show will take place at the Outdoor Classroom, located just north of Williams Park at 710 Alpha Street on July 13 from 10 to 11 am. This exotic animal petting zoo program always draws a big crowd as it’s always new and exciting. There’s also no shortage of festivals this summer in Brownsburg. The Festival of the Arts, hosted by the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce will take place July 20 at Arbuckle Acres and will feature more than 100 vendors from all over the region selling everything from baby clothes to artwork. The cost is $3, and kids 12 and under are free. The Blues and BBQ Festival will take place on Sunday, September 8 from noon to 7 p.m. at Arbuckle Acres. “This really is the summer concert in Hendricks County,” Bewley says. “We had 2,000 people last year and we hope to double that this year.”

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The lineup includes Mojo Morgan field (son of Muddy Waters), local favorite Queen Delphine and The Crown Jewels, Gracie Curran & and The High Falutin Band (a blues Music Award nominee) and headliners Chicago blues masters Li’l Ed and The Blues Imperials. There will be a kids’ area and food trucks. Those striving to be more active can take advantage of the returning Summer Fun Run Series, sponsored by Hendricks Regional Health and the local parks departments. Each fun run takes place in a different Hendricks County Park. Any level of athletic ability is welcome. Brownsburg Park’s fun runs will take place June 12 at Williams Park from 4 to 7 p.m. and July 31 at Arbuckle Acres from 4 to 7 pm. Stay tuned for the online calendar for updates and additions to programming by visiting Brownsburg Parks online at brownsburg. org/parks. “The vision of Brownsburg Parks is to enhance the quality of life in Brownsburg,” Bewley adds. “We hope to further economic development goals to create a community of choice to live, work and play now and for future generations.”

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Welcome to Splash Island Popular Plainfield Water Park Officially Opens For Summer The waterpark opened for the season on Friday, May 24 and will remain open through Monday, September 2. The hours of Splash Island are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 6 p.m. Those hours change once school is back in session in the beginning of August.

Writer / Stephanie Singh Photography Provided

Kids are home for the summer and the temperatures are rising. Splash Island is a fan-favorite for the summertime, drawing people from as far as the Illinois border to Central Indiana. For nearly 15 years, the 4.3-acre Caribbean-themed outdoor Splash Island Waterpark has remained one of largest waterparks in Central Indiana. Nestled in the backyard of the Richard A. Carlucci Recreation and Aquatic Center, located just west of Downtown Plainfield on Vestal Road, Splash Island offers a Caribbean vacation without having to travel several hours away.

Park attendees will find three waterslides, an interactive water playground including kiddie slides, a 900-foot lazy river, two pulsating vortexes, a lily pad crossing, a six-lane competition pool with a diving well, plenty of deck space and grassy areas for sunbathing and, new this year, is a small dry playground for 2 to 5 year-olds to enjoy. "What's special about Splash Island is that there is something for

JUNE 2019

all ages,” says Brent Bangel, the Director of Plainfield Parks and Recreation. “This year, we’re most excited to introduce the dry playground for those who may need a break from the water but still have an activity to participate in. The Parks Department continues to initiate activities and special days throughout the season and we think customers will really enjoy what we have in store for this season’s Member Mondays and Wet Wednesdays.” Wet Wednesdays begin on Wednesday, May 29, and the hours will be from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Beginning on Monday, June 3, Splash Island will offer exclusive Resident and Member Monday Night Swims from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. until July 29th. Membership ID cards and licenses are required for admission. Splash Island hosts bounce houses, carnival games and special guests during these evenings. On August 7, Endless Summer Nights will start for the month — the hours will be from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Admission is also at a discounted rate. Stop by the Snackabana for pizza, hot dogs, pretzels, Dippin’ Dots and a Pepsi during the trip to Splash Island. Guests have the option to bring in coolers from home for a picnic at the park. Guests should note there is no glass or commercially prepared food allowed in the coolers, however. “We truly want people to come to Splash Island and know they don’t have to worry about what to do to entertain their kids or what they need to do for lunch while they’re here,” Bangel says. “On top of that, Splash Island is staffed by award-winning, professionally trained lifeguards who are here to make sure everyone returns home safely after a fun-filled day at the park.”

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$5.25 No Charge It’s Indiana, so the weather is unpredictable but the staff is always watching the weather to keep guests updated on changing conditions and possible closures. Splash Island will open during regularly scheduled hours unless the temperature outdoors is below 70 degrees or inclement weather conditions exist. In the event of a closure, conditions will be evaluated for a possible re-opening at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. For the safety of guests, Splash Island will close when lightning or thunder is present and remain closed for 30 minutes past the last occurrence. Splash Island will close for the day if inclement weather persists. The best way to stay up-to-date on closures is to download the Town of Plainfield smartphone app in Google Play or the App Store. How much does Splash Island cost? There is a resident rate and regular rate for those visiting Splash Island. Visit splashislandplainfield.com for full details. Not only does Splash Island offer family-fun in the sun, but guests can also take swimming lessons outdoors at Splash Island. Options include one-on-one lessons, one-on-two lessons and group lessons. Lessons take place four times a week in the outdoor waterpark. Guests will learn skills that include an introduction to water skills, water safety and stroke development for those ages 3 to 12 years old and various skill levels. Visit the Town of Plainfield’s website to enroll your child in the outdoor swim lessons. It’s summertime, grab the swimsuits, goggles and coolers and take a trip to Splash Island at the Richard A. Carlucci Recreation and Aquatic Center. It is not only a Plainfield gem but a Central Indiana gem.

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rank Davis has lived, worked and served in Plainfield for most of his life, having moved to the area when he was 10. He briefly lived in Flint, Michigan when he attended college at General Motors Institute of Technology (now known as Kettering University). While there, Davis first laid eyes on his future wife, Sandra, at a Sunday evening church meal. “I and three other guys from the GM Institute went to the church service where the gals had prepared a supper,” recalls Davis, who was 21 at the time. Though he spotted Sandra from across the room, he never got up the nerve to approach her. The following week, however, there was a dance so he decided to track her down and ask her out. “I must have made a dozen phone calls until finally I got her number,” Davis says. “When she answered, I stammered. But I got the date.” Davis claims he fell in love on the dance floor, and a year and a half later they were married. After earning his engineering degree, Davis worked for a decade at General Motors Corporation (Allison Transmission Division), then was with Hobert Brothers and Acetylene Products before transitioning to Inweld Corporation, a company that packages oxygen and other gasses. He worked at Inweld for 23 years up until retirement. Prior to Inweld, he worked with a welding equipment manufacturer in sales, which meant a lot of travel. “When baby number four came along, I thought, ‘I’ve got to get off the road or else my wife will go crazy,’” Davis says.

Former Kiwanis Indiana District Lt. Governor Frank Davis Demonstrates Servant Leadership Writer/ Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

JUNE 2019

One constant in Davis’ life has been the Kiwanis Club, which he’s been a part of for 43 years. “I’ve always been active in local service groups — churches, schools, civic-type things,” Davis says. “I like to be involved and be an organizer.” Seeing civic projects through to fruition is a true passion of his. That’s a big reason he chose to take on the responsibility of becoming the Distinguished Lt. Governor in 2001. Active in the Kiwanis Club of Plainfield, the Kiwanis

International Indiana District is divided up into a number of divisions. “Ours, called the Circle City division, has seven clubs,” says Davis, noting that a member from each is elected a Lt. Governor, and they form the cabinet for the president of the Indiana division. “The Lt. Governor is one of those jobs that nobody wants,” says Davis with a chuckle. Though he proudly accepted the position and served from 2001-2002. Those who start a new club qualify to become a Distinguished Lt. Governor. Since he formed the Danville Kiwanis Club, he received the honored title. “It’s a perpetual project as you’re constantly seeking new members,” says Davis, who attended all of the state functions and worked with each individual club in an effort to expand membership. “I liken it to sales in that if you’re not regularly getting new customers, you’re not going to survive.” Within the Circle City division, Davis held quarterly meetings in the area and attended all club meetings to boost morale, suggest projects and assist the local president. With this added responsibility, he had to learn how to properly manage his time. Because he had the position prior to retirement, Davis was juggling career and home responsibilities along with volunteer work. “Now they utilize high school students, who have formed the Key Club, a studentled high school organization that is serviceoriented like Kiwanis Club,” Davis says. “They’ve been great the last several years filling in for us at various events.” Davis maintains that it’s important for the club to always be involved in community projects. “If you’re not actively doing something, nobody will want to join you,” says Davis, noting that membership numbers inevitably ebb and flow. Though two years ago, they only had five members, current membership hovers around 40. The Indiana District of Kiwanis has

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historically donated the majority of their money to the Riley Foundation. According to the Riley Children’s Foundation, Indiana District Kiwanians began fundraising for the hospital in 1919. In 1926, Indiana District Kiwanis raised $150,000 for the Kiwanis K-Wing to be erected. The Kiwanis Diagnostic & Outpatient Center opened in 1958. In 1991, Indiana Kiwanis clubs made a $1M pledge and another $1M pledge for diabetes research in 2009. In 2013, Kiwanis pledged another $450,000 to support the Child Life program. Davis fondly recalls many of the fundraising endeavors he participated in on behalf of Kiwanis. For instance, for several years they made and sold “elephant ears” at various community events, often setting up their trailer at Hummel Park during the Fourth of July celebration. “We bought all the cooking equipment and the dough and deep fried it,” Davis says. They sold lots of sugary sweetness, though he admits it was tiring and extremely labor intensive.

Every year the Kiwanis Club holds “Christmas with Santa” in front of Ace Hardware where they built a little house in the parking lot. “Every year we’d gross more than $5,000 and give it all to the Kiwanis Foundation,” he says. During the visits with Santa, he loves to chat with people who tell him that their

parents brought them when they were tots and now they bring their own children or grandchildren. “It’s a 35-year tradition,” Davis says. “Three generations have enjoyed it.” After 54 years of marriage, four children, and six grandchildren, Davis’ wife passed away in 2009 following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Davis also now has one

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great-grandson who is six months old. He briefly remarried, but his second wife developed cancer six months later and passed away. Before moving to Cumberland Trace in June 2015, Davis used to garden a lot at his home on the northwest side of Plainfield. He also played golf and traveled. Since moving into the assisted living facility, he’s embraced the joy of not having to deal with all the hassles that come with home ownership.

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Keep Moving This Summer

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“It is important to stay active and often easier to stay active during the summertime,” says Tonya Green, nurse practitioner in the orthopedic walk-in clinic at IU Health West Hospital. “But if you know you are prone to joint pain during or after exercise, avoid high-impact activities like jumping and running. Instead, try finding a low-impact alternative.” Green suggests trying cycling, swimming, canoeing or kayaking. “Cycling can be a great source of exercise if you are experiencing knee pain,” Green says. “Although it is a repetitive movement, cycling works the quadriceps and hamstrings without putting direct strain on the knee joints. Swimming is also an excellent activity for those who suffer from joint pain or arthritis. Not only does it work all of the body’s muscle groups, but it also helps keep your heart healthy. Canoeing and kayaking can also be beneficial to someone that suffers from hip pain. This can take pressure off of

Yard work is an unavoidable task and can often be painful if done the wrong way. When tackling yard work, Green suggests taking breaks frequently, staying well-hydrated and applying sunscreen. “Gardening, if done correctly and with the right tools, can be beneficial to your body and mind,” she says. “When doing yard work or gardening, don’t over-strain your joints. Limit movements like excessive reaching, bending and kneeling to reduce the strain on your body. When mowing the yard with a push mower, use good posture, keeping your back and wrists straight and pushing with your legs and arms. Mow the lawn at dusk or dawn to avoid the risk of over-exposure to the heat.” Don’t let pain hold you back from doing your favorite summer activities. Next time you are heading out for time in the sun, remember to choose a low-impact activity if needed, use correct posture, take breaks, stay hydrated and apply plenty of sunscreen. Talk with your doctor if you have consistent joint pain or feel pain completing your normal activities or hobbies.

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Writer / Jamie Hergott

Walking into uPaint Pottery Studio in Plainfield is enough to make anyone feel like an artist. The expansive wall of white ceramic projects waiting to be painted, the bright colors on the wall and the displayed finished projects ignite creativity and engagement. This is exactly what Kelli Singleton and Stacey Heltsley had in mind when they opened the studio six years ago in the summer of 2013. Individuals and families can visit the studio during business hours anytime, without a reservation or experience, and choose from a wall of 400 to 500 pottery options. Once a piece is chosen, staff

explains the tips and tricks of painting. Patrons then choose their paint, settle at a table and let their creativity flow. They can even bring in their own drinks and snacks. Patrons leave their pieces for up to five days in order to be processed in the kiln and pick them up when they’re ready. The average cost for a visit is $20. There is a $5 studio fee per visit, and pottery pieces range in price from $5 to $60. The cost includes all paints, firing in the kiln and all tools needed to complete a project. “We try to keep the prices low,” Heltsley says. “We have families

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and we understand. We want everyone to have the opportunity to come.” Singleton and Heltsley became friends after moving to Plainfield after college. In fact, they realized they both were at Purdue University at the same time and lived in the same apartment complex but had never crossed paths. Their husbands knew each other from work, and they both were stay-at-home moms who attended the same Moms Group at St. Susanna Catholic Church, where they met. The biggest reason they began the business was to foster engagement in families. Both women have three children, and they know the challenges of having quality family time in a world of busy schedules and electronics. “There was nothing like this in Hendricks County at all,” Heltsley says. “We wanted something for families where they could get away from screens and spend some family time together.” Heltsley’s background is in communications and Singleton’s background is business management. Together, they took classes in painting, kiln technique and business. Since they opened their Plainfield location, their business has grown, and they’ve opened locations in Greenwood, Hamilton Town Center and Columbus, OH. As challenging as it’s been to jump back into the workforce after staying home with their kids, both women say this business is very rewarding. They love seeing families engaged in their studio. “It warms my heart,” Singleton says. “It really helps kids to talk. It’s an outlet. You remove them from their screens and give them something to do with their hands. It really helps parents engage with their kids.” It isn’t just families who visit uPaint. Singleton and Heltsley see students from school field trips, individuals who come every single week, adult daycare groups, nursing home groups, Girl Scouts and even teenagers and adults out for a date night. They’ve had a number of “prom-posals” and engagements right in their studio. “We provide memories here,” Singleton says. “It’s a way to preserve a particular season in your child’s life or a special event.” The studio offers birthday and special event packages as well as special days throughout the month, such as Homeschool Days, uPaint a Story, Senior Day, Kids Day and even Best Friends & Whine classes. “We are constantly updating our events and themes,” Heltsley JUNE 2019

says. “We recently did an Office themed event and our next one will have a Stranger Things theme.” Other studio events in the past have been Painting with a Princess, Unicorn events or even adult trivia nights. All four studios are involved in their communities. “We love partnering with community organizations,” Singleton says. "Especially schools. We do a lot of giving back.” Studio staff will host events at schools, taking their supplies into the school and offering a percentage of sales back to the host school. These events are perfect for the whole family. uPaint has supported many surrounding schools, including Plainfield, Avon, Mill Creek, Mooresville and other schools around Indianapolis. In addition to supporting the community, Singleton and Heltsley love to partner with local businesses as well. They’ve partnered with places such as Jack’s Donuts, Nomad Yarns, Paw Street Bakery and local florists to offer customized events. The women say one of their favorite events of the year is coming up soon: summer camps. Each studio offers summer camps for kids ages five and up with 18 different themed days. Parents can purchase single days or multiple days at a discount. A day at camp lasts from 1 to 3 p.m. and includes pottery, a snack and other crafts. To stay up to date on events at uPaint Pottery Studio, or to register for an event, you can follow them on Facebook or Instagram, or visit them online at upaintpotterystudio.com. JUNE 2019

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Turning the Page Local 96-Year-Old Woman Volunteers Helping Elementary Children Learn to Read Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

For years Yetive Williams lived in Matthews, a small town in northern Indiana, with her husband, Marion, and their five children. After her husband passed away in 1993, her teacher and friend, Betty Burden, asked Williams if she would consider tutoring some of her first-grade students who struggled with reading. “I went home and prayed about it and decided to do it,” recalls Williams, who was 72 years old at the time. So, at a time when a lot of people start spending their days playing Sudoku, watching Wheel of Fortune and planning their next getaway trip to the Sunshine State, Williams dove into weekly tutoring sessions with youngsters who were 6-plus decades her junior. “I’ve never lived the normal retired life,” Williams says. And she couldn’t be happier about it. It didn’t take long for Williams to realize how much she loved this job. She recalls one of the first little girls she tutored who had been held back two times before she began seeing Williams.

“She should have been in third grade and she still didn’t know her alphabet,” says Williams, who patiently worked one-on-one with her, week after week, until finally one day the student read the entire book out loud by herself. When she realized what she’d accomplished, her eyes widened, as did her smile. “I read that,” she said. “I really read that!” “Yes, you did,” Williams said proudly. “And you can read anything.” She says that’s the beauty of teaching people to read — helping them unlock the magic that gives them entrance into a world of knowledge, make-believe and wonder. Williams tutored at Burden’s school for five years before relocating to Brownsburg in October 1998 to be closer to her son Jay, his wife and their newborn baby, who lived in the area. When Williams moved to Brownsburg, she began volunteering at Connection Pointe Christian Church where she tutored both adults and children. There she was approached by Buddy Faulkner, a friend at the church who works at Eagle Elementary. He asked if she had any interest in tutoring students at Eagle. It seemed like a great fit as the school was in close proximity to her house, plus she adored

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In tutoring, Williams has found that some students struggle to learn not because they have a disability or deficit but simply because they do better working one-on-one than in a crowd. Ty Thompson appreciates the one-on-one interaction. “She helps me sound out words when I don’t know them,” Thompson says. Reece Bowling says she looks forward to her tutoring time with Mrs. Williams because “she helps me with periods and questions.” “I love reading with Mrs. Williams because she helps me read better by helping me sound out words,” adds Angela Spellman. “Wednesday mornings are definitely a favorite in my room because of Mrs. Williams’ presence,” Wheeler says. The key to success, says Williams, is patience, persistence and a passion for the job at hand. “Children don’t learn to read overnight, but when they do finally get it, it’s so satisfying,” says Williams, whose own education involved eight years at a one-room schoolhouse, followed by a high school that had a big library.

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children. For the past three years, she’s worked primarily with Chelsea Wheeler’s first-grade class — volunteering for an hour and a half each Wednesday morning and working with four to six students a day. Wheeler notes that it’s always a struggle trying to pick who will get to read with Mrs. Williams because every time she asks the class who would like to go first, all hands go high in the air. “Mrs. Williams has been such a blessing to my first-graders. The patience and attention to detail she provides is remarkable,” says Wheeler, who looks forward to their weekly talks. “I have thoroughly enjoyed having her volunteer in my classroom for the past few years.”

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“It was so nice. When I entered that library, I thought I’d gone to heaven,” says Williams, who asked the librarian if she could help out with the books after school while she waited for the bus to circle back around to pick up its second round of students. Williams’ love for the written word was born well before she enrolled in school because her older sister used to play “teacher” and often read to Williams. “I learned to read from her before I was an official student,” Williams says. And now she’s passing that ability on to the kiddos at Eagle Elementary. Kim Graham, the treasurer at the school, calls Mrs. Williams the highlight of her Wednesday mornings in the Eagle office. “She reminds me of my own grandmother — funny, sweet and a little sassy,” Graham says. “I enjoy hearing about her family and especially about how she loves to help our first-graders learn to read. She truly gets so much joy from helping them. It’s so fun to see.” Now 96, Williams has been tutoring close to 25 years, and she has no plans to step down or ease up.

“I love to read. I love children. And I love to hear children read,” Williams says. “Volunteering at Eagle combines my two big loves in life.” She encourages other retirees to volunteer as well, just as she did years ago when she said “yes” to tutor kids in Betty’s classroom. “I realized after my husband passed that living in that big eight-room house all by myself was not a good thing,” Williams says. Keeping busy not only helped her process her grief but it also gave her a renewed purpose in life. She also still volunteers at Connection Pointe’s library every Monday — something she’s been doing since 1999. Plus, she participates in a weekly women’s bible study. Williams still lives independently, doing all of her own cooking, cleaning and laundry. She drives herself places, pays the bills and is completely self-sufficient. “If I’m cleaning the house and my back starts to hurt, I sit down and read a while, then get up and do some more,” Williams says. “Though I must admit, if I’ve got a good book, it’s hard to set it down.”

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No Bullies

Third-Grader Writes Anti-Bullying Book In Hopes Of Creating Safer Culture In Schools Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography / Kelly Downton

From the tender age of two, it was clear that Meeka Wojciechowski was something special and not because she outshined her peers athletically, academically or any other way. In fact, quite the contrary as Meeka has always cared deeply about helping others find their sparkle. “She believes in celebrating the individual,” says her mom Karen. So it came as no surprise when Meeka started asking her mother where she could volunteer to cheer people up. She began going to nursing homes and children’s hospitals, eager to find a way to put a smile on whoever’s face she encountered. At age five, Meeka started participating in different pageants —partly because she loved shiny crowns and dancing but partly because she felt passionate about squashing the act of bullying. “Bullying can and does happen in many places, in many ways and on any regular day,” says Meeka, who first was introduced to the anti-bullying message when she was volunteering at a special needs pageant called Miss Amazing. It’s there that she learned about the Live Out Loud Charity (LOLC), which focuses on suicide prevention. Soon thereafter, Meeka was given the opportunity to audition for a fashion show hosted by LOLC. It’s a show that combines suicide awareness, bullying awareness, mental health education, entertainment, runway modeling and personal stories with the crowd. Every participant has a connection to bullying or suicide, and many of them share their heart-wrenching stories. At the LOLC Indianapolis show, Meeka was so inspired by the tales students told that she asked her parents if she could enroll in the 12-week class that teaches core character development and trains people on what to look for with regard to suicide awareness (i.e., questions one should and shouldn’t ask, as well as where to point people for resources). Upon completing the training, one can become a spokesperson for LOLC. Meeka was all in, but initially her parents worried that the subject of suicide was too intense of a topic for their daughter to BrownsburgMagazine.com / JUNE 2019 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / 29

“I’m proud of my book because it’s a fun story made by kids for kids to help everyone learn that it’s okay to be yourself and that every individual is worth celebrating." - Meeka Wojciechowski tackle. Still, Meeka was adamant, especially when she learned that Indiana has the highest rate of youth suicide. “Meeka always says that not talking about [feelings of depression, anxiety and suicide] is clearly not working so maybe we should try talking about it to highlight the problem,” says Karen, who took the class with Meeka. “Bullying and mental anguish all ties in together. Combatting bullying is important because bullying is often what leads young people to take their own lives.” One weekend when she was visiting her grandma’s house, Meeka began to scribble down a story about an animal who gets bullied at school. His animal peers witness the bad behavior but stand by helplessly, not knowing what to do. Though the students are initially afraid to talk about what they saw, they muster the courage to go to the principal’s office where they learn the difference between tattling and reporting a bullying incident. The principal goes on to teach the animals about how to create a respectful environment in school. The back section of the book includes

discussion questions that help readers talk through what they learned from the book as well as scenarios of what they may deal with in real life. Meeka penned “Another Tuesday at Popcorn Elementary: No Bullies" in a single weekend. She typed and retyped it three times. Her brother Ivan helped with illustrations. Karen formatted and self-published it in December 2018. Meeka wrote the book for no other reason than to help spread the message of not bullying. “I’m proud of my book because it’s a fun story made by kids for kids to help everyone learn that it’s okay to be yourself and that every individual is worth celebrating,” Meeka says. “I like that my brother helped illustrate it with me because now he is 10, and he’s getting less cooperative.” A third-grader at Eagle Elementary in the fall, Meeka has read her book to several kindergarten and first-grade classrooms at her school. She plans to write a follow-up book on teamwork.

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“Whatever Meeka does, she gives 100 percent,” says Karen, noting that besides volunteering 20-plus hours a month at organizations like the American Cancer Society, Make-aWish, 500 Fest and March of Dimes, her energetic daughter also participates in modeling and dancing. Accepted into the Indianapolis School of Ballet’s PreProfessional program, she danced in the 2016 and 2018 productions of Butler University’s “The Nutcracker." She also performs at fashion shows and has done some professional modeling with Kid Fash Magazine. In February 2018, Meeka claimed the title of USA National Miss Indiana Princess. Not long after she was crowned, Meeka and Karen met an 8-year-old girl with alopecia (a disease that attacks hair follicles, causing it to fall out). Meeka was dressed in a lovely teal gown, and the little girl was ecstatic to meet a “real-life princess.” At the time, Meeka had long, curly “pageant hair” that flowed down her back — hair that Meeka loved to style. One day Karen asked her daughter how she would feel about donating some of her locks to the little girl with alopecia. “I, in no way, pressured her to do it, but she didn’t even have to think about it for a second,” Karen says. “She agreed immediately.” So last September, on her eighth birthday, instead of having a party with friends, Meeka went to the salon to cut off nine inches of her hair, then presented it to her new friend. “I think you’re beautiful just the way you are,” Meeka told her. “But if you want to choose your look, I want to give you my hair.” The tender gesture didn’t surprise Karen one bit as she has found her happy place in volunteering. According to her parents, she fits better within the world of giving and sharing than she does with using and taking. In fact, she volunteered so many hours during her reign in 2018 that she was named USA National Miss Indiana Hoosier Hospitality Princess. And in February 2019, she held onto her title when she was crowned 2019 USA National Miss Indiana Princess for the second year in a row. “Whatever you set her on, she’s going to give you her all,” Karen adds. “She has a huge heart and wants to fix the world.” Copies of “Another Tuesday at Popcorn Elementary” can be purchased for $20 at Best Friends Coffee & Bagels on E. Main Street in Brownsburg. A portion of the book sales benefits the LOLC suicide prevention. For more information about the Live Out Loud Charity, visit liveoutloudcharity.org.

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