Events

Throughout the year, LLA members have exclusive opportunities to get up close and personal with the movers and shakers in our community.  LLA members get an all-access pass to exclusive functions, private behind-the-scenes tours and important one-on-ones. Programs include the monthly Second Tuesday Straight Talk series, annual Mayor’s Town Hall, CEO dinners, Annual Meeting, community cadres and more. 

 
 
 

Straight Talk

You asked for the issues. You asked for the access. You asked for the dialogue. You can get it all at Second Tuesday Straight Talk—a monthly event free for LLA members that offers issues and insight in less than an hour. On the Second Tuesday of each month you’ll enjoy intimate and candid discussions with engaging, high-caliber speakers. Don’t miss the opportunity to advance personally and professionally with the wisdom and expertise of this diverse series of speakers. Expect to gain insight from an insider’s perspective. Expect a compelling challenge to action.
 
Second Tuesday Straight Talks are held at WFYI, 1630 N. Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis
 
The Straight Talk series is presented in partnership with WFYI.

Cadres

Born from the Second Tuesday Straight Talk series, LLA Cadres are initiatives for community members to get more involved in some of the pressing issues affecting Indianapolis. 
 
Indianapolis can reach its future with skilled leaders ready to answer the call.  Through issue-focused cadres, Lacy Leadership Association is creating a leadership force willing and able to build a stronger Indianapolis. Leaders lead.  They look out ahead, wanting more for their stakeholders and their community.  They make an impact.  With your support, LLA is positioned to do just that.  This vision has become a reality through the development of leadership cadres that have taken shape over the past year.  Some cadres evolved organically out of LLA Straight Talk sessions, while others were a result of community leaders proactively reaching out to LLA for assistance.
 
Over the past year, six different cadres have focused on addressing critical issues in our community such as civic pride, education, mayor’s office initiatives, sports, civic leadership and arts and culture.  Each cadre provides a platform for LLA members to address and advance community issues, but the goals of each cadre are different.  Cadres can be open-ended “theme” based initiatives or task-forces with a specific goal and limited time frame.  Our fledgling system of cadres is continuing to develop and expand. 
 
 “These cadres are changing the future of LLA programs as they provide opportunities for LLA to make a larger impact on our community and further our vision to be, indisputably, the premier leadership network driving high level engagement to make Indianapolis the best city in the nation,” Schultz said.
 

Current Cadres

Current Cadres
 
 
Civic Leadership – Chief Justice Randy Shepard spoke at a Straight Talk session on the Kernan/Shepard Commission Report for the legislature, discussing government inefficiencies. This cadre is about taking action to motivate legislators to implement the ideas of the Kernan/Shepard report, including communications with the public, initiatives to get local leadership informed about how local government reform impacts them and improves quality of life and community and economic development — and how the cadre can help stimulate similar groups around the state. For more information on how you can get involved with this Cadre please contact Mark Lawrance at mlawrance@indianachamber.com.
 
Mayor's Cadre on Urban Livability – Mayor Ballard is asking LLA members to focus on the question, 'What would make you want to live in downtown neighborhoods?'  Join this Cadre to help provide direction and guidance to the City Administration in making downtown neighborhoods more attractive places for people to live.  For more information on how you can get involved with this Cadre please contact Ruthie Purcell Jones at ruthiepj@cicf.org.
 
MusicCrossroads – This cadre allows LLA members to have an opportunity to get involved at the ground level of this unique initiative to help develop Indianapolis as not only the proud home of incredible amateur and professional sports, but also the recognized music crossroads of America. LLA members served on the initial MusicCrossroads Steering Committee, as well as serve as the committee chairs for the Drum Corps International (an organization under the MusicCrossroads umbrella) local organizing committee.  MusicCrossroads is focused on advancing quality of life through the attraction, support and collaboration of leading performing arts entrepreneurs. For more information on how you can get involved with this Cadre please contact Matt Carter at mcarter@visitindy.com

Concluded Cadres
 
Past Mayor’s Initiatives – The Mayor’s office approached LLA to create a few small cadres to address challenges and opportunities in the city. Some of the topics the cadres have addressed are branding Indianapolis, arts and culture, neighborhoods and Indianapolis marketing. Here, LLA members have a candid voice in responding to ideas the Mayor's office is focused on to improve our city.
 
Sports Corp Cadre – The Indiana Sports Corp approached LLA to assist them in exploring opportunities to leverage the sporting events in 2010 – 2012 for more community support, involvement and to assist in Indianapolis gaining recognition for these efforts.
 
To get involved with a cadre listed above, contact Michelle Niehaus at 317.634.2423 or by email at michellen@cicf.org.  
 
If you have an idea for a cadre, please download the cadre application and contact Michelle to set up a meeting with a LLA Staff or Cadre Committee member.

Cadres In Development

Cadres In Development
 
Civic Pride – The focus of this cadre is to build a group that unselfishly addresses the needs of Indianapolis and how to improve on the positive happenings in the city at this time. Jim Morris, President of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, spoke at a Straight Talk session about the responsibility we have to determine the next group of city leaders to push Indianapolis to be the best city it can be. This cadre is still in the planning phase, but they may focus their efforts on globalizing the city and education.
 
Link Tank – The Mind Trust supports research fellows and entrepreneurs from all over the nation who are working on educational initiatives. The Mind Trust President David Harris’s vision is for LLA to be an important network or “Link Tank” for these fellows. In this cadre, each fellow will connect with a group of LLA members who could link the fellows with community members to help them further their projects in Indianapolis.
 
To get involved with a cadre listed above, contact Michelle Niehaus at 317.634.2423 or by email at michellen@cicf.org.  
 
If you have an idea for a cadre, please download the cadre application and contact Michelle to set up a meeting with a LLA Staff or Cadre Committee member.

Partners

  • Platinum Partner

  • Gold Partner

  • Gold Partner

  • Gold Partner

  • Gold Partner

  • Gold Partner

  • Gold Partner

  • Gold Partner

  • Gold Partner

  • Silver Partner

  • Silver Partner

  • Silver Partner

  • Silver Partner

  • Silver Partner

  • Silver Partner

  • Silver Partner

  • Silver Partner

  • Silver Partner