proving a point

Meet Alex

I was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. I got involved in the community at age 18 when I was put on the Mayor’s Aquatic Taskforce, which was responsible for revitalizing the Lincoln Pool, now Rochelle Landers Pool. I was able to put a fresh perspective into the plan, and it was really cool to see those plans come to fruition. From there, I went to Indiana State where I got my degree in communications and was active in a few organizations. Student Government was the one I had the most fun with. For me, it was kind of surprising because I don’t like politics — as odd as that might sound. I just like helping people and solving problems and keeping it as simple as that.

While getting my Masters in Public Administration from Western Kentucky, I worked on Capitol Hill for two members of Congress. Upon leaving those two internships, I knew I wanted to get back to DC as quickly as possible. I graduated in 2013 and that was the year the government shutdown happened, so I came back to Evansville and here I am at Old National Bank. I’ve got involved in the community again, and it’s been a great experience. I ran for office and now serve as Vice President for the Indiana Young Democrats.

I’m grateful to be back home, just from the standpoint of I’ve been able to really make a difference. Whether it’s serving on a board or starting the Community Development Corporation through my church — there are several other things that I’ve been a part of that I would have never had the opportunity to partake in if I was in a larger city. But since I’m from Evansville and have a connection to the community, my message and my perspective has been pretty well received. It’s time to pay it forward for the next generation and make sure everything that I’ve learned is translated into the opportunities that the kids or whoever’s coming behind me have access to.

What do you find is the best way to connect with people who hold a different perspective — be it social ideology, religious beliefs, or just IU vs UK?

It’s trying to find that middle ground that connects people. Dr. Stephen Covey said, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” And for me, it’s all about listening to people, and it’s not those same people saying the same thing. It’s going outside of your element to someone you ordinarily wouldn’t talk to and get their perspective on something. A lot of times, you’ll learn just from listening. So I think that really is the key to getting that understanding.

Increasing cultural diversity is something our community leaders are working to address. What advice would you lend from your perspective as a minority and a Millennial?

I’d say, not to just talk about doing something, but to really walk the line and make the impact where we can. A lot of times it’s like — Ya, we had this diversity lecture series where we brought in whatever big name. But even at those types of events, we’ll say it for diversity or it’s promoting diversity, but it really isn’t showing the diversity that Evansville really is capable of doing. The most diverse event that happens in Evansville happens that first week of October during the Fall Festival. Because you bring out the entire community and what we truly all have to offer without it being scripted. It’s really the entire city of Evansville coming out for something, and for me, that’s the champion; that’s Evansville. That really is our strength rather than trying to continue to put people in these categories of whether they’re East vs West, Bosse vs Harrison, or whatever other categories we can put people in. I think that really is the downfall.

What do you love most about living in Evansville?

I’d say the connectivity, the more you’re around people, the more you’re involved, you’re always one or two people away from knowing someone in common. The mutuality, that’s huge. Because the more people who know your genuineness or your passion for something, the more willing they are, the more prone they are, to help you get to an end goal. Even going back to e is for everyone. This is something that people feel, and as connected as the city is, if enough people catch the spirit of e is for everyone or catch the energy behind it, then there’s nothing we can’t do.

What assumptions have we made about life in Evansville that we need to test?

The assumption that need to be tested here in Evansville is really captured with “e is for everyone”. Not to say that e isn’t for everyone, but to really make sure that Evansville is as inclusive as we are saying or portraying that it is. I think a lot of times, there are factions of the city who feel like they are underrepresented or misrepresented and their voice isn’t necessarily heard. A lot of times, if people aren’t working at one of the main corporations in town, they tend to feel like their voice might not be heard to the same degree, or that their opinion doesn’t matter on certain things. So, that just needs to get tested.

I’d love to see Evansville continue to grow the way that Haynie’s Corner, Jacobsville, and Franklin Street have — with a spirit of innovation and creativity. I’d like to see that sense of community really transferred to other areas of the city that aren’t as thriving right now. If we carry that spirit across the city into the gaps, I think that it will transform the city and affect the lives of so many.

How do you define success?

I define success by the number of lives we impact for the better. It’s a great thing to build all these buildings and have all these fun exciting things come to the city, but if we’re not impacting any lives then it’s just an event for someone rather than being a life transformer.