South Bend on Purpose

Mike Keen is tackling this question head-on with building and renovation projects in South Bend's Near Northwest Neighborhood. We discuss how he fell into real estate development and why it's essential that we create opportunity with and for our neighbors.

Originally from Los Angeles, Jada McLean moved to South Bend last year to be part of INVANTI's first cohort. INVANTI is a new startup generator focused on pairing aspiring entrepreneurs with issues facing our community. Jada is building Hurry Home, a business aiming to close a gap in our housing market. While banks cannot profitably offer mortgages homes below a certain value, Jada and her co-founder John believe that investment paired with a re-imagination of what we call 'land contracts' can solve this problem. She explains this much better than I ever could, so if you're intrigued press play.

Local activists Sam Centellas​ and Juan Constantino came by the studio for Pod.SB Episode 10. Our activism-centric conversation touches on DACA, South Bend I.D., Best Wednesday Ever, and more.

After a weekend of sensationalized public school news articles, Ryan and I discuss how our vision for South Bend changes the way we critique.

Katie and Jake Neece are born and bred South Bend creatives with a serious drive to do what they love while contributing to the city. Our vision aligns in many ways, and that is evident in our (longer) conversation on making it as artists in a mid-size Rust Belt city.

Maria Gibbs and Dustin Mix are the founders of INVANTI, a startup generator freshly located in Vested Interest (the physical home of West.SB). Aside from our common ground as neighbors here on Sample Street, we share a common vision for South Bend as a place where people start things that matter.Our conversation centers around INVANTI but delves into why we call ourselves entrepreneurs, Maria unknowingly growing up with the children of venture capitalists, and our favorite things about South Bend.

Ryan Yazel is a Pastor with South Bend City Church and a resident of the Near Northwest Neighborhood. In the midst of a tumultuous season for our city's public schools, I asked Ryan to come chat about coming changes and why he sends his children to public school. 

David and Rami met while working on the City's South East neighborhood master plan and an immediate bond was created. They quickly realized that a fusion of business and artistic milieu, housed in existing spaces (Ziker facility and LangLab), could further develop the 'incubation node' of the SE neighborhood master plan.Together we are redeveloping the 70,000 sq.ft. Ziker facility into Vested Interest, a node of organic synergy for emerging and established businesses (and the physical home of West.SB).

Myles Robertson, founder of The Birdsell Project and GM at Purple Porch Co-op, and I discuss his contributions to our city's conscious and creative culture.

Alex Sejdinaj is the founder of South Bend Code School and GiveGrove. In this conversation, we discuss our recent trip to Google Chicago with 20+ #KidsWhoCode from South Bend and Fort Wayne. We end up with a wide ranging discussion on education, economic development, and building culture in our city.