One year ago, in a 7-2 vote, the Muncie City Council denied the proposition to change the name of Broadway Avenue to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
But the issue has not come to a rest, and by the end of 2004, the city council will revote on the matter.
"My hope is that we are able to reach an agreement and submit it by the end of the summer," said Thomas Perchlik, the key mediation group member. "But there are a lot of steps to go through before we reach that point.
When the issue arose in the summer of 2003, there was so much controversy that a federal mediator stepped in with both the anti- and pro-change groups' acceptance.
"We just were not getting very far by ourselves, so the mediator suggested that both parties gather five members each to represent their side of the issue," Perchlik said. "But, we soon discovered that five was not enough, and with the mediator's permission, we increased our numbers to 10 people each."
Now called the Mediation Team, the group of 20, including Mayor Dan Canan and city council members Monte Murphy, Bill Shroyer and Chuck Leonard, is working toward a solution.
"Though I think that it would bring great cultural awareness to Muncie, some people simply do not want the change," Perchlik said.
Business owners whose establishments are on Broadway Avenue are among those against the renaming of the street, claiming that too much would be needed to be changed.
However, street renaming is not the only thing some Muncie community members are looking toward to honor the civil liberties legend. Between last summer and late February, study circles consisting of concerned Muncie citizens met several times and, according to Perchlik, several key ideas were created in the process.
"At the February 28th action forum, which served as an outlet for the study circles, a proposition was given that a minority-focused institute should be created," said Perchlik.
The organization, which would be named the Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute, would maintain the ideal of the civil rights movement and would help promote minority businesses. The establishment would also serve as a training center for community organizations.
"The institute will help teach the democratic process, the importance of community involvement and serve as an incubator giving minorities resources," Perchlik said.
In addition to the street renaming and the proposed institute, other various action steps were created to help bring cultural awareness to Muncie.
One such plan is to change the way Muncie advertising is approached. According to Perchlik, a recent television ad promoting the city featured only one black citizen.
"Some jokingly said that Garfield the cat is a minority," laughed Perchlik. "But I don't think that an orange cat is exactly what we're going for."
Examining the hiring and recruitment practice of Muncie's police and fire departments is another action step added. The investigation would be to ensure that minorities are properly represented.
Minority representation on community boards is also an issue that has been added as an action step. This plan would encourage minorities to become aware of and involved in various county and city boards.
"With this step, minorities would learn and understand the purpose of specific boards," Perchlik said. "The hope is to implement the Martin Luther King Institute for the purpose of training people for these boards."
According to Perchlik, among the list of six action steps is one to develop a police and community relations group. At these forums, community members, with a special focus on minorities, will be able to give their input about police actions.
In addition to the new ideas presented to help bring minority awareness to Muncie, a new community-wide event is in the process of being detailed.
DiverCity will be an annual multicultural festival focused on "bringing Muncie together," Perchlik said.
The event, scheduled for March or April of next year, will occur in downtown Muncie and, as alluded to in the name, focus on cultural diversity awareness.
"There are so many plans to help Muncie become more minority focused," Perchlik said. "But our primary focus right now is on the street renaming. Though we hope to be finalized by the end of the summer, there are still political considerations, correct wording and legal issues to sort through and be agreed upon by the mediation team."
"Though I hope that the renaming is approved," Perchlik said, "if it is turned down again, we will continue to advocate for change."
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