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When Main Street of Hope announced its callout for an executive director following Matt Lee’s exit last year, Connie Kiviniemi-Baylor answered.

No stranger to the Hope community, Baylor has been a strong fixture of the growing Hope-area arts community via her involvement in community theatre and also as a welcoming member of the WILLow LeaVes of Hope staff for quite some time, so adding the Main Street of Hope executive director role seemed a natural fit, she says.

At the time of her entrance, the organization was itself undergoing change as veteran board members transitioned out and new ones stepped in.

“We were all kind of new,” Baylor said during a recent phone chat. “So, I almost feel like we are a new organization again.”

Since she was officially hired in April 2023, Baylor has been working to not only settle into her new role, but to grow it and Main Street’s presence in the Hope community.

Among her accomplishments to date, Baylor spearheaded a grant writing effort in 2023 that awarded Main Street of Hope and the Hope community a $2,000 grant from the IU Center for Rural Engagement and $17,500 from the Columbus Area Visitors Center to help cover the cost of bringing in live entertainment, as well as science and art projects, for the upcoming Total Eclipse of the HOPE event Main Street is hosting April 6-8. 

Recently, Baylor found a few minutes away from her duties to chat about Main Street of Hope, her hopes for the organization and what it’s like to wear multiple hats.  

HSJ: Has the role been what you thought it would be?
CKB: It has been – in most regards. Indiana Main Street has implemented Maestro, a computer program that tracks everything, so there is a lot of data entry and figuring out that computer program – which is pretty substantial. That has been one thing I hadn’t quite expected, but it is coming along.

HSJ: What are your hopes regarding your new role?
CKB: Indiana Main Street reports to our legislators what all our Main Streets are doing in Indiana and, hopefully, helping them in deciding that we need to support our Main Street organizations to help keep our Main Street communities alive and thriving.

HSJ: How does it feel getting to know Hope in a different way with this new role?
CKB: I love it, I really do. I think Hope is a wonderful, small town. I love the feel it has, and the people are so friendly and helpful. I love that. Hope has a lot going for it to be such a small community. It is exciting to see we have so many wonderful organizations in town – nonprofits, churches and businesses – so that is exciting to see.

HSJ: What are some Main Street projects you have on your radar?
CKB: One of our focuses this year, hopefully, will be to help the building owners who have vacant properties on the Square to get those revitalized a bit. One of my jobs will be searching to see if there are any funds available to help them out in some way. Indiana Main Street and other organizations sometimes offer specific grants for that purpose. I think it is important for us to get some more retail businesses into those spaces. In the future, possibly get some housing above those retail businesses on the second and third floors. So that will be one of our goals this year – to delve into that more with regard to economic development and the historic preservation of our buildings.

HSJ: Up to this point, Main Street, under its previous leadership, has helped to establish Hope’s presence on the map by adding events and bringing in personalities and acts that attract the crowds. How do you plan to build on that foundation moving forward?
CKB: I think Main Street of Hope has done a nice job of coming up with events to not only get the residents involved, but to get outside tourists to come and that is important for our economy. Another focus we will have is what’s called Placemaking – which is essentially economic development. So, making Hope a place that people want to come to. I think that is done by having those lovely festivals and events we have on the Square. And by having restaurants and businesses visitors enjoy going to.

HSJ: Tell us a bit about your previous experience and what that brings to this role.
CKB: One of the roles I had several years ago was operations manager at Central Missouri State University. That was in the development and foundation office, I led the staff in my role there and we handled all the private monies that came through the university. That experience certainly helps me in this job. I also have a degree in English from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska, so that helps with writing grant applications. I’m a people person and team player, so I get along well with almost everyone. I enjoy collaborating with people and getting their ideas.

HSJ: What’s been the most enjoyable part so far?
CKB: Finding all the hidden gems that Hope is, it really is a lovely community and has so much going for it that we have to build on. There have been so many people who have been involved and committed to seeing Hope survive and who remember its history and continue to teach that and build upon it. Those have been some of the most enjoyable aspects, especially the people I’ve worked with and gotten to know. Jenni Richards, our president of the Main Street board, and the board members have been doing a fantastic job and are engaged and that is vital since our organization must have a working board to accomplish everything we need to do. Our job, really, is to collaborate with the community and its organizations and that we help them as we build.

HSJ: With so many irons in the fire between Main Street, your work with WILLow LeaVes and community theatre, what do you do in your spare time when you have it?
CKB: I don’t have much spare time right now, but when I do, I’m acting, directing or I’m in the audience supporting other actors and just enjoying being entertained. Of course, spending time with family. I’m also trying to find some time to travel a bit. And that is one thing I can use in my role as executive director.

HSJ: How so?
CKB: By going to other communities and seeing what I can find that can work in Hope or something we can build on.

HSJ: Could you offer an example?
CKB: Well, Seymour has this lovely wrought iron sign in its downtown area that has a listing of events that are going on during the year on one side and the other side is a directory of all the businesses. I think that would be great to have on our Square. Another thing, to make the town stand out a bit, I would love to see some artwork. I would love to see some painted crosswalks across State Road 9 to say, “Here we are!” Murals are another big thing. I love the mural on the pawn shop’s wall, and I think it would be cool to have another one or two to show the history of Hope.

HSJ: Open communication among all the entities in Hope – from businesses and nonprofits to the churches – is essential for a strong community, how do you hope to further foster conversation and community involvement?
CKB: First, by defining Main Street’s mission and our intentions in the community. I want to do the same thing with the businesses and building owners – increasing that communication. Maybe opening that conversation with a monthly email to catch area business owners, leaders and organizations up on what’s going on, what’s coming up and to establish an ongoing conversation.  Also, to make sure I get out regularly, see everyone and talk with them to check in and see how things are going, if they need assistance from Main Street and how we can help.

HSJ: What would be your message to those who read this?
CKB: We are always looking for volunteers and there is a role for everyone, there really is. It might just be a one-hour commitment to help with a single event or an ongoing role with one or multiple events. There are so many different roles and skill sets we can utilize, whether that be graphic design, community outreach or even help with post-event tear-down, there is literally something for everyone.

HSJ: Those who are interested in volunteering, how should they reach out to learn more?
CKB: They can call me at 812-350-7294 or email [email protected].