Fort Wayne, Ind. – The City of Fort Wayne's Community Development Division announced Dan Baisden as its new Administrator of Neighborhood Planning & Activation. He will begin his duties in November.

Baisden’s background includes a wide range of experiences in community development, including civic engagement, non-profit leadership, grant writing along with administration and organizational leadership.

He currently works for the City of Kalamazoo, Michigan, as a Neighborhood Activator where he oversees planning and project implementation for more than 20 neighborhoods. Prior to that, he worked for the City of Fort Wayne as a Planner and was responsible for leading the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission and assisting with Neighborhood Planning.

Baisden also worked in Van Wert, Ohio, where he worked to attract and retain businesses and residents in the community. Additionally, he led the efforts to complete $100,000 in major building rehabilitation projects and created a new model for community outreach and rebranding efforts.

“Having active healthy neighborhoods is essential to maintaining a strong, connected, caring and safe community,” said Nancy Townsend, director, City of Fort Wayne Community Development Division. “It is crucial that we have staff focused on our neighborhoods and to be a point of contact and liaison for people who want to establish an association or help existing associations solve problems.  I am so pleased to welcome Dan back to our City and to Community Development to lead this vital workgroup.  Dan’s knowledge and experience as well as his work ethic, compassion and leadership skills are the best possible fit for our neighborhoods.”

In Baisden’s new role as Administrator of Neighborhood Planning & Activation, he will lead and oversee a four-person workgroup that will serve the residents of Fort Wayne by meeting regularly with neighborhood associations across the city and collaborate to create short-term and long-term solutions for neighborhood improvement. There are nearly 500 neighborhoods identified across the city and Baisden will work with residents in each area to support the creation of new neighborhoods and help rebuild neighborhoods in need of assistance.