The 2016 Midtown Education Summit is Thursday, September 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Sunburst Atrium of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, located at 3000 N. Meridian Street. The annual event has grown since its inception in 2013.

"In the first year, we brought between 60 and 100 schools together from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. It's a one stop shop for families who are trying to locate the right academic program for their children. We find that families sometimes struggle to locate education options for their children, but we do our best to help them find out about these program opportunities. The educational summit is a once a year, once in a lifetime opportunity for families to get all of the information they need for their child where they can see all these schools in one place at one time. We want to make people aware of the opportunities available for their kids. It's hosted annually by the Children's Museum with about a dozen sponsors, which include 100 Black Men, the Marion County Indiana Board of Realtors (MIBOR), the local Kiwanis Club, Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association and State Farm Insurance," explained Michael McKillip, Executive Director at Midtown Indianapolis, Inc.

A career transition inspired his achievements in the local community. "I spent about a decade working at the State House as a lobbyist. I left in 2007 to start my own real estate agency and construction company. I bought an abandoned home in the Mapleton Fall Creek area in 2002. In getting to know my neighbors and getting involved in renovation and through volunteer opportunities with Harmoni, we focused on renovating the historic midtown neighborhood that includes 17 communities. In 2007, while serving as Board President for the Maple Road Development Association, I helped established Midtown, Inc. and became its first full-time Executive Director in 2012. By working together several years, partnerships were formed in uniting these 17 communities. Regardless of current conditions, neighborhoods were suffering from neglect, but we have been working to bring them together to one voice for community investment," McKillip noted. Ongoing revitalization has made the Midtown area a sought-after destination for home buyers and parents seeking educational prospects for their children."

Butler University College of Education professor Dr. Lori Desautels will give a presentation, "Educating Our Kids Using Science of the Brain." Dr. Desautels will answer questions after her discussion, which starts at 6 p.m.

Academic and administrative staff from charter schools, parochial schools, Montessori schools, IPS and others will be available to answer questions about their curriculum and programs. All are welcome to attend this event and free parking will be available.

"Whether you have questions about your next Midtown school or you are a Realtor who wants to know more about options in Midtown, this is the event for you," said Elizabeth Marshall, who is a State Farm Insurance agent in Broad Ripple.

"We really want families from all over our community, from Fall Creek near the Museum to the Broad Ripple area to have awareness of the quality of pre-kindergarten through high school educational options available to their children," said Anthony Bridgeman, Director of Community Initiatives at The Children's Museum, who is a title sponsor for the event.

For more information about the Midtown Educational Summit, visit their Events page at: http://www.midtownindy.org/2015EducationSummit.php or contact Keelee Slack at (317) 600-3141.

The Midtown Educational Summit is one of many annual events sponsored by the non-profit group located in Meridian-Kessler.