One Big Thing: Jeff Sparks is a cultural entrepreneur turned community builder whose work has shaped both Indiana’s arts landscape and neighborhood revitalization efforts. As founder of The New Harmony Project and the Heartland Film Festival, he helped create platforms for storytelling that bring people together and strengthen civic life. After retiring as President and CEO of the Heartland Film Festival, he shifted his focus to community development working in Indianapolis’ Twin Aire Promise Zone to help residents envision and implement neighborhood renewal. Through his role with Sagamore Institute, Sparks continues to champion storytelling, citizen engagement, and grassroots leadership as catalysts for stronger communities. This has included film projects, including the 2025 film, Just One Man (formerly titled The Tenderness Tour), documenting Richard Propes’ journey to erase medical debt for Hoosiers.

• Jeff founded both The New Harmony Project, a nationally respected writers’ laboratory, and the Heartland Film Festival, now one of the Midwest’s premier film festivals and a major contributor to Indiana’s cultural economy.
• After stepping down from Heartland, he joined neighborhood revitalization efforts in the Twin Aire Promise Zone, serving with the Southeast Neighborhood Development Corporation to help residents shape redevelopment priorities.
• Known as a “connector” and encourager, Jeff’s work consistently centers on building community, whether through storytelling initiatives, arts leadership, or grassroots neighborhood coalitions.

• Indiana Citizen: Jeff Sparks
• Just One Man Film
• WRTV: Twin Aire neighborhood soon to welcome more affordable housing