Plainfield, Indiana

In addition to sports, there are a variety of cultural activities such as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Civic Theater and the country’s largest Children’s Museum. All of these activities and places are within a short drive for the residents of the Town of Plainfield. Many citizens note that one of the best things about Plainfield is its location within the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, small-town living close to big city amenities.

More About Plainfield Indiana

At the core of the value system has been the family. When the family has been strong, our nation, our communities, our churches, our schools, our people have reaped the positive results. The Community of Values Program was organized in 1991 by Dr. Jerry Holifield, Superintendent of the Plainfield Community School Corporation. Plainfield Police Chief Jack Miller and several members of the community representing the following were involved in putting the program in place:

• Athletic Groups
• Businesses/Local Government
• Neighborhood/Civic Groups
• Religious Organizations
• School-Affiliated Organizations
• Youth-Serving Agencies

Their intention was to identify those values the people believed to be the most important, focus public attention on those values and encourage, motivate and challenge the community to model, communicate and emphasize these values for all.

Community Survey

The group developed 30 values and defined them in order to survey the public for the 12 most important values for the Town of Plainfield. A survey form was delivered to each household in the Town with instructions for families to sit down together and select the 12 values that were most important to them. Then the Survey Committee reviewed several thousand completed forms in March, 1992, and came up with the 12 values.

Promotion of Values

The message was then spread by the group through “Value of the Month” signs that were posted in almost every business, local government office, church, school classroom and library. An annual grade school rally is held with guest speakers promoting good values. Billboards are seen promoting the Community of Values organization and the values of the month. The local newspaper prints the values monthly and pictures the group or individual nominated that most exemplifies the value of the month. 

Community of Values Organization

The Community of Values Organization has determined that adults and children need a clearly defined values system around which they can make decisions and structure their lives. They need to be able to discern what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad – not just to satisfy their needs but to benefit those with whom they come in contact. Thus we need to bring to the forefront a common set of values that can be accepted by a Community. Somehow we must find the time and the ingredients to help families to develop skills that incorporate a strong set of values. Our society has learned that many of it’s problems are caused by a lack of proper values. 

We are now learning that issues can best be addressed through positive values. A community’s values become a child’s values.

• Parents must teach values.
• Friends and relatives must nurture values.
• Youth-serving organizations must reinforce values.
• Churches must preach values.
• Businesses must practice values.
• Adults and other authoritative figures must model values.
• Schools must support the common value threads that run through each.