Cecilia Coble Talks Excitement, Goals As New City Council President

Photographer / Belinda Russell

Cecilia CobleCecilia Coble, who was unanimously elected as Fishers City Council president, has been serving on the Fishers City Council since 2014 when Fishers became a city. When Coble was elected president, Mayor Scott Fadness called it an historic day for Fishers since Coble, a Latino woman, is the first female president.

“I feel humbled and honored to represent the Hispanic community in Fishers,” Coble says. “Hopefully the next generation of youth will be inspired by seeing people in these positions that represent them.”

Upon joining the City Council, Coble told Fadness that advocating for those with intellectual and physical disabilities was something near and dear to her heart because her daughter, Krysta, has autism and cognitive delays. In fact, the family chose to move to the area in 2011 because of the applied behavior analysis centers in Fishers as well as the school system. Krysta attends the Behavior Analysis Center for Autism in Fishers on a part-time basis.

“I told Mayor Fadness that I wanted to help make Fishers more inclusive and provide opportunities for those with disabilities to become productive members of our community,” Coble says. “He was so supportive and has been a great champion as well.”

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Therefore, the city will offer activities all month to educate the public and celebrate the success of those with disabilities. There will be an art reception at Connor Prairie, a series of short films related to disabilities at the Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy, and workshops and support groups at Hamilton East Public Library. In addition, there will be a workshop at Connor Prairie for employers in the community to learn more about hiring people with disabilities.

Things kick off on March 2 at Fishers City Hall Auditorium from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., as area caregivers will share stories about their lives and the lives of their loved ones with disabilities.

Coble is co-chair of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, along with Kelly Hartman. The committee holds quarterly meetings with sub-committees that work on issues such as housing, accommodations, accessibility and employment. On March 3 the public is invited to attend a meeting at the Fishers City Hall Auditorium from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., where a discussion will center on how to handle caregiver stress and fatigue. The committee will also share information on how the Fishers Fire Department is helping first responders with innovative programs to help families dealing with stress.

Every year stakeholders and the Advisory Committee on Disability meet with the mayor to discuss issues affecting people with disabilities.

“That’s very powerful because we bring in city leaders, elected officials, educators, and the disability community talking in panel discussions about some of their greatest challenges and greatest successes they have had here in Fishers,” Coble says. “Their input helps us determine how we can work together to resolve those challenges.”

Cecilia CobleOn March 28 people with disabilities will put on a talent show at the Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy. During the show, awards will be presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond to become champions of inclusion in the Fishers community.

Coble says she has enjoyed every minute of being a city councilor.

“Every day I grow as a person,” she says. “I love to meet new people and hear about the issues facing our residents.”

In the past five years, Fishers leaders have made significant gains that include becoming a city, building an economic tax base, and bringing in amenities for citizens to enjoy. For instance, the new Fishers District offers a wide variety of culinary experiences.

“This is something the city and its residents have been waiting patiently for,” says Coble, adding that the Fishers Test Kitchen, located at The Yard at Fishers District, is a unique opportunity for aspiring chefs to create dishes and for people to experience something different.

In 2017 the city won the Champions of Inclusion award through the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities.

Coble and her husband of 26 years, Mike, like to travel, attend theater performances, and visit their elder daughter Alexa Capri, a freshman in college.

Coble, who serves as vice president of the Fishers Arts and Culture Commission, has a passion for performing arts, and says she’s excited for what is to come in the next four years.

“It’s been a wonderful experience serving alongside amazing leaders on the City Council,” she says. “I feel honored to have their vote of confidence to lead the City Council into 2020. The culmination of the last five years has put me in a great position to lead my colleagues and help in this next chapter of our city growth and potential.”

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