Ben Miller spent 7 years as a volunteer leader for the Mud Creek Conservancy, a small but mighty land trust in Indianapolis, growing it from $8,000 and 35 acres of conservation easements to over 200 protected acres worth more than $4 million. He led the $1M+ grassroots creation of Sargent Road Nature Park, now a beloved green space serving more than 13,000residents in an area with few public parks, with a second preserve underway. Under his leadership, active membership grew from 10 to 100+, with 600+ local families contributing.  

Ben’s mission is protecting Indianapolis’s best natural areas while connecting people to the places they help save, turning threatened landscapes into permanent community assets through conservation, public access, restoration, and community engagement. He did all this as a stay-at-home dad, often bringing his kids (now 5 and 3) along on donor tours, contractor meetings, and trail building days.