Dan Baisden is a professional urban planner and urban sociologist and the administrator of the City of Fort Wayne’s Neighborhood Planning and Activation Workgroup.

Born and raised in a small East-Central Ohio community, his childhood town experienced the ups and downs of the 1980s and 90s post-industrial decline that disrupted much of the Midwest. At 15, Baisden discovered the 1961 book ‘Life and Death’ by Jane Jacobs and ‘Slow Burn’ by Renée Jacobs. These two would inspire much of his work today as an urban planner, community development practitioner, and overall Neighborhood Guru.

Initially, Dan spent over a decade in radio broadcasting, both on-air and in leadership. He moved to various markets in Ohio, Kentucky, Arizona, and Utah and ultimately settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he resides today. After multiple opportunities to continue in the radio industry, Dan returned to college and obtained degrees in Urban Sociology and Urban and Regional Planning from Arizona State University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He then completed a Masters in Community and Economic Development from Pennsylvania State University.

Baisden leads several neighborhood initiatives at the City of Fort Wayne, including neighborhood strategic planning efforts and a community engagement platform. Before the City, he served in leadership positions in radio broadcasting, non-profits, and economic development organizations.