Office of Community Engagement – Page 14 – Collaborating for community impact

JPMorgan Chase Donates Former Bank Branch and Commits $500,000 to Expand Economic Growth in Indianapolis’ Great Places 2020 Neighborhoods

Posted on October 15, 2019 by tfrancis

Investment to LISC Indianapolis to support Great Places 2020 and IUPUI to support SOURCE River West for the expansion of services and resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs of color, and creation of co-working space

October 15, 2019 (Indianapolis, IN) – JPMorgan Chase & Co. today announced the donation of a former bank branch to Englewood Community Development Corporation (CDC) and a $500,000 commitment to Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis and IUPUI. Together, these investments aim to drive economic development and inclusive growth in Great Places 2020 neighborhoods.

This commitment provides capital and other resources to three organizations to support diverse entrepreneurs and drive business growth in Indianapolis:

The donation of a former bank branch at 3000 E. New York Street to Englewood CDC. Englewood made the property available to local business to create Vault, a community co-working space in Englewood Village, a Great Places 2020 neighborhood. Vault is the first co-working space in this part of the city, and provides much-needed opportunities for entrepreneurs wanting to launch or grow their own small businesses. Permanent office leases and a month-to-month co-working model will provide flexible physical space for growth. This space will be available for local community organizations as well as training and meeting space for area businesses.
$300,000 to LISC Indianapolis to maximize investment in key Great Places programs and projects leading up to the city’s Bicentennial next year in five key neighborhoods: Englewood Village, King Commons, Maple Crossing, River West, Twin Aire. LISC has a specific focus on expanding inclusive economic opportunity and has used these funds to provide each Great Places neighborhood with a grant to support due diligence and real estate assistance related to helping small businesses move into new spaces in key commercial corridors.
$200,000 to IUPUI to support SOURCE River West Entrepreneurship Center. SOURCE River West, a Near West initiative in partnership with IUPUI and the Business Ownership Initiative of the Indy Chamber, will expand services to entrepreneurs and small business owners across Great Places 2020 neighborhoods to increase business knowledge, encourage startups, and support business growth.

The ultimate goal of the Great Places 2020 initiative is to transform strategic places in Marion County into dynamic urban villages. The success of minority, women and veteran entrepreneurs and small businesses is critical to this effort. This multi-pronged investment aims to put more Indianapolis residents on the path to self-sufficiency by providing the necessary tools and resources to support small business growth, as well as make a dedicated, low-cost space available that encourages startups and an entrepreneurial mindset.

“JPMorgan Chase is committed to helping everyone share in the rewards of a growing economy. While many areas are doing well across Indianapolis, we know that opportunity is not shared equally,” said Al Smith, Chairman for JPMorgan Chase in Indiana. “We’re proud to not only partner with these local organizations, but to activate a former bank branch as a new economic asset in the neighborhood. Together, we can have a real impact in Great Places 2020 neighborhoods and around the city.”

Small businesses are key drivers of growth, and that growth is fastest among minority and women entrepreneurs, yet only 13 percent of Indianapolis businesses are owned by people of color, according to the US Census.

“SOURCE Entrepreneurship Center’s mission is to create an environment where neighborhood entrepreneurs can start, grow and thrive. Low and no cost training, coaching and navigation to partner resources is available to individuals and businesses in the ideation, start up and growth stages,” said Tom O’Neil, SOURCE River West Board President. “This investment has helped expand entrepreneurship resources to many more neighborhoods in Indianapolis.

Since its creation, SOURCE River West has worked with over 850 current and potential entrepreneurs, providing 2,300 hours of professional coaching, workshops, and intensive business education including the Business Accelerator series that has assisted 54 entrepreneurs to secure and grow their businesses. About 70% of clients are female, and 85% are in underserved populations, especially African American and Latino business owners. Half of SOURCE River West clients are already in business, and half want to start a small business. SOURCE River West programs provide business owners with resources, information and guidance that they need to take the next steps to reach their business ownership dreams.

“Working alongside JPMorgan Chase and our neighborhood partners, LISC aims to support these Great Place neighborhoods by strategically connecting both people and place to opportunity, with the overarching goal of fostering inclusive and resilient communities,” said Tedd Grain, Executive Director of LISC Indianapolis.

“With the support of JPMorgan Chase, Englewood CDC, LISC Indianapolis and Old National Bank, Vault is proud to restore a neighborhood landmark as well as join with other near eastside organizations contributing to growth in the local economy,” said Desma Balsaas, co-owner of Vault.

JPMorgan Chase has contributed $1.68 million to expanding economic opportunity in Great Places neighborhoods since 2016, including supporting community leadership in developing neighborhood priorities, targeted strategies to expand inclusive entrepreneurship and job growth, affordable housing, and ongoing evaluation of the initiative.

About JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.7 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

About Englewood Community Development Corporation
Englewood Community Development Corporation (ECDC) strives to nurture and embody “love of neighbor” in the areas of affordable housing, economic development, and comprehensive community development on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. The organization maintains a focus on strengthening the neighborhood by providing quality and affordable home ownership and rental opportunities for a wide array of valued neighbors and developing affordable commercial, retail and job creation opportunities for a variety of businesses and organizations on the Near Eastside.

About LISC Indianapolis
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis is the local office of a national organization that helps resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones — good places to live, do business, work, and raise families. By providing capital, technical expertise, training, and information, LISC supports the development of local leadership and the creation of affordable housing; commercial, industrial, and community facilities; businesses; and jobs. In short, we help neighbors build communities.

About SOURCE River West Entrepreneurship Center
SOURCE River West Entrepreneurship Center is an education and economic initiative that promotes and encourages business ownership serving Indianapolis’ Near West, the River West corridor and surrounding downtown neighborhoods. Source River West is a catalyst project of the River West Great Place initiative. The IUPUI Office of Community Engagement supports the Near West Quality of Life Plan and River West Great Place on behalf of Indiana University by serving as fiscal agent to support SOURCE.

About IUPUI
IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) is Indiana’s premier urban research and health sciences institution and is dedicated to advancing the intellectual growth of the state of Indiana and its residents through research and creative activity, teaching, learning, and community engagement. Nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and other notable publications, IUPUI has nearly 30,000 students enrolled in 17 schools, which offer more than 400 degrees. IUPUI awards degrees from both Indiana University and Purdue University.

Media Contact:

Carlene Lule, carlene.c.lule@chase.com, 614.213.6545

Congratulations to Dr. Anubhuti Shukla on her new role leading the IU School of Dentistry’s community based dental education

Posted on October 10, 2019 by tfrancis

Indiana University School of Dentistry Congratulates Dr. Anubhuti Shukla on her new role leading the dental school’s community based dental education program. Dr. Shukla joined the IU School of Dentistry’s Department of Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health on October 7, 2019 as a clinical assistant professor and the director of Community-Based Dental Education.

Dr. Anubhuti Shukla joins the IU School of Dentistry from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where she served as a lecturer in the department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology and staff dentist at the Forsyth Institute (Cambridge, MA).

Other positions and roles held by Dr. Shukla include service as a teaching assistant for the Kelly Autism Program at Western Kentucky University; preceptor for Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the University of Texas Dental School; general dentist at Batra Dental Hospital; a dental public health consultant, subject matter expert and clinical lead for the Dubai Health Authority – Health Innovation Advisory, Government of Dubai- Dentoral Strategy; brand ambassador for Smile for Haiti Outreach; board member of the Virginia Oral Health Coalition; team member in the evaluation of the oral health competency in primary care training for The Center for Integration of Primary Care and Oral Health; and recipient of the 2018 Community Service Award by the Office of Global and Community Health (Harvard University).

Study shows IUPUI student voter turnout increased significantly in 2018

Posted on September 26, 2019 by anposick

IUPUI joined campuses across the nation with a surge in voting in the 2018 elections, compared to the previous mid-term elections in 2014.

In 2018, 38.3 percent of IUPUI students voted, which is a 25-percentage-point increase from the mid-term elections in 2014, when 13 percent of students voted.

The percentage of students registered to vote also increased, from nearly 66 percent in 2014 to nearly 73 percent in 2018. And when looking at the voting rate of student-registered voters, the increase was even larger – from just under 20 percent in 2014 to nearly 53 percent in 2018.

The same is true on college campuses across the country, according to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE) published this week. The report is based on an analysis of the voting patterns of more than 10 million students on more than 1,000 college campuses and is put out b the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education (IDHE) at Tufts University.

According to that report, college student voting rates increased at 99 percent of the campuses surveyed in the 2018 mid-term elections, compared to 2014. And nearly half of those had jumps between 15 and 24 percentage points. IUPUI was slightly lower than the national average of 39.1 percent, according to the NSLVE report.

Nationwide, the turnout for the 2018 mid-term elections was similar to the turnout for the 2016 presidential elections, according to a news release from Tufts University.

“At a time of increased activism and voter participation by all Americans, today’s report highlights even greater interest among college students. It marks a watershed election year for student voter turnout, including promising progress in narrowing some persistent turnout gaps,” Nancy Thomas, director of the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts University’s Tisch College, said in the news release.

“While more work remains to fulfill higher education’s mission to educate for democracy, it is clear that colleges and universities provide a valuable space for political learning, civic engagement and electoral participation,” continued Thomas.

Some other highlights from the report about IUPUI student voters:

The number of absentee voters is on the rise, from 12.3 percent in 2014 to 34.9 percent in 2018. At the same time, the number of in-person Election Day voters fell, from 85.2 percent in 2014 to 62 percent in 2018.
Women beat men in voting rates, with 39.4 percent of women voting and 36.9 percent of men. The same is true across the country, with Black women remaining the most active voters on campus.
Voters in all ethnic groups increased their voting rates this year, but two significant jumps were in Black voters, who increased from a voting rate of 15.5 percent in 2014 to 42.4 percent in 2018, and Hispanic voters, who increased from 8.7 percent in 2014 to 36.1 percent in 2018. Nationwide, Hispanic voters more than doubled – from 14 percent in 2014 to 36.5 percent in 2018.
Students in the fields of study of English Language and Literature, History, Legal Professions and Studies, Library Science and Public Administration and Social Service remained in the top groups of student voters, with more than half of students voting in the 2018 elections.

For more information you may need to vote, visit our Voter Guide.

IUPUI and SOURCE River West Entrepreneurship Center Bringing the PopUp Business School to Indianapolis

Posted on September 26, 2019 by anposick

Do you have a special skill or talent that your friends and family tell you would make a great business? Have you always had the passion to start a business? What if you could make money part-time or full-time — doing what you love?

Traditional methods tell you to write a business plan and get a loan. That works for some but not everyone. There is another way – without debt!

With the help of our sponsors, John Boner Neighborhood Centers, Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, Innovate Indiana, Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, and Taft Indianapolis, IUPUI and SOURCE River West are bringing the PopUp Business School to Indianapolis – for only the second time in the US and first time in the Midwest.

This 10-day experience takes place weekdays, October 21 – November 1, 2019, from 10am – 3pm daily, with scheduled mentoring sessions before and after class. (Free! Advance registration is preferred please.)

Over the last 8 years, the PopUp Business School has changed lives all over Europe in many countries. The PopUp Business School team is on a mission to democratize small business ownership around the world. IUPUI and SOURCE are proud to join them in making business ownership a reality for our Indianapolis neighbors and communities.

Founded in 2012 in the UK by Alan Donegan and Simon Paine, the PopUp Business School model has helped over 1,500 businesses get started. How do they do it? The team rejects the traditional approach and instead emphasizes creativity, passion, and active learning in a supportive environment. Attendees will be inspired, find partners and mentors, and have access to ongoing support from the PopUp Business School and local resources providers.

Near the end of the second week, the community will be invited to a free, public retail event where new business owners can test their ideas, get unbiased feedback on products and packaging, and make their first dollar!

The result? The new business owners will have the foundation and confidence to launch their businesses – without debt.

What do you need to qualify for the PopUp Business School in Indy? Nothing but passion and drive. Whether you have an idea for a business or social enterprise or are just exploring your options, have a small side business or have been in business for a few years, or just want to gain more business knowledge – this program is for you.

Everyone is welcome and it’s free thanks to IUPUI, SOURCE River West, and our sponsors.

Ditch your car this Friday!

Posted on September 18, 2019 by anposick

The idea started 25 years ago, when he routinely saw a co-worker biking to work.

But the logistics seemed unworkable. How do you get to meetings? What if you have to go to another office? What do you do if you need to shower?

At the time, his thought was: “I can’t,” said Manochehr Allaei, Director of Facility and Technology for the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement.

So he started asking for tips and ideas from other co-workers and groups of people who routinely walked or biked to work, and he gave it a try. After some trial and error, he found a way to make it work for him.

Now, he couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“If I don’t do it, I truly won’t be the same,” Manochehr said.

“Biking and walking is doable in my experience for anyone who wants to do it. It’s just a matter of how much you want to do it.”

Over the years, Manochehr has alternated between biking and walking to work. He enjoys both, but finds that walking is the best exercise for him.

And yes, he walks and bikes all year long – when it’s snowing, when it’s raining, when it’s hot and humid and when it’s below freezing. Initially, he would stop during the winter months, but he found ways to keep going by buying the right clothing. After an encounter with ice one winter on his bike, he began walking only during the icy times.

This past winter, when temperatures dropped well below freezing, he continued walking, despite the objections of his friends and loved ones. With all the layers he wore, he was fine – except for when his eyelashes froze.

But he does keep enough cash on him to ride the bus, just in case he needs to, he said.

For Manochehr, walking and biking make him feel healthier, but he isn’t doing it to just for that. Being able to exercise each morning allows him to be able to focus better at work, be a better listener and not feel rushed, he said.

“I don’t do it for losing weight or being healthy. If I don’t do it, I think I would be too hyper. It makes me feel good,” he said.

He also wishes others would do the same, especially on his daily walks when he sees most cars with only one person inside, he said.

But he also sees how it can help people throughout their work day, he said.

“It gets you ready for whatever destination you are going to, you can think through projects or stuff at home,” he said.

And he suggests people look for even small ways to start, such as parking off campus and walking to their office.

“It is a choice,” he said.

Join Manochehr on Friday and ditch your car, grab your bike, lace up your walking shoes or carpool to work for Car Free Day Indy!

The Diabetes Impact Project at IUPUI partners with Eskenazi Health Centers and three community organizations to embed Community Health Workers in Indy Neighborhoods

Posted on September 10, 2019 by tfrancis

One aspect of the Diabetes Impact Project at IUPUI – Indianapolis Neighborhoods (DIP-IN) is partnering with three Eskenazi Health Centers (Blackburn, Forest Manor, and Westside) and three community organizations (Flanner House, United Northeast Community Development Corporation, and Westside Community Development Corporation) to hire, train, and support nine Community Health Workers (CHWs). The CHWs will be working with the communities to reduce the burden of diabetes. The target locations are the Northeast, Northwest, and Near West Indianapolis neighborhoods and include the zip codes 46202, 46205, 46208, 46218, 46222, 46226, and 46228.

The DIP-IN initiative is led by the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI and funded by Eli Lilly and Company with some matching funds from Eskenazi Health. In addition to Eskenazi Health and local community organizations, key organizational partners on the project include Marion County Public Health Department, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and The Polis Center.

Individuals with diabetes utilizing Eskenazi services in the DIP-IN project area may be eligible to receive support from an Eskenazi CHW. Eskenazi CHWs will be providing support to patients that are at a higher risk of diabetes-related complications to reduce barriers to managing their diabetes. These barriers include everything from making sure that glucometers are working properly to assisting people in getting their utilities turned on.

Neighborhood CHWs are working with residents to expand awareness and education about diabetes. They are working to identify those in the community who may be at risk for diabetes or may have diabetes and not be aware so that they can do things to slow the progression of the disease. The CHWs are also connecting these individuals to the appropriate medical and social services they might need.

They are also working with community organizations to increase linkages between organizations in order to reduce barriers for residents.

According to DIP-IN organizers, “These two types of CHWs fit the first two goals of the project which are: 1). Reduce complications and improve quality of life of people living with diabetes and 2) Increase awareness of risk factors for diabetes and encourage people at high risk to be screened so they can take action.”

Meet Rashida Bonds

Rashida Bonds, Neighborhood Community Health Worker, Indy Northwest community

Rashida Bonds, the first Neighborhood Community Health Worker (CHW) hired for the DIP-IN project is working in the Northwest community, based out of Flanner House.

Rashida is working to identify those in the community who may be at risk for diabetes or may have diabetes and not be aware, along with connecting these individuals to the appropriate medical and social services they need.

Interwoven in this primary responsibility is the expectation that these CHWs will be out attending community meetings and events, and connecting with residents from all over the area, working to serve as a strong resource for the community, according to a representative from DIP-IN.

To learn a bit more about Rashida, the DIP-IN team asked her a few questions about her work and Indianapolis background. Here is what she said:

What did you do before becoming a part of the DIP-IN team?

I have spent 22 years in the non-profit world. Seventeen of those years have been spent educating youth and adults about HIV/STDs and how to prevent them. I spent three years working with the parents of LGBTQ+ youth at Indiana Youth Group to help create accepting households in the hopes of lowering the suicide rate among LGBTQ+ youth. That work inspired me to go back to school to become a life coach. So now, in addition to working with DIP-IN, I am a certified Life Coach working with the parents of LGBTQ+ youth.

Tell us more about your background of living in and working with Indianapolis communities.

Working in the HIV arena, I have walked neighborhoods handing out safe sex supplies and talking to people about how to make safer decisions in their life. I have hosted events in community centers around the city, providing education and resources. I have been a case manager, providing a listening ear for folks who had serious barriers to making their sexual health a real priority in their lives. We worked together as a team to create real solutions for them. I sat down

in the homes of women and spoke to them and their friends about HIV/STDs and how they can take control of their sexual health. Everything I have done in my professional life has been to uplift the community around me. It is incredibly challenging and it is even more rewarding.

Tell us a story of a time you felt you had a true impact in your community work.

There have been a lot of life-changing moments. This would be the most recent. I did strength-based case management while working at Indiana Youth Group. There was one particular youth that was going through a lot of life changes. I challenged him and I also listened when he needed to feel heard. I pushed him hard. I was continually so proud of him because he always took a small bit of advice or guidance and turned it into something great. He is now living in his dream city, doing amazing things and though he has incredible challenges, he has mastered the art of pausing instead of giving up. Earlier in the month, on my birthday, he sent me a message telling me how I changed his life and how he wouldn’t be where he is without me. My only intention in our relationship was to be a mirror for him so he could see the incredibly amazing person I saw when I looked at him. He did ALL of the hard work on his own. I just feel so incredibly blessed to have been a stop on his journey on this planet.

What part of this project are you looking forward to most?

I am learning so much about diabetes and prediabetes. There are so many myths and misconceptions about the disease in the community. I look forward to having face-to-face conversations with people and seeing their “ah hah” moments happen. I look forward to sharing information or a perspective that may have not been explored before and hopefully encouraging someone to make life-changing decisions that will keep them be happy and healthy for a long time.

When you are not working, what are you up to?

When I’m not working, I am “mom-ing” and “wife-ing”. I’ve been married for almost 8 years and we have a beautiful 4-year-old daughter that I am obsessed with. I am also working really hard on my mental, financial, and physical health. Working with DIP-IN every day helps me remember to make those things a priority.

For more information about the Diabetes Impact Project, visit the website here.

Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Reunion XXIV is coming to Indy October 11-13

Posted on August 20, 2019 by tfrancis

Indiana University African American graduates from every campus in the state will converge on The Circle City, October 11-13, for the biennial Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Reunion.

Friday, October 11 will start with a Fish Fry at the Indianapolis Urban League. That evening will include a choice of live jazz, comedy club or dancing.

The weekend continues with an optional day trip to Bloomington for tailgating, a tour of the N-M Multicultural Center, and the 12-noon homecoming versus Rutgers. Those who remain in Indy can opt for a game party, a visit to an area casino, shopping or matinee entertainment.

All will come back together Saturday night for the gala dinner and dance at The Embassy Suites in Downtown Indianapolis. After Sunday breakfast, there will be a brief worship hour followed by a meeting of the national board, concluding the reunion.

Don’t miss this great chance to reacquaint with old IU friends and meet new ones – whether you are from a graduating class of the 1950s or part of the Class of 2019 – We Are One! Learn more and register here.

Hanging Out Loud: How art speaks

Posted on August 2, 2019 by lshargro

By Laurie Hargrove, Guest Contributor

When reflecting upon school and community partnerships, I can see how my thinking has evolved. I once viewed community partnerships in a narrow lens or similar to a one-way street — only seeking support for many initiatives. However, I neglected the term partnership and its meaning completely — only Shallowly listening to family suggestions and concerns. Now, when thinking about community partnerships, I view it as a two-way street, with mutual goals and voice.

One may wonder, what triggered this evolution in my thinking and the answer is simple. The more I learned about community partnerships and family engagement the greater my appreciation for these partnerships grew! However, something clicked once I read “Artful Spaces/Safe Places: A Gallery Provokes Voices that Interrogate Common Narratives of Latino Immigrant Children.” This article challenged my thinking, personal values, and beliefs. It showed the true power behind partnerships and the depth behind those relationships.

However, what stood out most was the value placed on immigrant voices. In the article, the authors analyze student artwork in a local church/community. The purpose of this work is to uplift the voices that are often silenced.

“During the summer program, the children participated in a curricular activity called ‘hanging journals.’ Here they were asked to think about their lives and to remember important events. Next, they thought of a way to represent this event by forming clay objects.”(Bixler Borgman and Penalva, 2019, p. 10)

Now, creating artwork may seem dense to some, but this allows students to reflect upon their story and share it!

As a teacher, respecting student’s voice and building relationships are my niche. It is the one thing that drives me every day and I’m always looking for ways to foster relationships with my students. “It is not only critical that students have opportunities to create these narratives, but that they have time to reflect on and dialogue with others about these stories.” (Bixler Borgman and Penalva, 2019, p. 17)

The incorporation of art, symbolism, and the personal narrative has so many benefits to educators and students. First, students can express their ideas without the constraints of finding the right word or following the many grammatical rules. It allows them to share some of the most intimate details of their lives and those they love. As an educator, it allows you to connect deeply and bond with your students, which is far more meaningful than any tool or strategy. Furthermore, this article challenged me to think about in what ways can I incorporate art into my lessons, to uplift the student’s voice.

Laurie Hargrove is an Educational Leadership Master of Arts student in the IU School of Education at IUPUI.