The Indianapolis City-County Council, in partnership with the Office of Public Health and Safety and Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) has announced the recipients of the first round of funding made available through the Council District Crime Prevention Grants Program.
Leroy Robinson
“Today’s announcement marks a new phase in the Council’s commitment to addressing root causes of crime and violence in our community,” said Leroy Robinson, Chair of the Council’s Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee. “In addition, this program is the Council’s first attempt at an equitable distribution of resources using a data-driven approach that may reveal new opportunities for crime prevention moving forward.”
The Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of CICF, is administering the grant program, which supports new or existing projects, services, and programs that show potential to reduce crime in Marion County—either directly or indirectly. Grantmaking prioritized neighborhood-based, resident-driven, grassroots, and nontraditional organizations as a way of empowering neighborhoods to help build a safer community.
“…an equitable distribution of resources using a data-driven approach that may reveal new opportunities for crime prevention moving forward.”
Peter Thawnghmung, President of Chin Community of Indiana (CCI), supports the grassroots approach. “Grassroots organizations have a better understanding of the problems in their neighborhoods that contribute to crime, and we have the relationships within our community to make a difference.”
Like many of the programs selected for funding, CCI’s grant is targeted at engaging youth in positive activities; CCI’s effort is focused on mentoring teenagers and connecting them in positive ways to their peers and to caring adults. “For our community, youth criminal activity is a problem,” Thawnghmung says, “but with mentoring and peer support, we’ve seen young men go from being gang members to productive, responsible professionals.” With support from the Council’s District Crime Prevention Grant funds, he says, “we’re going to be able to see the results in the lives of our youth.”
Other funded programs targeted at youth plan to engage young people in leadership programs, job training, and organized athletics while different agencies plan to help families recognize the signs their child is using drugs or alcohol, and provide supportive or therapeutic services.
SEE BELOW FOR FULL LIST OF INITIATIVES AND GRANTS FUNDED
Not all of the successful applicants will be working with youth, however. Educational Destinations, located on Indy’s east side, will use grant funds to support a 6-month transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated veterans. The Greater Indianapolis Literacy League will grow Indy Reads’ free literacy, English language, High School Equivalency, and workforce readiness programs through their Community Classrooms for adult students.
Vop Osili
Alicia Collins
And the list goes on, says Council President Vop Osili. “The broad array of agencies and programs represented in this first round of grantees illustrates the resourcefulness of our grassroots partners as we work to tackle crime and violence in our city,” he says.
Alicia Collins, director of community leadership at CICF, agrees. “This program with the Council and the Office of Public Health and Safety is an invitation to community-based partners to use their expertise and deep knowledge of their neighborhood to address root causes of crime specific to that area,” she says, “as we work together for safer, stronger communities in the long run.”
The Council District Crime Prevention Grant program is a pilot effort in which each member of the Council had the opportunity to select funding priorities for their District using District-level data provided by The Polis Center’s SAVI program. Grant funds are awarded in alignment with those priorities and with the Council’s and CICF’s commitment to equity.
The second round of funding will be available later in 2021.
Increase the impact of the grant program with a contribution directed to a specific Council district
Learn more about this partnership and grant program
Council District Crime Prevention Grant program GRANT ALLOCATIONS
Organization Name |
Council District |
Project Description |
Award
|
| AthLead Indy Track and Field | 5 | A youth development Track & Field Club based in Lawrence Township, serving those between the ages of 5‐18. | $10,000 |
| Believers United in Local Development (BUILD) |
11 | BUILD expands career pathways into the construction trades through a 14 week paid education and construction training program for 16‐24-year-olds. | $10,000 |
| BRAG (serving as fiscal agent for North Shadeland Alliance) | 3 | Conduct a Feasibility Study in the area surrounding 75th and Shadeland Avenue. A feasibility study will identify potential programs and services, partners, collaborators and spaces required to form a one‐block, one‐mile Collective Campus. | $5,000 |
| Capital City Church of Christ | 13 | Capital City Church of Christ proposes to offer a plethora of activities in hopes to engage more youth while fostering strong relationships with families near 42nd and Post Rd. Workshops and activities span from employment skill development to group therapy. | $5,000 |
| Chin Community of Indiana | 23 | Chin Community of Indiana proposes creating a safe space where teenagers will be able to share and connect with their peers under adult supervision. In one hour meeting for eight weeks, we hope that these teenagers will have time to share their challenges and also hear their peers. | $5,000 |
| Clean for Green | 14 | The mission of Clean for Green Youth Employment Program is to provide youth ages 13‐18 with soft skill training, job readiness training and life skills mentoring while allowing them to make money in a safe and legal way; cleaning up neighborhoods. | $10,000 |
| Community Assets Inc. | 11 | Youth mentoring, job readiness and STEM career exploration initiative through workshops and online training for middle & high school students. | $10,000 |
| Concord Neighborhood Center | 16 | Piloting an outreach initiative to provide academic and workforce counseling, activities, and support to residents. Supports will include homework assistance and tutoring, job skills support, and access to Concord’s technology to complete online activities. | $6,500 |
| Convicted 2 Change | 6 & 7 | Offer job readiness training, CDL certification, and mentorship for young adults and adults in the community for a career in transportation. | $21,250 |
| Decatur Township Drug‐Free Coalition | 20 | The Hidden in Plain Sight trailer is a mobile 8.5 by 24‐foot enclosed cargo trailer converted into a makeshift bedroom for the purpose of educating adults (parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, etc.) on recognizing items or signs of substance use that may be hidden in a child or teenager’s bedroom. | $10,000 |
| Educational Destinations | 13 | 6-month transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated veterans. Provides comprehensive wrap‐around services; from mental health counseling to job training and placement. | $5,000 |
| Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek |
1 | Launch the Fundamental Family Basketball League for all residents within the Northside of Indianapolis, ages 7‐ young adults, every day except Saturday. | $17,500 |
| Freewheelin’ Community Bikes | 2 & 9 | Support Youth Apprenticeships Program for one full year. The apprenticeship program is a working/learning/employment opportunity that gives youth the knowledge and time to practice and master skill sets that are valued by Freewheelin. | $23,000 |
| George Washington HUB Club INC | 16 | This Youth Program will serve students aged 14 years and up afterschool by providing engaging, evidence‐based activities in-person & virtually that reinforce the new college and careers focus on IT, Business and Finance, and Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Engineering to increase academic achievement results. | $6,500 |
| Greater Indianapolis Literacy League Inc. |
24 | Indy Reads provides free literacy, English language, High School Equivalency, and workforce readiness programs through their Community Classrooms for adult students. | $4,375 |
| How Tired Are You, Inc. | 14 | Mentoring program for middle school youth and their parents on the far eastside of Indianapolis. Provides weekend community gatherings and professional therapy. | $1,000 |
| Indianapolis Communities Safe House Alliance | 21 | Weekly educational and life skill workshops, including access to a licensed family therapist and a license drug addiction therapist. Plus a 10‐week summer program for youth and teens to build physical and mental health. | $6,500 |
| Indianapolis Soap Box Derby Association, Inc. | 8 | Soap Box Derby car storage, maintenance, and newly donated used and worn Soap Box Derby cars (used equipment/materials) for 45 youth. | $10,000 |
| Martindale Brightwood Community Development Corporation | 17 | Program provides eight weeks of work experience at $15 per hour for current or former justice‐involved youth aged 16 to 25. Wraparound supports include “barrier-busting” dollars, educational supports, and mental health supports. | $18,500 |
| Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center | 16 | MRNC provides tiered social‐emotional learning (SEL) supports to the school-age youth and their families that have experienced trauma. Tiers 1 and 2 offer group sessions to build coping mechanisms and help students manage their behaviors. Tier 3 provides one‐on‐one counseling sessions for youth and/or their families at little to no cost through The Bowen Center. | $6,500 |
| The Never Alone Project | 12 & 17 | The Never Alone Project will provide basic needs, infant/young child, pet care, and recovery support mutual aid boxes to augment participants’ access to basic need and recovery support resources. Also provides direct low‐barrier rent/utility assistance and prescription cost assistance programming. | $13,000 |
| New Direction Church | 13 | Safe Streets Summer Job Program provides employment opportunities for youth ages 13‐17 on the Eastside. | $5,000 |
| New Life Development Ministries | 11 | 8-week program provides training in construction trades (i.e. carpentry, drywall, painting, electrical, plumbing, and basic home maintenance) for African American males ages 14‐18. | $10,000 |
| North Shadeland Alliance | 4 | Support ongoing operations of the IMPD Substation (volunteer) at Shadeland Station and contribute to community events. | $5,000 |
| People Makers Inc. | 14 | Provides youth with weekend engagement activities, community beautification projects, outings, and a weekly stipend. | $10,000 |
| Renewal Neighborhood Ministry | 13 | Employment support program designed to help participants obtain and sustain employment. Participants are encouraged to save toward the purchase of a vehicle and the program matches funds saved. The impact the program can make in the lives and families of these individuals is significant. | $10,000 |
| The Riley Center | 7 | Provide free full-day academic enrichment summer camp for K‐8. Family engagement includes meals for family, guest speakers and parent support resources. Impact 200 residents | $12,500 |
| South Indy Quality of Life Plan and Big Car Collaborative | 21 | Program will utilize arts‐based strategies in the block just southeast of the intersection of Southern Avenue and Shelby Street, including collaboratively designed light art for porches, murals for buildings, and social connectivity activities such as community conversations. Local artists and neighborhood residents would be engaged in all efforts. | $6,500 |
| Southeast Community Services (SECS) | 21 | Employment and income support to help residents gain new or better employment. Grant dollars would provide barrier-busting supports including HSE testing and utility assistance. | $6,500 |
| Stop the Violence Indianapolis Inc | 14 | Mentoring program for youth ages 16‐24 in the Brentwood community (42nd & Post) with a variety of activities and supports including barrier busters, community clean‐ups, weekend activities, job skills/search, etc. |
$15,000 |
| T3 Impact Inc. | 10 | Provides a variety of services for individuals and families in Pike Township including court-ordered diversion programs, youth re‐entry programs, youth and adult mental health counseling and support, and addresses food insecurity. | $32,500 |
| Trusted Mentors Inc | 25 | Trusted Mentors is an evidence-based adult mentoring program that includes specialized training and on‐going support for mentors to work with adults engaged in the criminal justice system, including young adults 18‐24. |
$5,000 |
| United Northeast Community Development Corporation |
9 | Two community outreach events, reaching 500 ‐ 700 residents with resources. | $13,000 |
| Warren Arts & Education Foundation | 18 & 19 | Wraparound support for Warren Township students and families who are homeless or highly mobile, including extended hours for tutoring, access to technology‐rich environments, personalized learning experiences and mentoring. Providing coordinated services for the families to increase pro‐social factors. |
$18,000 |
| Wayne Township Education Foundation |
15 | Financial literacy training and college/career readiness for (Advancement Via Individual Determination) AVID students in 8th ‐ 12th grade. |
$10,400 |
| We Care Indy | 13 | Youth mentoring program that employs youth to provide lawn care maintenance for senior citizens. | $5,000 |
| West Morris Street Free Methodist Church | 16 & 22 | A 6‐week program for youth aged 17‐22 to engage with a mentor and focus on building professional networks, developing soft skills, conducting a personality assessment and strengths analysis, mapping community assets, and writing a business plan. Each participant will submit a business plan/microgrant proposal to the program committee. Once grants are awarded, the participants will launch their business enterprise. |
$11,500 |
| Westminster Neighborhood Services, Inc. | 17 | This project would expand the current middle school afterschool program and create a dedicated high school afterschool program. Activities include: basic needs support, access to a food pantry, job shadowing opportunities, college field trips, interview practices and resources to plan for life after K‐ 12 education. |
$8,000 |
| Youth Development Project | 11 | Youth mentoring program for those involved with DCS, juvenile and family Court. YDP offers structured curricula in one of four key categories including substance abuse recovery, vocational education & preparation, pro‐social attitudes & motivation, and educational achievement and tutoring. They will provide one‐on‐one and group mentoring opportunities to youth utilizing existing programming and infrastructure we utilize for the Indiana Department of Child Services and the Marion County Juvenile & Family Court. | $10,000 |
| Zion Hope Baptist Church, Inc. | 13 | 8-week mentoring program for 12‐16 African American youths and their parents. Topics include conflict resolution, leadership development, effective communication, financial management, etc. | $5,000 |
TOTAL |
$403,525 |
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