Your Story. Our Community.

My daughter, Stephanie [pictured], has been with Agape since she was three, and now she’s 22. It’s amazing to see her engage with the horse. The bond and interactions are amazing. They can get her to do more things. The Agape process has gotten her so far as she was never supposed to be able to walk or talk. Using speech, they could get her to talk to the horses. With occupational therapy, they could get her to use her arms and body more. Getting on the horse alone is great physical therapy. I think the most special part is that no matter how her day is going, good or bad, when she gets here she is happy and engaged. She loves it.
—Angela, parent of riding student at Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources

I grew up in a tiny town in Kansas. My dad was the high school basketball coach. We didn’t have a theatre. Theatre wasn’t a part of our ongoing life. So I think for me it was discovering that theatre existed and seeing that one play called A Thousand Clowns at a summer stock near where I grew up. I was ten-years-old. One of the main characters was a kid who was quite good. The idea that someone was my age up on that stage pretending to be somebody else fully awakened me. I just felt there was a whole world waiting for me that I just had to hold on and get to.
–James, playwright-in-residence at Indiana Repertory Theatre

James is celebrating his 20th season as IRT’s playwright-in-residence.

Art gives you power and allows you to connect to your community and the world. With art you become a world citizen, it’s a path to self-discovery and deciding that you’re worthy. When you make a creative discovery about yourself it’s powerful! CICF has turned us around. Brian Payne is like an angel to me. A group that recognized the importance of our mission, came along beside us when we really needed encouragement and this has changed our course.
–Deborah, founder and executive director at Asante Children’s Theatre

I wasn’t sure if I’d like having a mentor or not, but I’m so glad that I went ahead and did it. My mentor has become one of my best friends, almost like a sister. We talk all the time, go on day trips and go shopping every week. One time we tried to go to a baseball game but ended up getting lost in a parking garage. We parked, but couldn’t find our way to the game! You might think that was frustrating, but we laughed it off and ended up having a great time anyway!
—Valerie, mentee with Trusted Mentors

I had English as my number one and theatre as number two going into college. At the last minute right before I mailed it away, I knew I wanted to do something different. So I scratched it out and flipped the two choices and sent it away. It still kind of blows my mind that I am here. When I go see a performance, and I think, ‘Wow I had a hand in that. I made that.’
–Rachelle, properties artisan at Indiana Repertory Theatre

The seniors are really looking for a hub for resources and fellowship and to get out and see what is going on in their community. Senior community is a big part of the redevelopment plan for this area, they’re on boards and staying active here so they take a lot of ownership and pride in the progress of their communities.
–Kayla, Senior Angels Programs Coordinator at Edna Martin Christian Center