Your Story. Our Community.

I volunteer by taking seniors places they need to go and cleaning their homes. I started when my dad passed away. I noticed that my mom was still very independent but occasionally she needed extra help. It’s interesting to think that we’ll all be in the same boat someday. Now I’m helping someone and someday I hope someone will help me.
–Cindy, volunteer with Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County

A performance I attended with my family when I was ten, was extremely influential. It was a production of “Carousel” that I saw in Chicago. I was sitting in the aisle, and an actor playing the lead came down the aisle singing. All the hair on my body stood up.
–Janet, executive artistic director at Indiana Repertory Theatre

I believe that people in Indianapolis want to welcome refugees. The community wants to continue to make Indianapolis a diverse place for everyone. When you are advocating for others to feel welcome, you are also advocating for yourself that you belong here. Indianapolis should be a home for everyone and not just specific people.
–Sara, case manager at Exodus Refugee

The Arts Council has a real focus and emphasis on issues of equity and diversity. We have a lot of diverse voices that present work in our spaces. I like to think of our gallery as a playground for artists. And to see some of the wonderful installations and allowing artists to go crazy, trusting in their process, enlivens our city as a whole. I foresee us being even more community-centered in the future. I hope we have an even more diverse collection of artists and views here.
–Dave, president and CEO of The Arts Council of Indianapolis

I started with La Plaza many years ago. My mom would come here for help with health insurance and learned about their free summer camp program for high school students. She enrolled me, and I attended camp from 10th-12th grades, which is how I learned about the Ambassador Program. They helped me with college and scholarship searches.

Being in and out of college, La Plaza has offered me some great opportunities to work here. I’ve been able to work on Fiesta Indianapolis, Passports to America and as a receptionist. They let me work and go to school, which is perfect for me.

La Plaza offers our community so many different services. There is a lot of relationship building. Just learning about our clients and their needs overall and then helping them make a plan for self-improvement.
––Sinara, community resource specialist & data steward at La Plaza

Here I got my first resume done, I found my first job. Horizon House is here for homeless people. There aren’t a lot of places that homeless people can come and hang out. They feed us, give us clothes, give us opportunities to find jobs and housing, help us with healthcare… a lot of stuff. They offer a lot of services that homeless people actually need.
–Manuel, neighbor at Horizon House