INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) supports residents and leaders who want to create positive change in their neighborhoods. They help people communicate and organize, provide resources to those who need assistance, and uplift organizations that are moving important projects forward. The annual Collaborative Spirit Award is given in recognition of projects that involve partnerships between neighborhood organizations and schools, faith-based organizations, not-for-profit and government agencies, businesses, or other neighborhood-based organizations. The project must embrace the spirit of cooperation and community involvement. The award celebrates unique, sustainable projects that demonstrate strong neighbor leadership and community partnerships that enhance the quality of life in our community.
This year’s finalists will present their projects at INRC’s 23rd Annual Meeting Tues. Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. at their headquarters (708 E. Michigan St.). Each finalist will have five minutes to tell its story.
Each meeting attendee will cast one ballot and the votes will be tallied and the winner announced at the end of the meeting.
· A cash award will be presented, the winning collaborative project’s name will be engraved on a permanent plaque in INRC’s office, and INRC will work with the awardee to submit a nomination for the Neighborhoods, USA Neighborhood of the Year competition. The finalists include Bean Creek Neighborhood Association, the Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park Task Force, and the Crooked Creek Community Development Corporation’s support for Greenbriar Soccer Club.
On June 8, 2017, Bean Creek Neighborhood Association on the southside hosted the Bean Creek “Progressive Meet and Greet” in partnership with several neighborhood faith-based congregations. Revitalized in 2016, the Association collaborated with several area churches and businesses in the area to promote the event. Beginning at Good Shepherd Catholic Church and traveling to Garfield Christian Church, St. Andrew Methodist Church, and ending with a community meal at Villa Baptist Church, 100 neighbors joined the Meet and Greet, got to know one another and learn more about their neighborhood’s history. As a result of coming together for the Meet and Greet, block parties were planned for July and August, and the community came together for National Night Out at Eleanor Skillen School 34.
photo by Nathan Davis
A blue heron perches in the rowboat art installation at Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park. Egrets, geese, ducks, beavers, and all manner of wildlife are drawn to the flood mitigation ponds.
The Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park Task Force was formed after neighbors voted support for the project in the summer of 2016 at a near eastside Quality of Life Plan summit. Working with several partners, including Indy Parks, the Department of Public Works, Otterbein Neighborhood Association, and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, neighbors cleared the trail, planted over 100 trees and erected signage. Paramount School of Excellence engaged 8th grade students to develop youth art installations, and the editor of the Weekly View, Ethel Winslow, developed a welcome/history panel of the park. A new grant from Reconnecting Our Waterways will enable the repair and replacement of park benches. The Task Force has also developed plans to maintain trails and trees, and formed the Park Watch Program in partnership with the IMPD Rangers to ensuring that the property and amenities remain safe and maintained for people to visit and enjoy.
During the 2016-2017 school year, community members on the northwest side established a parent-led soccer group, Greenbriar Soccer Club. Approximately thirty students at Greenbriar Elementary School participated in fall 2016 and spring 2017 sessions. America’s Football Clubs offered technical assistance, expertise, and access to insurance, and The Crooked Creek Community Development Corporation provided ongoing support for schools, parents and partners. First Construction Group, a neighborhood business, provided funding for jerseys. This collaboration has provided space, support, and opportunity for families to create an organized club with parents taking lead roles in planning, organizing, recruiting, coaching and celebrating. Because of the partnership’s strong collaboration with Washington Township Schools, a soccer program will launch at Fox Hill Elementary School in the 2017-2018 school year.
