Near Northwest Exchange Vol. 1

A p ri l 2019

NEAR NORTHWEST Unity in Motion

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A Quiet Beauty…

A Resident Based Story

By: Januarie York,

Poet and Author

Life exists in “the most dangerous zip codes” of Indianapolis!!!!

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ecently, I sat on the back patio of my home, enjoying the sunshine and watching the butterfly that kept landing on the banister. My male dog tossed and turned in a dirt pit he dug for himself and played with his toys while my female rested her head sleepily against my leg.

It was a typically quiet and serene moment at a place I call “Hugz Mansion”.

Photo credit: Nicole Powell

My house rests in an area that has its fair offering of boarded-up houses and vacant lots.

From my backyard and because of a vacant lot, Continued on page 4

SEE WHAT’S INSIDE Page 2 Community Builder’s Corner Page 3 Senior Happenings

The Whitley’s Story Page 4 Cover Story: A Quiet Beauty...

Page 6 Youth Works & Nurseries!

Attention Block Captains & Crime Watch Captains Page 7 Attention Entrepreneurs: Workshops Available

Riverside Argonauts off to an amazing start

6 youth works & nurseries!

A recent grant awarded to Groundworks Indy affords the non-profit the opportunity to expand its nursery at their current site. With a commitment to community, they also employ youth to work on community-based projects in the Near Northwest area. See inside for more details….

MAY I PLEASE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION? Community Builders Corner

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or those of you who are just tuning in, may I take this opportunity to explain the NWQOL? NWQOL stands for North West Quality of Life (Plan). At the direction of our city leaders, many residents came together and developed this plan to improve overall outcomes in education, food access, economic development, arts, parks & public spaces and housing in order to create a safer, healthier and more enjoyable community in which to live.

This five year-plan was implemented in 2014 with resident -led action teams that are supported by one or more institutional stakeholder co-chairs. The action teams are further guided by a governance committee made up of both residents & stakeholders. In addition, every Neighborhood Association in the designated NWQOL Plan area has an open seat on this governing body. The goal is to ensure resident voices are heard as decisions are made that will impact them

and their families.

Throughout the years, the participants have experienced a lot of pressure, as well as many successes. They have worked through difficult situations and learned how to embrace the many gifts each brings to the table. Many have spent numerous thankless hours advocating on behalf of this beloved community, and its overall quality of life. And the struggle continues, as we are now embarking on several major revitalization projects that will have major impact on everyone. Action team chairs are doing their best to prepare us to reap the benefits, secure the jobs and own the property. The luxury of time has expired and if we don’t fill the seats, someone else will.

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oin us for our monthly community meeting for updates about what’s happening in the community and resources for residents. We begin with a light meal and fellowship at 5:30. If you would like to get on the agenda please contact Rlewis@flannerhouse.org or call 317.925.4231 ext 245. Your presence is welcome and your participation is appreciated!

Community:

MEETS THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH at 5:30pm.

Hosted by Rachel Lewis, Community Builder

that are available. Feeding all this valuable information into one source that is accessible to everyone is Key to long-term sustainability after the NWQOL Plan sunsets. How would YOU Ask anyone and they will tell you that communication is at the top of like to be a part of this synergy? needs in order to Celebrate successes, Highlight that which is good I wish you love, and Educate one another about the many resources and opportunities

Meet Your Resident Leaders

Rachel

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esident driven leadership is the heart of the NWQOL and since its inception, our community has been served by some of the most dedicated and committed individuals. Currently, the NWQOL Governance Committee is seeking residents to serve.

See the listing below. A warmhearted thanks to all our Resident Leaders past and present.

Fred Slack

Resident Co-Chair Housing

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LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AVAILABLE! COMMITTEE POSITIONS ARE NEEDED If interested please contact Rlewis@flannerhouse.org Or call 925.4231 ext.245

Names Left to right: Carolyn Watts, Resident Co-Chair of the NWQOL Plan, Ron Rice, Resident Co-Chair of the Arts, Parks & Public Spaces Committee, Jeremy Littell Resident At- Large member on the governance committee, Marlo Allen, Resident Co-Chair of the Education Committee, Alek Gifford, Resident At-Large Governance Committee member, Fred McDowell Resident At-Large Governance Committee Member, Chris Davis Resident Co-Chair of the Economic Development Committee.

Senior Happenings Article Submitted by: Rachel Lewis

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lease let me introduce you to my good friend Ms. Sandra Brazelton. I know many of you have seen her around as she has been helping me out at the NWQOL monthly community meetings for the past couple of years and she also volunteered with the Northwest Partnership BCJI (Byrne Criminal Justice Initiative) resident driven plan, “Within Reach”.

I want to share with you a story of resilience that demonstrates why we need a process to inform all of our residents, digital and paper, about the many assets, i.e. opportunities and resources that are available to our neighbors. Ms. Sandra was born in 1940 at Wishard Hospital and has been living in the Near Northwest area since she was 11 years old.

She shares a modest two-bedroom house with her 96-year young mother. She has five children of her own four of whom still live here in Indianapolis. Ms. Sandra regularly attends the Flanner House Senior Program two times a week so she can socialize with her peers. Sometimes she

goes with them to get groceries or go out to eat. She really enjoys going to Golden Corral and to play BINGO on Fridays.

If she chooses to go shopping on her own, she catches a city bus. She goes to rehab twice a week for her knees & hips by utilizing the Indygo transportation program.

Her prescription medications are delivered to her in 90-day supply In addition to attending the NWQOL Monthly Community meeting, her church, Shilo Missionary Baptist Church, picks her up every Sunday. She puts money into a travel group that is coordinated by her church and has been able to travel to such places as New York, New Orleans and Washington DC. Ms. Sandra has a strong family support system that ensures that she and her mother’s needs are met and that they are safe. All this just to show you what is possible, right here in the NNW. Ask Ms. Sandra where she has on her bucket list now an she will say, “I would like to go to Jamaica one day” For more information about the Flanner House Senior Program contact Gerald Ardis at 317.925.4231 ext.247. The following is a list of workshops that are being offered and are FREE and open to the community. Join Us!!

The Whitley’s Story

Ms. Sandra Brazelton

Brown Bag Senior

“Lunch & Learn” Series

2424 MLK Jr. Street 11:00 am – 1:00 pm • April 26 – Beginner Level Computer Class • May 3 – How to Email • May 10 – Word Documents

is now going down in history as it closed its doors in March of 2019.

HONORING AN INDIANAPOLIS ICON AS

For over 25 years Wanda and Yancey Whitley have searched IT CLOSES ITS DOORS - A Fan’s Perspective for deals to bring back to the loyal customers of this west Submitted by: Cissi Sherlock, Resident Indianapolis establishment.

Wanda, especially, has spent or decades WHITLEY’S FURNITURE innumerable hours at auctions, estate STORE, located at 1818 W. 16th St. sales, and closeouts, the end result just west of Riverside Drive in an area being that she was able to find deals, now known as 16Tech, has been the on everything from baby pacifiers, new and used furniture store and niccoffeemakers, lamps, vinyl records and nac go-to place. This Indianapolis icon

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Continued on page 9

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A Quiet Beauty…

A Resident Based Story

By: Januarie York,

Poet and Author

Who knew??? Life exists in “the most dangerous zip codes” of Indianapolis!!!!

I can see straight through to the one-way street one block over. It’s a busy westbound street, and I watched as traffic sped by on their way to important destinations, a collection of sounds christened the air that ranged from loud trunk music, children playing and ultimately my personal favorite, stillness. There’s no shortage of trees in the back and I took special notice to the fresh spring buds sitting on high limbs that reached for the sky’s approval. Several trees were covered in purple buds that looked like a high field of lavender from where I sat. It was (and is) quite beautiful. As I sat, Cinematic Orchestra’s “The Awakening of A Woman: Burnout” played us an evening soundtrack. It was a solid warm, peaceful spring day full of the kind of sunshine that tickled the tips of the growing grass and kissed my melanin ever so gently.

I had no complaints. But according to a 2013 Fox59 report, the 46208 zip code is not only one of the most dangerous zips in Indianapolis; it is ranked as one of the most dangerous in the entire country. In this zip code, along with 46205, a person has a one in fourteen chance of 4

becoming a victim of a homicide.

While the report itself goes on to mention certain areas within these zips, or “pockets”, the zip code itself is used as a blanket statement for an entire area covered under those ten specific numbers.

Butler-Tarkington, not mentioned in the 2013 article, but makes up a huge portion of 46208, was featured in the news in October 2016 for making it one year without violence after a string of unsolved murders left families broken and

There is great work going on in the areas that many people are afraid of based on what they’ve heard. police stumped. It’s also been listed as high crime, dangerous areas.

The MLK and Riverside communities have also been known to fall under the title of “danger zones”.

Both areas have endured a long notoriety with locals as being oppressively unstable and full of crime. I am not writing this

to deny the existence of the all too frequent violence. In fact, I can easily understand how one comes to label these areas as they do. Who can forget 10-year-old Deshaun Lee Swanson, who was shot and killed during a drive-by that injured several others? That incident happened around the corner from my mother’s house and next door to the parents of a lifelong sister-friend. My stepfather was supposed to be in that house that day, but thankfully, decided to stay home. Trust me when I say I am awake, alert and aware of the violence and negativity that go on in these places.

However, doesn’t the label of “most-dangerous”, at least somewhat, eradicate the presence of love that I personally know exists in these areas? Does anyone else feel marked and thrown away under such a label, or is it just me and my feelings?

Consider this: the label of “most dangerous zip code in the country” (or even the city) doesn’t identify the isolated pockets where the violence is most prominent. One would have to read between the

Cover Story

Photo Credit: John Girton

lines to get that. Instead, that label engulfs and speaks for the entire covered area while conveniently forgetting that despite what you see from the outside looking in, there are still families here. There are still people with goals and dreams, folks who are mentoring the teens and kids that live in these very areas.

There are small, grassroots collections of people trying to combat the violence AND all the other issues plaguing our communities (food, transportation, health, etc).

I grew up in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood. I have lived all over Indianapolis but I returned to the area in 2007 and have spent the last ten years in the 46208 neighborhood. I can say with certainty and experience that there is much beauty to be seen and experienced in the “hood”. Last year, I applied for a job with the INRC, a community-based organization that targets urban areas with the intention of building neighborhood awareness, communication and dialogue, as well as empowering the community to

teach, grow and sustain itself through their own initiatives and talents. They use what is referred to as the ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) model to achieve this success.

When using the ABCD model, you assess what are considered to be “weaknesses” and work on how to utilize them as strengths.

In other words, there are no weaknesses. A person may not like to speak in public, but on the flip side, they are great listeners. That person could record information for someone. There are no vacant homes: those are potential artistic canvases OR rehabilitated meeting houses or safe places. Making use of the talents and gifts from the people within these areas; coupled with identifying ‘troubled’ areas (regarding buildings AND the people). Learning how to turn those qualities into assets, is how you revitalize a community from the inside out…without gentrifying it.

However, in order to bring respect to the fact there is talent in these so-called “urban danger Zones”, there must be a belief!

There must be hope! Despite what is said about us, life still exists within our numbered boundaries.

Who knew??? Life exists in “the most dangerous zip codes” of Indianapolis!!!!

The Indy Star isn’t really good about reporting that though.

The media is great for being first on the scene to capture people screaming and hollering in grief and disbelief when a dead body is discovered. They are Johnny on the Spot when a drug bust happens, even if they don’t have much information. But when over three hundred people draw together, along with the police (by happenstance), on a corner where folks are scared to make a complete stop at the four-way, no one is there but our own cell phone cameras. Even when two thousand people gather together in an event that could rival all of the summer expos and food festivals in the city, but because it is held in a neighborhood which falls under the national label of “urban danger zone”, the Continued on page 8

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Groundwork of indy the following program areas: Greenways & Parks, Brownfields & Vacant nursery coming to nnw Land, and Healthy Communities from Submitted by: Mark Young & Phyllis Boyd

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Arts, Parks, and Public Spaces:

MEETS THIRD MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH at 5:30pm. Riverside Recreational Center.

roundwork Indy’s mission is to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and organizations to promote environmental, economic and social well-being.

Groundwork Indy is lead by Phyllis Boyd and a team of dedicated staff.

Groundwork Indy employs youth to work on community-based projects in

its location at 1100 Burdsal Parkway.

Recently Groundwork of Indy was awarded a $41,000 grant from the City of Indianapolis to expand its operations into a full nursery at its current site. These grant funds will allow for the purchase of two greenhouses, irrigation system and landscaping products for resale to the larger community.

GroundWork Indy hopes to have nursery operations open to the public by the fall of 2019 to supply residents, developers and business owners with their landscaping needs.

Contact information: 317-737-2810.

Website: groundworkindy.org

Attn: Block Captains & Crime Watch Captains

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he NWQOL Community Safety & Peace Building Committee comprised of both residents and stake- holders that would reduce crime and create a stronger and safer community, and comes with long term sustainability at no cost to anyone!

The Community Safety & Peace Building Committee invites you to join us to learn more about this resident driven plan and how you can get involved. Additionally, the committee seeks to engage resident leaders such as KIB Block Captains and Crime Watch Captains who have already recognized their ability to be a part of the solution through volunteering their time.

Not only do we want to honor those individuals, Community Safety & Peace Building: MEETS THIRD TUESDAY

OF EVERY MONTH at 6:00pm. at Flanner House.

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but rather to empower them through free CPR training, Personal Safety Training & Community Safety Training, all free and open to the public. If you or someone you know would like to participate, please call 317.925.4231 Ext. 245 or email rlewis@flannerhouse.org to hold a seat. Space is limited and preference is given to BLOCK CAPTAINS, CRIME WATCH CAPTAINS and RESIDENTS of the Near Northwest community.

• May 21 – FREE Personal Safety Training, 6:00 at Flanner House • June 18 – FREE Community Safety workshop, 6:00 PM at Flanner House • July 18 – NNW Summer Social

completing a beautiful mural that will be housed in the Indy Parks Foundation offices across the White River from our school. We are investing in the students a love of the history of not only the armory but the historic Riverside neighborhood and the White River as well.

The Riverside Argonauts are off to an amazing start RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL Indianapolis Classical Schools Article Submitted by: Shannon Dawson

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he Riverside Argonauts are off to an amazing start in their new home this year in the former Heslar Naval Armory! Our first semester here was filled with amazing memories and our second is no different. Not only are our athletic programs off to an impressive start (with IHSAA endorsement), a partnership with the Indy Blaze semi-pro basketball team has brought bleachers and scoreboards to our historic gym.

But most important of all is our scholars’ growth! As Head of School Katie Dorsey recently told the families who came to our Match Celebration, our scholars tested at 1.5 - 2 TIMES the growth of their peers nationally in Math and English standardized assessment. This is what our educators live for!

In this our second year of classes, Riverside has doubled its numbers of enrollees in the first round of enrollment! Spots are still available for students looking for a high-quality seat in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade. Spread the word and help us fill the armory with students looking for an outstanding free, college prep experience! Go to www. riversidehighschool.org/enrollment, to get started.

Education:

MEETS THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH at 6:00pm.

Flanner House

Scholars made the most of hands-on STEM activities sponsored by BioCrossroads and our neighbors at 16Tech. They represented us beautifully at the Mayor’s Lunch for Parks and are currently

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urdue Extension Community Development wants to help your business be digital savvy.

Learn how to develop your own website and learn about how social media analytics can assist you in growing your market. Contact Monet Kees at mkees@purdue. edu or call (317) 275.9253 to find out how you can register for these FREE workshops at Flanner House!

ATTENTION ENTREPRENEURS! Digital Readiness Workshops Available Economic Development:

MEETS FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH at 6:00pm.

Photo Credit: Christina Morillo www.christinamorillo.com

PLANNING YOUR WEBSITE • Wednesday May 1 | 6:00 PM-7:00 PM SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN & CONTENT • Wednesday May 8 | 6:00 PM-7:00 PM SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS & MARKETING • Wednesday May 15 | 6:00 PM-7:00 PM 7

A Quiet Beauty… :: Continued from page 5

only stories that are written are the ones we write for ourselves.

Remember that person that doesn’t like to speak in public but is a good listener? He/She would fit well here to help create stories that live long after we do. OUR STORIES MUST BE TOLD. Now, I am part of a neighborhood organization called The Learning Tree where doing just that, telling OUR stories, is a top priority.

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My point of all of this is not a list of suggestions of what we could do... but rather, an ode to what we are doing. There is great work going on in the areas that many people are afraid of based on what they’ve heard. Recently, I spoke about my neighborhood to a coworker the other day with pride, not embarrassment or shame. As I heard myself, I couldn’t help but notice the second nature of which I bragged on the incredible initiatives in my area. The block I recently moved on, is a very busy block. The street is crammed with cars parked on both sides; people hang out late at night, having loud conversations. There are vacant homes on both sides of the street. My grandfather used to own one of them.

As a matter of fact, it’s the biggest on the block, and vacant. But, when I walk out my front door, I am

not inundated with the negative appearances; But quite the opposite...

I see duplexes with bikes on porches and older men who frequent their stoops on a regular. There is a daycare in operation right next door to me. I hear children crying as they get dropped off in the mornings and laughing outside as I pull up in the evenings.

I’ve often told people when I moved to 34th and Clifton (The Cliff), I was nervous as shit. I feared that I was making a mistake that would cost me my safety and/or peace of mind. I couldn’t have been further from reality. In the three years I stayed there, while some weird things definitely came about like the police repeatedly visiting and looking for someone who didn’t live there, or a random man knocking at my door at like 3 AM (I didn’t answer), it was a wonderful experience overall.

There was a neighborhood street clean up the first year I was there. The second year led me to meet Mr. William Ryder, the artist whose home was a museum of his own incredible sculptures.

He also told me how his father used to dress him up as a girl when he lived in or near Lyles Station, IN, where county officials were kidnapping black children to do radiation

experiments on them. From what Mr. Ryder told me, they preferred boys hence his parent’s decision to dress him as a girl. I wouldn’t have met him, toured his home or looked into his beautiful eyes and saw all the ancestry they held with artistic pride, had I been living in the safety nets of some place like Normandy Farms (Traders Point).

There is a gas station nearby my house where I see a continued police presence and arrests nearly every day. Just last week, I watched a cop sitting behind the Double 8 building watching the station of activities from his car using

Photo Credit: Nicole Powell

binoculars. I admit, there is a lot that goes on so I can’t be too surprised. After all, this IS designated “one of the most dangerous places in the entire country”.

The Whitley’s Story :: Continued from page 3

8 tracks, vintage clothing and jewelry, to new and used furniture and books, and much more! Do you get my drift? If you could name it, either Whitley’s carried it or they would find it for you. The community had a “stuff store!” (my pet name for the huge Whitley’s warehouse and second building facing 16th Street)!

One of the best things about visiting Whitley’s has always been COMMUNITY. Everyone knows the Whitley’s

and the Whitley’s know everyone. And, if you didn’t know someone, once you visited Whitley’s you would walk out with lots of new friends! You could go into the Whitley’s Furniture Store and not just purchase “stuff” but end up with experiences remembered for a lifetime.

With the advent of online shopping, you can be certain there will never be another store like Whitley’s. Their store and their friendships will be missed.

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annie Earbine, a resident of the Near Northwest area, has a wealth of experience when it comes to helping others. She is involved mostly at her church, Pleasant Union Missionary Baptist, where they host support groups, and give away clothing and food to help families in need. She’s also volunteers her time working at the Helpline Center. Along with helping others, Fannie has a garden of her own that she looks after. Starting its third year she is growing green beans, tomatoes, kale, and spinach among other items.

To add on to her list of volunteer activities, Fannie will be sharing her wisdom at the Food Access Workshop on April 25th at Flanner House. Fannie says, “I do not think you can hand people enough to be fed”.

NOW ENROLLING!

Diverse. Tuition-Free. College Prep.

BE KNOWN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn how to start your own garden and get to know this wonderful resource right here in our own backyard!

Food Access:

MEETS FOURTH THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH at 6:00pm at Flanner House

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Riverside High School, a second campus of award-winning Herron High School, is now enrolling Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors at our amazing Riverside campus. Come tour the beautifully-renovated historic Heslar Naval Armory and learn why we believe every student is a scholar.

Find us: 3010 N. White River Pkwy., E. Dr., Indianapolis www.riversidehighschool.org (317) 231-0100 x16106

AD RATES

NEAR

NORTHWEST

The Exchange is our NEAR NORTHWEST community’s newest community resource. Within each issue, members of the near northwest community will be educated and inspired with attractive and interesting information from our friends and neighbors.

Hundreds of our residents will be kept up to date on critical information as it flows from our civic leaders, community liaisons, and community organizers. We will cover a wide range of topics that will be of interest to families, friends, business owners and visitors to our area.

You don’t want to miss your opportunity to be a part of history in the NEAR NORTHWEST community.

NOTE: We reserve the right to approve any advertising submitted to the NNW Exchange

Full 8.5x11 $750 Quarter 5.5x4.25 $250

Classified 1.25 x 2.5 $75

EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS Half 8.5x5.5 $450 Eighth 2.75x4.25 $150

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• Distribution: 1,500 copies per issue distributed through designated pick up locations throughout the Near Northwest Area • Full Page Advertisers Receive: 1. Full Page Ad in Quarterly Print Publication 2. Banner ad and logo id and link in monthly electronic newsletter 3. Logo ID and link on Near Northwest website • Half Page Advertisers Receive: 1. Half Page Ad in Quarterly Print Publication 2. Banner ad and logo id and link in monthly electronic newsletter • Ad Submissions required as print ready .pdfs submitted to exact ad purchase size. Art design / layout production services available @ $65 per hour if needed payable in advance > BONUS For the Inaugural and 2nd issue of the EXCHANGE there will be additional door to door distribution that encompasses the full Near Northwest community.

BEST INVESTMENT

For more info and to purchase ad space, call Mark Young: 317-229-5068 or email: nwqol2020@gmail.com Subject Line: NNW Exchange Ads

Annual purchase rates: 4x per year receive 10% discount • Full page: 1 year/4 issues = $3,000 • Half page: 1 year/4 issues = $1,700 • Quarter page: 1 year/4 issues = $1,000 • Eighth page: 1 year/4 issues = $600 • Classified ad: 1 year/4 issues = $300

10% discount with annual buy to $ 2,700 10% discount with annual buy to $ 1,530 10% discount with annual buy to $ 900 10% discount with annual buy to $ 540 10% discount with annual buy to $ 270

Please make payments to: Flanner House (Designated For NWQOL-NNW Exchange)

Unity in Motion

2424 Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Street Indianapolis, IN 46208 ***************************ECRWSSEDDM********** Local Residential Customer

Neighborhoods of the Near NORTHWEST

Photo Credit: Nicole Powell www.npinspired.com

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SUBMIT CONTENT TO OUR NEWSLETTER!

Do you know about events and resources in our community? Do you have a perspective to share that helps uplift our community? Email information, flyers and articles to: nwqol2020@gmail.com.

Housing:

MEETS SECOND THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH at 6:00pm at Flanner House

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