Welcome to Qualities of Life! We are pleased to launch this first edition of the Great Indy Neighborhoods eNewsletter. Over the months ahead, we plan to share stories and pictures about all the exciting activities underway in GINI neighborhoods. Read on to get to know a few of the folks who are heading up early action projects in West Indianapolis and Crooked Creek, learn more about a new service learning partnership between BRAG and Skiles Test Elementary, and check out the "Super" news on the Near Eastside. Enjoy! As this our first edition, we would welcome any feedback from our readers, so send us your thoughts and suggestions to newsletter@greatindyneighborhoods.org

Super Tuesday!!

Spirts were high as Harshman Elementary School Students Joined Peyton Manning and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay in Celebrating the Near Eastside Legacy Project, whcih was submitted as part of Indianapolis' successful bid for the 2012 Super Bowl. (Photo Credit: Rob Elliott)

On May 20, the NFL selected Indianapolis as the host city of the 2012 Super Bowl. A prominent component of the Indianapolis bid was a commitment to support the implementation of the Near Eastside Neighborhood Quality of Life Plan, just completed through Great Indy Neighborhoods. A new NFC practice facility will be constructed on the campus of the neighborhood's Arsenal Tech High School, and the host committee has also committed to engaging its networks to advance a wide range of other goals included in the neighborhood plan.

The connection with the Super Bowl bid came through quiet advocacy by LISC staff working in partnership with a group of neighborhood leaders who were clearly ready to take on these responsibilities. This is a fantastic example of how collaborative quality-of-life planning can position neighborhoods for opportunities to realize their vision.

Making it Happen

• Plan Implementation

GINI neighborhoods are getting it done:

• » $115,000 in LISC program grants to support the creation of Centers for Working Families at John H. Boner Community Center, Southeast Community Services, and Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center.
• » $50,000 LISC matching grant award to SEND in support of Fab for Less
• » The IUPUI Office of Neighborhood Partnerships has announced a new Faculty Fellowship program to help the Near Westside neighborhood implement its quality-of life plan.
• » West Indianpolis received funding and volunteer support for its neighborhood gateways and farmer's market projects.
• » The Near Eastside has secured nearly $2.3 million in rental housing tax credits and grants from the Indianapolis Housing Trust Fund, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, and Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership to create a homeownership incubator.
• » Also on the Near Eastside, the Housing Trust Fund has awarded $264,000 to Englewood CDC for its Women in Motion Housing Initiative
• » JPMorgan Chase Foundation announced a grant of $235,000 to support the Near Eastside's plan . This grant will help create a Center for Working Families; continue the school-community partnership at School 14 and expand it to School 54; provide funding for Indy-east Asset Development to build capacity to lead housing efforts; support the Save, Learn and Earn Free Tax Service; and support the Feast of Lanterns.
• » Finally, the Fairbanks Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation have provided an additional $75,000 in support for the Near Eastside's Center for Working Families.

• Trainings
• » INRC is hosting "Summer School" trainings every Thursday night this summer. Check out their website for details.
• » In May, Making Connections Indianapolis trained GINI neighborhood residents in Resident Leadership Facilitation (RLF) techniques.
• » To improve the ability of GINI neighborhoods to monitor their plan implementation, resident leaders came together in June for a training in Results-Based Accountability, also offered by Making Connections.
• » INRC is offering an intensive session of Track One of its resident leadership development curriculum, the Indianapolis Community Building Institute (ICBI), in August.  Southeast will be hosting these trainings.  If you are interested in enrolling or learning more about ICBI, contact INRC at (317) 920-0330.
• » A number of the Quality of Life plans identify Study Circles as a tool for engagement.  INRC will host a special facilitation training for these neighborhoods in July.  Call INRC at 920-0330 to learn more about Study Circles and how they can be a part of your ongoing engagement strategy.

Get to Know…Southeast

Vital Stats

Population: nearly 25,000

Check it out: Peppy Grill, located at 1004 Virginia Avenue, is known for its delicious after hours menu. Open 24 hours a day, Peppy’s is perfect for those late night cravings!

Not to be missed : First Fridays, Duckpin Bowling

Did you know?

• The first African American Civil War troop contingent to come out of Indiana was raised and trained in the Southeast along Virginia Avenue
• The first bank outside of the downtown area was in the Southeast
• Garfield Park is the oldest park in Indianapolis. It was originally built as Southern Riding Park, a harness racing track
• The fountain at Fountain Square was originally designed to water the horses that pulled the city’s trolleys
• Sam’s Saloon, located at 1640 Prospect Street, owns the oldest liquor license in the city
• At one point Fountain Square had more movie theaters than any other area in the city
• Gatorade® was first manufactured in the Southeast
• The Southeast is the only neighborhood in the city to be divided into three sections by the highway.

Engagement Initiative Update

Got an idea about how to bring your neighborhood together? The folks at the Great Indy Neighborhoods Initiatives (GINI) are ready to invest it in your idea to strengthen connections in your neighborhood.

Eligible not-for-profit neighborhood organizations located outside of GINI Demonstration Neighborhoods can apply for between $500 to $5,000 in IMAGINE support. IMAGINE grant recipients must offer a dollar-for-dollar match, but may count volunteer labor, donated materials, supplies, services or cash as part of that match.

If you would like to learn more about IMAGINE or to help neighborhoods meet eligibility guidelines, INRC is offering four more technical assistance sessions this year. Sessions will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at INRC’s offices at 1802 N. Illinois Street, on:
July 21, August 18, October 20, November 17

Latest round of IMAGINE grants awarded! read on...

The next IMAGINE deadline is 5pm on Wednesday, August 27.  Those interested in applying may obtain forms at 2008 IMAGINE Application package, visit www.inrc.org or www.greatindyneighborhoods.org, or call (317) 920-0330.

Notable Neighbors

In Indianapolis, Great people = Great neighborhoods

• » Although born and raised inNew York, Daniel Bookheim is a long-time Indy resident committed to working with neighbors to make his neighborhood a better place. Read on to learn about his leadership in a recent early action project in the Crooked Creek neighborhood.

Got a comment on something you read in this newsletter? Got a question about life at LISC? Send a letter to the editor at newsletter@greatindyneighborhoods.org

Qualities of Life is published by Indianapolis LISC