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  • 16 Feb 2024 11:13 AM | Daniel Stroud (Administrator)

    Prosperity Indiana Selected for Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign

    INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.  February 16, 2024 — Prosperity Indiana announces its selection as one of seven new State Grantees for the national Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign, marking a significant milestone in advancing the organization's commitment to affordable housing.

    The OSAH campaign has awarded Prosperity Indiana a capacity-building grant to enhance its ongoing efforts in the state's housing coalition. The grant will be utilized to expand partnerships with stakeholders from various non-housing sectors, including health, education, racial equity, labor, food security, climate, faith, and anti-poverty sectors.

    "Prosperity Indiana is grateful for the continued support of the National Low Income Housing Coalition through its Opportunity Starts At Home campaign. We are thrilled to have the chance to continue developing our multi-sector partnerships, including our pioneering work with Indiana faith-based leaders, who have been incredible champions for good housing affordability & stability policy in Indiana and nationwide," said Hale Crumley, Prosperity Indiana Policy Manager, who manages the OSAH campaign.

    The new grantees were chosen through a competitive proposal process, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing federal affordable housing solutions, amplifying racial equity, and expanding partnerships. By becoming state affiliates of the OSAH campaign, Prosperity Indiana and other grantees gain access to resources, multi-sector networks, and technical assistance.

    “Today, the campaign celebrates nearly six years of working towards our shared vision of having a multi-sector movement in every state,” said Chantelle Wilkinson, national director of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. “As state partners continue to join our efforts, new coalitions of doctors, teachers, environmentalists, social workers, faith leaders, housing advocates, and many others are working together to urge policymakers to address a basic need – housing. This work is critical. It is powerful for Congress to hear from national advocates, but it’s especially powerful for them to hear from their own constituents in the states they represent.”

    In addition to welcoming Prosperity Indiana, the OSAH campaign has extended grants to the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, North Carolina Housing Coalition, South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships, and Virginia Housing Alliance.
    As Prosperity Indiana continues this partnership, the organization encourages the community to follow their housing initiatives, including OSAH, through Prosperity Indiana's website, ProsperityIndiana.org/OSAH and on social media platforms.

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    About Prosperity Indiana

    Prosperity Indiana is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization formed in 1986 as the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development. PI is a network of approximately 200 organizations and individual members committed to advancing community economic development through our values of eliminating barriers, ensuring everyone has better opportunities to pursue the American Dream and prosperity for all.   

    Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @ProsperityInd on Twitter.


  • 07 Feb 2024 10:00 AM | Daniel Stroud (Administrator)

    INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.  February 7, 2024 — Prosperity Indiana, in partnership with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), announces the release of the latest version of Renting in Indiana, a handbook for tenants that is currently available online at Housing4Hoosiers.com. The updated handbook contains a step-by-step guide and informational how-to manual for renting in Indiana.

    “Many individuals and organizations across the state work with Hoosiers to find suitable housing that will meet their immediate and long-term needs,” said Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “The updated Indiana Tenant Handbook is a resource not only for renters and landlords, but for those that work daily to facilitate that crucial relationship.”

    The new handbook, the first update since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, walks Hoosier tenants through every step of the rental process; from looking for the right rental property to managing a potential eviction.

    There are 774,845 renter households in Indiana. “We frequently get calls from tenants throughout the state regarding their rental and/or landlord relationship. Many renters are unsure of what their lease states, what their landlord can legally do, or what their legal rights as tenants are. This has highlighted a need for additional resources and education not just for Hoosier renters, but also for landlords, service providers, and lawmakers,” said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director, Prosperity Indiana.

    Renting in Indiana: A Handbook for Tenants is a general guide to help Hoosier renters make smart choices and make renting in Indiana a positive experience. The handbook walks a tenant through the entire rental process beginning with how to budget and determine how much monthly rent you can afford, how to make a list of needs for your rental property, and what to look for when viewing potential properties. The handbook reviews several types of leases; common leasing clauses, what to look for, and how to negotiate lease terms with a landlord. The handbook also outlines tenant responsibilities, best practices for good landlord-tenant relationships, how to communicate issues with your landlord, and what resources are available for a tenant when an issue arises. The newest addition to the handbook also includes a section focused on handling eviction. In the past year, there have been 74,727 eviction filings in Indiana.

    Renting in Indiana includes additional resources such as worksheets as well as provides information on organizations that offer assistance on issues ranging from discrimination to domestic violence support.

    “This was truly a collaborative effort, bringing together legal aid partners, service providers, and housing advocates to provide our Hoosier renters with the most comprehensive guide on how to be a successful tenant in Indiana,” said Marie Beason, Capacity Building Director, Prosperity Indiana.

    Renters can access the Renting in Indiana handbook either here on the Housing4Hoosiers website or on Prosperity Indiana's website.

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    About Prosperity Indiana

    Prosperity Indiana is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization formed in 1986 as the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development. PI is a network of approximately 200 organizations and individual members committed to advancing community economic development through our values of eliminating barriers, ensuring everyone has better opportunities to pursue the American Dream and prosperity for all.   

    Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @ProsperityInd on Twitter.

  • 20 Nov 2023 9:27 AM | Daniel Stroud (Administrator)

    To support the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition’s efforts to increase housing affordability and stability for all Hoosiers

    INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.  November 20, 2023 — Prosperity Indiana has received an inaugural grant totaling $375,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to support housing affordability and stability for all Hoosiers.

    “Prosperity Indiana is proud to serve as the state’s premier convener and advocate for community economic development, including affordable housing issues,” Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Aspen Clemons said. “We are honored to partner with the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to affordable and stable housing. This grant will allow us the opportunity to expand the role of the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition in educating Hoosiers and stakeholders statewide about solutions to address Indiana’s housing affordability and stability crisis. The grant will provide Prosperity Indiana with additional data capacity and educational resources to improve pathways to safe, stable, and affordable housing, and eliminate barriers to homeownership and long-term rental housing solutions. In addition, the grant will allow Prosperity Indiana and the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition to continue serving as a premier convener to lift up the voices of the community economic development sector on housing issues, including those of the most vulnerable Hoosiers affected by housing policy decisions.”

    “Over the years, Prosperity Indiana has built a strong statewide network of organizations devoted to helping Hoosiers find and stay in housing,” said Gene D’Adamo, CEO and president of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. “We are honored to support their efforts to improve the conditions of low-income renter households and long-term housing outcomes in Indiana.” 

    The Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition [HHNC] was formed by members of Indiana’s housing security advocacy community in April 2020 to support advocacy and education related to housing and homelessness prevention. Staffed by Prosperity Indiana, HHNC convenes partners from across Indiana to provide education and advocacy to achieve equitable federal, state, and local policies for housing stability and affordability solutions. HHNC is guided by a Steering Committee composed of a diverse group of Indiana housing advocacy and education leaders. Click here to subscribe to Prosperity Indiana’s mailing list and join the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition.

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    About Prosperity Indiana

    Prosperity Indiana is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization formed in 1986 as the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development. PI is a network of approximately 200 organizations and individual members committed to advancing community economic development through our values of eliminating barriers, ensuring everyone has better opportunities to pursue the American Dream and prosperity for all.   

    Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @ProsperityInd on Twitter.

     

    About the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust

    The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust seeks to help people in need, especially women, children and families; to protect animals and nature; and to enrich community life, primarily in Phoenix and Indianapolis. The Trust has awarded nearly $375 million in grants and student scholarships since its inception in 1997. For more information, visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org.


  • 01 Jun 2023 10:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    June 1, 2023

    Media Inquiries: Steven Meyer, Prosperity Indiana Board President |smeyer@IntendIndiana.org |317-417-7976

    Prosperity Indiana Welcomes
    Aspen Clemons as its next Executive Director

    INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana today announced that its Board of Directors has selected Aspen Clemons as the organization’s next Executive Director. She will begin her new role on June 15, 2023.


    Clemons’ background uniquely positions her to assume the Executive Director role, bringing with her more than 10 years of professional experience in policy, strategy, evaluation, and programs in the areas of affordable housing, social justice, poverty, and diversity. Clemons is well-suited to strategically guide the organization forward into this next phase. 

    “Prosperity Indiana serves as a critical engine for increasing equity, economic mobility, and access to opportunity,” said Ms. Clemons. “I am humbled to partner with our staff, members, and Board of Directors to support community and economic development efforts throughout Indiana. I am excited about returning home to help make Indiana a place where everyone who calls it home is afforded an opportunity to thrive.”

    “Ms. Clemons’ vision, passion, and approach impressed the search committee,” said Steven Meyer, Prosperity Indiana Board President.  “The Board  is confident that Aspen will be an inspiring leader for Prosperity Indiana members and our community partners across the state.”

    Ms. Clemons holds a B.A. in Economics from Spelman College and an M.S. in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.  Additionally, she has an Executive Leadership Certificate from the University of Chicago. Clemons’ resume includes administrative posts working for several universities,  Indiana United Ways, and the Indiana Commission for Women.

    The announcement follows a search and selection process undertaken after the previous Executive Director, Jessica Love, stepped down after five years in the position.

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    ABOUT PROSPERITY INDIANA

    Prosperity Indiana is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization formed in 1986 as the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development. PI is a network of approximately 200 organizations and individual members committed to advancing community economic development through our values of eliminating barriers, ensuring everyone has better opportunities to pursue the American Dream and prosperity for all.   

    Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @INCommDev on Twitter.

  • 17 Feb 2023 2:55 PM | Deleted user

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 17, 2023

    CONTACT: Rita O'Donohue| (317) 222-1221 x405| rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

    Prosperity Indiana Welcomes Communications & Fundraising Coordinator to Team

    INDIANAPOLIS Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that Maya Painter has joined the team as the new Communications & Fundraising Coordinator. In this role, Painter will strategically message Prosperity Indiana’s mission, vision, values, programs, and benefits of membership. She will help tell the story of impact for PI and its member organizations, as well as critically support the fundraising infrastructure and delivery of convening events that marry knowledge sharing and relationship building.

    Prior to joining Prosperity Indiana, Painter served as the Development Coordinator to the American Lung Association in Indiana where she crafted strategic messaging for two annual fundraising events. In this role, she worked to deepen relationships and secure investment with both corporate sponsors and the community. Painter has additionally spent time with the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs’ Marketing Office; Representative Sean Casten in Washington, D.C.; the Monroe County Community School Corporation’s Community Transitions program; and more. 

    Originally from Lafayette, Painter traded her black and gold for cream and crimson. She earned her Bachelor of Public Affairs with a major of Nonprofit Management and Leadership and a minor of Law & Public Policy from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington. 

    Painter said, “I am passionate about strengthening Indiana’s communities and improving the lives of those around us. I eagerly look forward to assisting PI in building an Indiana where there is equitable access to social and economic opportunity for all.”

    Prosperity Indiana is excited to welcome Painter as a “Piece of the PI.”

  • 07 Feb 2023 10:24 AM | Deleted user

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 7, 2023

    Contact: Rita O’Donohue | (317) 222-1221 x405 | rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

    Announcing Prosperity Indiana’s 2023 Award Winners!

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana announced the winners of its annual leadership and program awards at the 2023 Prosperity Indiana Summit on February 1. The Summit Awards Ceremony was an occasion to celebrate the leaders and innovators in the community economic development field. Winners were nominated by a nominating committee and chosen by a selection committee based on criteria established for each award.

    "I couldn't imagine a room full of more passionate and driven people who make it their business every day to strengthen our communities. The nominees for this year's Prosperity Indiana awards were incredibly impressive," said Jessica Love, Executive Director for Prosperity Indiana. "While many individuals and programs are worthy of recognition, we are proud to celebrate a few of the top leaders and innovators in our field."

    Award winners include George Guy, Bo Beaulieu, Anthony Bridgeman, and the Master It Series for Inmates at Lacasa, Inc.

    The Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award, sponsored by First Financial Bank and co-presented with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, distinguishes an individual who has consistently provided excellent leadership, advocacy, support, and innovation in community economic development for many years.

    Presented to: George Guy, Fort Wayne Housing Authority

    Having spent the past 25 years developing solutions to improve the quality of life for families in underserved communities, George Guy oversees a portfolio of over 4,000 public housing units, vouchers, and affordable housing units and has remained steadfast in his commitment to building programs that will lift families from poverty.

    Guy has helped residents overcome barriers to self-sufficiency by creating a transportation readiness employment and training program to overcome his city's public transportation limitations, developed partnerships with local school districts to offer tutoring and resources that will ensure children in the community are reading at grade level, and provided critical support for families dealing with unique needs, such as AIDS, aging out of foster care, homelessness, and victims of domestic violence.

    Under Guy's innovative leadership, the housing authority partnered on a new affordable housing development, Posterity Scholar House. This development is an energy-efficient and technologically innovative, multi-family development that features an ecological and comprehensive education center of community-based programs and services for low-income and underserved single-parent families. He is also working to grow the next generation of housing leaders and activists through the creation of a Leadership Academy.

    Other Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award nominees include:

    • Angela Graf, Hope Southern Indiana

    • Carma Parish, NorthPark Community Credit Union
    • Carolyn Kingen, UMC Housing Justice Task Force
    • DeAndre Wilson, Impact Evansville
    • Jim Musial, Citizens Concerned for the Homeless
    • Leon Gordon, Bloomington Housing Authority

    The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.

    Presented to: Bo Beaulieu, Purdue University

    A sociologist focused on low-income and minority populations by trade, Bo Beaulieu has spent more than 40 years developing and implementing capacity building programming in rural Indiana through Purdue Extension and Purdue Center for Regional Development.

    Beaulieu created the Hometown Collaboration Initiative and has worked with Auburn and Corydon to establish key stakeholder groups within each community to work exclusively with a site coach to support growth opportunities. As a result of these growth opportunities, these communities were able to build on the strengths of their key stakeholder group to implement programs and projects to improve their rural community.

    Beaulieu also created the Rural Opportunity Zone Initiative (ROZI), allowing rural communities to partner with Purdue to leverage funding to create a plan to attract private investment. Washington, Newton, and DeKalb Counties all had an economic development prospectus developed for them through ROZI to attract investment in housing, small business, and industrial sites in their communities.

    Other Rural Development Leadership Award nominees include:

    • Michael Pavey, City of Rushville

    • Randall Danielson, The REES Theatre, Inc.

    The Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award, sponsored by Brightpoint, recognizes the outstanding professional leadership and commitment of a staff person working for a community economic development organization.

    Presented to: Anthony Bridgeman, PNC Bank

    Anthony Bridgeman is passionate about real estate finance, urban planning, government relations, and event management. His career includes roles in large neighborhood improvement projects, convening coalitions, community outreach, case management, educational support services, and post-secondary education scholarships.

    Having previously been a Multifamily Housing Tax Credit Analyst at IHCDA and a Loan Specialist at Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Bridgeman's current role is said to require “patience, unique insights and understanding of a broad range of community development tools like HOME, CDBG, New Market Tax Credits, Opportunity Zones, and more to serve client’s needs.”

    Bridgeman serves on a variety of boards and speaks regularly on an array of topics thanks to vast expertise related to education, community development, and human services. Additionally, he was instrumental in building momentum to highlight an unsung Black American in his community, Marshall "Major" Taylor.

    Other Staff Member of the Year nominees include:

    • Adam Johnson, Elevate Indianapolis

    • Andrea Davis, HAND
    • Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP)
    • Jaimie Sheth, JD Sheth Foundation
    • John West, Ball State University
    • Kelly Lundberg, City of Fort Wayne Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services
    • Pablo Malavenda, Lafayette Urban Ministry

    The Key Award for Supportive Services Program of the Year, sponsored by Merchants Bank of Indiana, honors excellence and innovation in a service-oriented community development initiative. 

    Presented to: Master It Series for Inmates, Lacasa, Inc.

    Through partnerships with local agencies and employers, the Master It Series for Inmates connects Lacasa with people who would normally have been out of the organization's reach. The program involved collaboration between more than 25 partners to benefit nearly 200 participants over the past year. Volunteers include bankers, loan originators, realtors, and other housing and financial industry professionals. 

    The program provides financial education courses paired with low-barrier banking and credit-building opportunities, including free checking and savings accounts as well as credit builder loans for those who complete the coursework. While originally adapted to educate inmates in the men's ward of the local jail, three of the courses have been modified and are being taught to female inmates as well.

    Other Key Award nominees include:

    • Garvin Lofts, ECHO Housing Corporation

    • HomePower, Intend Indiana

    • Triumph Senior Care

    • Special Olympics, Hamilton County

    • Brown Faces Green Spaces, Gary Community Partnership Corporation

    • Level Up Program, United Way Northwest Indiana

    • Housing Hub Initiative, Horizon House

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      About Prosperity Indiana

      The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.


    • 15 Sep 2022 12:34 PM | Deleted user


      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

      Contact: Jessica Love | 317-222-1221 | jlove@prosperityindiana.org

      First Financial Supports Prosperity Indiana’s Growing A&O Network

      INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that First Financial Bank awarded the organization a $45,000 grant to expand the capacity and the impact of the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network. This financial support will allow Prosperity Indiana to implement the goals of the A&O Network’s strategic plan, including advancing the community economic development field by delivering programming, training, and peer-to-peer networking for asset-building practitioners.

      The Indiana A&O Network aims to improve connectivity between cross-sector and asset-building professionals; increase knowledge and use of best practices through participation in professional training; advance equity by prioritizing strategies that affect Indiana’s most vulnerable populations; and support partners in alleviating barriers to wealth through education, workforce development, and other asset-building strategies.

      The Asset Funders Network defines asset building as “how individuals, families, and communities gather the resources that will move them towards economic well-being, for now and for years to come.”

      The Indiana A&O Network, staffed by Prosperity Indiana’s new coalition coordinator, is working with a steering committee to provide responsive leadership to a segment of the field serving low- and moderate-income households, and especially households of color, that have been significantly impacted by the economic downturn.

      “Our support for Prosperity Indiana adds to our work to help our clients and communities thrive, especially in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods,” said Roddell McCullough, chief corporate responsibility officer for First Financial Bank. “This funding will make a positive impact in areas such as affordable housing, financial empowerment and access to bank services, each of which is key as we focus on improving financial well-being in our communities.”

      First Financial Bank and the First Financial Foundation take a strong leadership role in the community and made donations of more than $4 million in 2021 alone.

      “At Prosperity Indiana, we have seen firsthand the commitments that First Financial Bank and the First Financial Foundation have made to improve the quality of life for the people and places they serve,” said Jessica Love, Prosperity Indiana’s executive director. “First Financial’s support in advancing the efforts of PI and the A&O Network to provide equitable access to social and economic opportunity are critical to supporting families looking to move up the economic ladder.” 

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      About First Financial Bancorp. 

      First Financial Bancorp. is a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $16.2 billion in assets, $9.4 billion in loans, $12.3 billion in deposits and $2.1 billion in shareholders’ equity. The Company’s subsidiary, First Financial Bank, founded in 1863, provides banking and financial services products through its six lines of business: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance and Wealth Management. These business units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage and retirement plan services and had approximately $3.0 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2022. The Company operated 135 full service banking centers as of June 30, 2022, primarily in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, while the Commercial Finance business lends into targeted industry verticals on a nationwide basis. Additional information about the Company, including its products, services and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com.

       About the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network

      The Network creates learning opportunities for community leaders, advocates on policies that affect low-to-moderate income families, and builds capacity for organizations aimed to increase financial stability. It is co-led by Prosperity Indiana which is a member organization skilled at building vibrant communities and resilient families; and the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute (ICAPI) which is a program of the Indiana Community Action Association, skilled in research, policy analysis, and advocacy. The Network is directed by a diverse steering committee to help establish program and policy focus. They meet bi-monthly to help identify funding sources, opportunities, and coalition partners.

      About Prosperity Indiana

      The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

    • 25 May 2022 10:13 AM | Deleted user

      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

      May 25, 2022

      CONTACT: Jessica Love | (317) 222-1221 x402| jlove@prosperityindiana.org

      Prosperity Indiana Adds Coalition Coordinator to Team to Expand Advocacy Efforts

      INDIANAPOLIS Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that Hale Crumley has joined the PI team as the new Coalition Coordinator. In this role, Crumley will coordinate the operations and development for PI’s four issue-based coalitions and work to further the coalitions’ goals, which include increasing the advocacy capacity of members to address long-standing racial equity gaps and economic injustices and advancing policies that promote stable, affordable housing, consumer protections, asset-building, and economic opportunities for all Hoosiers to thrive. She will build diverse and inclusive partnerships with communities and individuals across the state to advance the strategic missions of the Indiana Assets & Opportunities Network, Hoosiers for Responsible Lending, the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition, and the Opportunity Starts at Home-Indiana Coalition.

      Prior to joining Prosperity Indiana, Crumley had experience in program management, economic inclusion research, and consulting in the public and nonprofit sectors including with CDFI Friendly Bloomington, Downtown Bloomington Inc., and the City of South Bend. She earned her Bachelor of Public Affairs with a major of Nonprofit Management and Leadership and her Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in Community and Economic Development, both from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington.

      Crumley said, “My professional background and passion lies in people-oriented community building and the importance of racial and economic equity. I am greatly looking forward to serving Prosperity Indiana members as a resource connector, convener of people, active listener, transparent communicator, best practices educator, and advocate for all Hoosiers.”

      Prosperity Indiana is excited to welcome Crumley as a “Piece of the PI.”

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      About Prosperity Indiana

      The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

    • 28 Feb 2022 1:55 PM | Deleted user

      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

      February 28, 2022

      Contact: Rita O’Donohue | (317) 222-1221 x405 | rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

      Announcing Prosperity Indiana’s 2022 Award Winners!

      INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana announced the winners of its annual leadership and program awards at the 2022 Prosperity Indiana Summit on February 17. The Summit Awards Ceremony was an occasion to celebrate the leaders and innovators in the community economic development field. Winners were nominated by their peers and chosen by a judging committee, based on criteria established for each award.

      “Such critical work is being done by Prosperity Indiana members and partner organizations across the state to strengthen our communities. As a result, the list of nominees for this year's Prosperity Indiana awards was extremely impressive," said Jessica Love, Executive Director for Prosperity Indiana. "It is an absolute honor to lift up the work of the four 2022 Prosperity Indiana Award recipients. The communities served by the winners, who are based in Bartholomew, Lake, Marion, and Miami Counties, are no doubt forever changed by the work of these individuals and programs.”

      Award winners include Janine Betsey, Eric A. Frey, II, Anna Schoon, and Prevent Pricks with ShipHappens.

      The Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award, sponsored by First Financial Bank and co-presented with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, distinguishes an individual who has exhibited exceptional advocacy to further support the community economic development industry. 

      Presented to: Janine Betsey, Gene B. Glick Company

      Described as a visionary leader who has convened multidimensional partnerships and led redevelopment efforts, Janine Betsey has been a stalwart leader in serving disadvantaged communities, developing dynamic affordable housing projects, and implementing economic development initiatives that have transformed neighborhoods and improved residents’ quality of life. 

      Known for inspiring female developers and developers of color, her motto that “There is no crying in community development” has pushed others in the field to navigate difficult projects and other career challenges to improve their trajectory going forward. 

      In her new role as the Director of Tax Credit Operations for Gene B. Glick Company, Betsey is working for an organization with thousands of affordable housing units in areas of high opportunity, like those her own family sought out for her as a child. In her new role managing Glick’s affordable housing efforts, she has a key opportunity to preserve and enhance these units, so that they may serve generations to come.

      Other Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award nominees include:

      • Kyle Bach, The Annex Group

      • Stephen Camilleri, Center for the Homeless

      • Moira Carlstedt, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership

      • Robin Hilber, City of Columbus - Department of Community Development

      • Denise Koebcke, The Caring Place

      • Marco J. Mariani, South Bend Heritage Foundation

      • Matt Meyers, Bartholomew County Sheriff

      • Richard Proctor III, Indy Gateway

      The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.

      Presented to: Eric A. Frey, II, Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation

      With more than 28 years of experience in the acquisition and administration of federal, state, and private grant programs in rural communities, Eric Frey knows the ins and outs of Community Development Block Grant program administration and how to lead industrial and economic development, housing rehabilitation, and capital improvements projects, and commercial, industrial and microenterprise lending programs.

      Described as someone who is always finding creative ways to reach the end goal, Frey is said to have helping people at the heart of his leadership. And while he tries to stay in the shadows, as executive director of Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation and Administrative Resources association in Columbus, Frey is known for orchestrating the right people at the right time to reach the goal at hand.

      Other Rural Development Leadership Award nominees include:

      • Kyle Bach, The Annex Group

      • Bo Beaulieu, Purdue University

      • G. Dean Byers, Habitat for Humanity of Marshall County

      • Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action

      The Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award, sponsored by Brightpoint, recognizes the outstanding professional leadership and commitment of a staff person working for a community economic development organization.

      Presented to: Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action

      Anna Schoon is an expert in Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, a Certified Community Action Professional, a Results Oriented Management and Accountability trainer, a leader of poverty simulations, creator and organizer for the Reimagine Conference focused on ACEs, and the lead staff person for a variety of programs at the Northwest Indiana Community Action agency, or NWICA. Through her role as VP of Planning & Business Development, she is known for actively planning, collaborating, and developing opportunities across NWICA’s multi-county service territory to better lives for those in the most populated and most rural areas within Indiana.

      Schoon has spent more than 20 years “working with low-income and socially diverse populations to help them develop economic stability via opportunities for housing and employment. And she weaves advocacy in all of her actions, and it is her actions that make the impact,” according to her nomination.

      Other Staff Member of the Year nominees include:

      • Erin Emerson, Perry County Development Corporation

      • Rob Evans, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership

      • Nicholas Hunot, Renew Indianapolis

      • Pablo Malavenda, Lafayette Urban Ministry

      • Natalie Powell, Hoosier Uplands EDC

      • Aaron Roberts, Ivy Tech-Indianapolis/Noblesville

      The Key Award for Supportive Services Program of the Year, sponsored by Merchants Bank of Indiana, honors excellence and innovation in a service-oriented (non-construction) community development initiative. 

      Presented to: Prevent Pricks with ShipHappens

      A volunteer-led, community-based initiative, the winning program increases health and safety while reducing stigma and discrimination. It raises public awareness and acceptance of evidence-based harm reduction principles, policies, and programs among public health and health care systems, local government, and the general public. 

      Prevent Pricks is designed to be equitable and inclusive of all syringe-using residents: meaning people with chronic diseases, those in need of hormone or vitamin deficiency injections, and people who use drugs. 

      Since launching the syringe disposal pilot program in October 2020, the program has eliminated accidental needle pricks of City and County Street Department workers in Miami County and Peru, Indiana, saving the $500-$4000 it costs to treat a single needlestick injury, and the program has seen a 29 percent decrease in improper syringe disposal calls to the Peru Police Department.

      Other Key Award nominees include:

      • Embedded Police Social Worker Program with the Bloomington Police Department

      • Eviction Prevention Program with the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana

      • Fort Wayne Cares-Emergency Rental Assistance Program with the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana Legal Services, Just Neighbors, Brightpoint, Catholic Charities, and Lutheran Social Services

      • Permanent Supportive Housing with Horizon House

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        About Prosperity Indiana

        The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

      • 08 Dec 2021 11:27 AM | Deleted user

        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

        December 8, 2021

        Contact: Rita O’Donohue | (317) 222-1221 x405 | rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

        Announcing Candidates for Prosperity Indiana’s 2022 Annual Awards!

        INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Top community development leaders and programs across Indiana have been nominated for the prestigious Prosperity Indiana Awards. Winners have not been named and will be announced at the annual Prosperity Indiana Summit on February 17, 2022.

        The Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award, sponsored by First Financial Bank, and co-presented by Prosperity Indiana and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, distinguishes an individual who has exhibited exceptional advocacy to further support the community economic development industry. 

        Candidates:

        • Kyle Bach, The Annex Group

        • Janine Betsey, Gene B. Glick Company

        • Stephen Camilleri, The Center for the Homeless

        • Moira Carlstedt, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership

        • Robin Hilber, City of Columbus - Department of Community Development

        • Denise Koebcke, The Caring Place

        • Marco J. Mariani, South Bend Heritage Foundation

        • Matt Meyers, Bartholomew County Sheriff

        • Richard Proctor III, Indy Gateway

        The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, presented by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.

        Candidates:

        • Kyle Bach, The Annex Group

        • Bo Beaulieu, Purdue University

        • G. Dean Byers, Habitat for Humanity of Marshall County

        • Eric A. Frey, II, Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation (SIHCDC)

        • Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action

        The Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award, presented by Brightpoint, recognizes the outstanding professional leadership and commitment of a staff person working for a community economic development organization.

        Candidates:

        • Erin Emerson, Perry County Development Corporation

        • Rob Evans, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership

        • Nicholas Hunot, Renew Indianapolis

        • Pablo Malavenda, Lafayette Urban Ministry

        • Natalie Powell, Hoosier Uplands EDC

        • Aaron Roberts, Ivy Tech-Indianapolis/Noblesville

        • Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action

        The Key Award for Supportive Services Program of the Year, presented by Merchants Bank of Indiana, honors excellence and innovation in a service-oriented (non-construction) community development initiative. 

        Candidates:

        • Embedded Police Social Worker Program with the Bloomington Police Department

        • Eviction Prevention Program with the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana

        • Fort Wayne Cares-Emergency Rental Assistance Program with the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana Legal Services, Just Neighbors, Brightpoint, Catholic Charities, and Lutheran Social Services

        • Permanent Support Housing with Horizon House

        • Prevent Pricks with ShipHappens

        The 2022 Prosperity Indiana Summit is open to the public and centered on building relationships and an equitable economy through policy, programs, performance, and philanthropic investments. If you would like to attend the virtual event on February 17, 2022, please register at prosperityindiana.org/summit.

        ###

        About Prosperity Indiana

        The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing more than 1,000 practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

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