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Guest blog post by Amanda Lopez, Transform Consulting Group.
In 2013, after a lot of advocacy of several stakeholders, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation to form the Indiana Early Learning Advisory Committee (ELAC).
BACKGROUND
The state statute outlined specific responsibilities for ELAC: annual needs assessment on the state of early learning in Indiana, assess the collaboration and coordination of state agencies involved in early learning, advise development of a new pre-k program called Early Learning Matching Grant (EEMG) framework and make recommendations.
The Governor appointed seven members representing the public and private sector. It did not take long for the seven appointed members to realize that their responsibilities far exceeded their capacity. As a result, ELAC formed seven workgroups to focus on key issue areas.
By forming the seven workgroups, ELAC now includes approximately 150 members representing a variety of disciplines, experiences, expertise and communities.
PURPOSE
ELAC is working to ensure that children ages birth to 8 years and their families have access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education programs that keep children healthy, safe and learning.
All of ELAC’s work is focused on making a difference in these four community impact areas:
In order to accomplish this impact, ELAC and the workgroups are focused on five key strategies.
ELAC has spent the first few years really trying to understand the current state of early learning in Indiana. By looking at where we currently are, ELAC has been able to make best practice recommendations for the future. Here are some quick facts to consider:
Resources
At the beginning of 2016, ELAC launched a new website that summarizes the work completed and new resources developed. Some resources that you may want to check out include the new ELAC County Early Childhood Profiles available here:
Other Resources to Check Out:
CONNECT
There are many ways that you can get involved.
1. Join a workgroup. Check out the seven workgroups and see if there are any natural connections to your work, expertise or passion. Then contact the ELAC project management support team to learn how to get involved.
2. Join a local coalition. Many communities have identified early childhood education as a top economic and education priority for them. They have formed local coalitions to organize around addressing early childhood education and connecting to the resources and partners of ELAC.
3. Attend the upcoming Indiana Summit for Economic Development via Early Learning Coalitions on Monday, June 5th in Bloomington, Indiana at the Monroe Convention Center. Why would business and community leaders get together to talk about early childhood education? Because they know that early education is an economic driver and workforce development strategy. Register today to be at the forefront of great things for Hoosier economies. http://www.elacindiana.org/indianasummit/
If you have any questions and would like to learn more / get involved, contact Amanda Lopez with Transform Consulting Group (317) 324-4070 x 5 or A.Lopez@transformconsultinggroup.com. They provide project management support for ELAC that is funded by FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.
ANDERSON — Since last August, community leaders and residents have been developing a plan to improve the quality of life in the near west side neighborhood.
Don Knight | The Herald Bulletin | Rachel Mattingly with Prosperity Indiana talks about forming working interest groups that will tackle specifics about quality of life in the 46016 neighborhood at the Anderson Impact Center on Thursday.
Approximately 50 people gathered Thursday at the Anderson Impact Center to get an update on progress and to discuss the next steps.
The Sweet 16 Neighborhood consists of the area comprising the postal zip code and census tract 46016. It includes an area from Brown-Delaware Street to Raible Avenue and from 10th Street to 30th Street.
Rachel Mattingly with Prosperity Indiana said a steering committee has been working since August and they’re asking residents what changes they want to see over the next 10 years.
“A lot can change in 10 years,” she said.
Mattingly said Prosperity Indiana conducted one-on-one interviews on how to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.
She said the next step is to form working interest groups that will tackle specific topics and bring recommendations to the larger group.
“They will be creating strategic plans in various topic areas,” Mattingly said. “Small groups of dedicated people working together to make a difference.”
The specific topics to be addressed include: youth activities; education; job training; housing; infrastructure; crime and drug abuse; business development; and transportation.
Shelly Delong said there are abandoned houses throughout Anderson, but especially in this neighborhood area.
“It’s frustrating for people who want to maintain their properties when there are abandoned houses all around,” she said. “People want to see the neighborhood cleaned up.
“It starts with us as residents of Anderson,” Delong added.
She said when it comes to attitude, people tend to talk negatively about Anderson.
“Anderson is a good place and we’re going to make it better for our kids,” Delong said.
Archie Cotton said the community must work together to restore hope in young people in the neighborhood.
He said weaknesses cited by residents — including a lack of activities and a lack of guidance for young people in single-parent homes — was the focus of the YMCA's decision to gradually change from youth to senior citizen programming.
Cotton said strengths include the Geater Center, Impact Center and the new Girls and Boys Club.
He said churches should be working together to develop programs for young people and to provide opportunities.
“Youth want stability,” he said. “They want programs that are promised to continue and not come to an end in a short period of time.”
The Rev. Ray Wilkins said there is a negative perception of the community and there is now an opportunity to change that perception.
“The drug culture is a bigger problem than we want to admit,” he said. “People can’t get a job because they can’t pass a drug test.
“As a result young people are living with their parents and grandparents,” Wilkins added. “Don’t bury our heads in the sand. We do have that problem.”
Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 640-4863.
Topics of concern for the Sweet 16 Neighborhood steering committee:
• Youth activities
• Education, to include post-secondary education.
• Job training
• Infrastructure and greens space
• Crime and drug abuse
• Transportation
• Business development
Story By Ken de la Bastide
Published in The Herald Bulletin, May 6, 2017
http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/residents-working-to-improve-neighborhood/article_5b8b3b47-26f7-56fe-bb0f-1a1e74e6750f.html
There are several opportunities to learn the basics of Fair Housing this month, presented by Prosperity Indiana member the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI).
The first is a webinar hosted by the Back Home in Indiana Alliance, Understanding the Basics of Fair Housing with Amy Nelson, Executive Director of FHCCI.
May 18, 2017 from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm (EDT)
Overview: The Fair Housing Act Amendment (FHAA) of 1988 prohibits discrimination and directs U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) program participants to take steps to overcome historic patterns of segregation, promote choice in housing and foster inclusive communities. The FHAA covers most types of housing, including single family homes and rental properties.
What does Fair Housing mean? In this webcast, learn about:
1. The basic facts about the Fair Housing Act.
2. Who is protected by the Fair Housing Act
3. What additional protections are in place for persons with disabilities.
4. What to do if you think your rights or your constituent’s rights have been violated.
Speaker: Amy Nelson brings nearly twenty years of groundbreaking work in fair housing to Indiana. Her work has included addressing systemic lending discrimination against minorities, rental discrimination against those with disabilities and discriminatory advertising.
Amy is active in her Indiana community of 5 years, serving on multiple Indianapolis housing related committees. She maintains membership in several state organizations, including the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development and the Indiana Affordable Housing Association. She is the 2015 recipient of the Central Indiana Realtor Association “Best of the Best” Award. Amy is a longstanding member of the Board of Directors of the National Fair Housing Alliance.
Moderator: Deborah McCarty, Executive Director of the Back Home in Indiana Alliance
Who should attend: Persons with disabilities and their families, care coordinators of the FSSA Money Follows the Person program, Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, affordable housing community organizations, public housing agency representatives, property managers, civil rights leaders, HUD program participants, Indiana policy-makers in aging and across disability-related programs; attorneys and advocates.
To Register: Go to https://bhiafairhousing.eventbrite.com/.
You can also call the Back Home in Indiana Alliance at 317.638.2392 to register via telephone or to request disability-related accommodations.
Registration will be closed on May 17, 2017 at 5:00 pm.
Cost: No cost due to the support of our Sponsors.
Sponsors: This webcast is made possible through the generous support of the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, the Indiana University School of Education – IUPUI and the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana.
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If you would like to attend an in-person training, FHCCI will be offering two FREE Fair Housing 101 Trainings in Indianapolis towards the end of May.
DATE/TIME: Two trainings are being offered:
Training 1: Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Haughville Library in Indianapolis from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Training 2: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at the East 38th Street Library in Indianapolis from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
AGENDA: Topics to be addressed include: Overview of fair housing laws (rental focus), major fair housing regulations and guidance, advertising requirements, and disability specific regulations.
WORKSHOP COST: There is no cost to attend these workshops; however, advance registration is required due to seating limitations.
PARKING: Parking at the libraries is free.
REGISTRATION: To register for either of the workshops, go to: http://www.fhcci.org/events/
Registration is required. Space is limited.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: Please contact Amy at the FHCCI if any accommodations are needed. Alternate formats of materials will be available upon request for those with disabilities.
SPONSORS: The funding for these workshops is provided by the City of Indianapolis and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
Prosperity Indiana Partner, IPHA is seeking candidates for two positions:
Coalition Director, Cardiovascular and Diabetes Coalition of Indiana (CADI)
The Coalition Director will conduct multiple responsibilities associated with the Better Together Plan, Indiana’s first state plan to address cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. A copy of the plan can be found by going here: http://indianacadi.org/better-together/. In addition, the Director is responsible for overseeing CADI’s administration, special initiatives and annual statewide symposium. Other key duties include oversight of coalition membership recruitment and retention, community engagement, social media marketing, and fundraising. To accomplish this, the Coalition Director works closely with an Advisory Board of Directors, a consulting firm, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), community partners across the state of Indiana and other IPHA staff. Limited in-state travel is required.
Click here for the full job announcement.
Indiana Chronic Disease Plan Program Manager
The Program Manager will conduct multiple responsibilities associated with Indiana’s Chronic Disease Plan including finalization of the Plan, promotion, implementation, evaluation and partner relations. The Program Manager will work closely with an Advisory Group, other IPHA staff and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). The work involves project management, website development, group facilitation, problem solving, systems thinking and strategic planning. It is broad in scope and requires strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills. Writing and compositional skills and the ability to produce written materials appropriate for various audiences are especially important for this position.
Interested parties should submit a resume with an introductory letter by Friday, May 19, 2017.
Resumes and/or inquiries to:
Jerry King, Executive Director Indiana Public Health Association 615 N. Alabama Street, Suite 426 Indianapolis, IN 46204 jking@inpha.org
The mission of IPHA is to strengthen public health through partnerships, policies and professional development. Click here to learn more about IPHA.
Congress reached a fiscal year 2017 (FY17) budget agreement—the Omnibus Appropriations Act—late in the evening Sunday, April 30, 2017. The bill funds the federal government through September this year. The FY17 Omnibus Appropriations Act packages 11 regular appropriations bills, as well as additional Trump administration requests on national defense and border security.
The spending package is expected to be voted on in the House and Senate this week before the current Continuing Resolution ends on May 5. The Omnibus Appropriations Act provides $1.070 trillion in base discretionary funding. The final budget agreement upholds the bipartisan deal made in late 2015 to lift the spending caps—sequestration—required by the Budget Control Act for defense and non-defense programs.
The FY17 budget agreement does not include any of the $18 billion in cuts requested by the Trump administration in the “skinny budget” proposed for FY18.
Looking ahead, FY18 begins October 1, 2017. In a typical year, the President releases his budget proposal on the first Monday in February. Congress then begins its work on a budget resolution and on appropriations legislation. President Trump released a “skinny budget” in March. The full administration FY18 request is expected in mid-May. This timeline has prevented Congress from even beginning regular order budget conversations. Refer to this Prosperity Indiana blog on the FY18 spending proposal—the “skinny budget.”
The following links are legislative text and summaries for each of the FY17 appropriations bills incorporated into the omnibus legislation. These files are provided by the House of Representatives Rules Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee:
Department of Housing and Urban Development
The FY17 Omnibus Appropriations Act funds many HUD programs the same as last year FY16 or with small increases. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) detailed budget chart, this is true for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Family Self-Sufficiency, Native American Block Grants, Native Hawaiian Block Grants, Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships programs, Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP), Homeless Assistance Grants, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Section 202 Housing for the Elderly, Housing Counseling, Policy Development and Research, and Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. The programs to see funding cuts compared to FY16 were the Public Housing Operating Fund and Section 811 Housing for People with Disabilities.
This budget chart from Enterprise Community Partners provides additional program detail. Prosperity Indiana’s national partner NLIHC summarized the major housing provisions of the Omnibus Appropriations Act.
The agreement provides $20.292 billion for tenant-based rental assistance, $18.355 billion renews previous contracts. The bill allocates $47 million for Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), $7 million of which is to serve Native American veterans. The bill also provides $10 million to support new Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers and $120 million for Section 811 mainstream vouchers. The bill provides $10.816 billion to renew project-based rental assistance contracts for calendar year 2017, an increase of $186 million from the FY16 funding level.
The public housing capital fund saw a small increase, while the operating fund received a $100 million cut. The operating fund allocation fell from $4.5 billion in FY16 to $4.4 billion, while the capital fund allocation increased from $1.9 billion to $1.942 billion to help address lead-based paint hazards in public housing. The bill directs $35 million of the capital fund to be used for supportive services and service coordinators.
The bill increases the number of public housing units that can convert under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program from 185,000 to 225,000 and extends the program’s sunset date to 2020. Under RAD, public housing agencies leverage public and private debt and equity, largely through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, to rehabilitate public housing stock and make capital improvements.
The bill increases funding for homeless assistance programs to $2.383 billion from $2.25 billion in FY16. The bill targets $43 million to address youth homelessness and waives the requirement that youth 24 years of age and under provide third-party documentation to receive housing and supportive services within the Continuums of Care. The bill extends the authorization for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) by one additional year. It is now set to expire next year, October 1, 2018.
The bill provides $502 million to the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program, enough to renew all existing contracts and provide $10 million to build new units or provide rental assistance. The bill also reduces funding for the Section 811 Housing for People with Disabilities program to $146 million, $5 million less than the FY16 level. The bill does not include language allowing Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) properties to convert under the Rental Assistance Demonstration.
The bill level-funds the HOME Investments Partnerships program (HOME) at $950 million and the Community Development Block Grant program at $3 billion. The bill also provides a four-year suspension of the 24-month funding commitment deadline under the HOME program. Because of the additional requirements on project selection, underwriting standards, and developer capacity under the HOME program, many communities have struggled to meet the two-year commitment deadline, which led to funding being lost. This language removes this barrier while keeping in place other, more meaningful deadlines.
Funding for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) program was increased to $356 million to account for changes made to how the program funds are awarded by the Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act. The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative received an increase above FY16 funding, $125 million to $138 million. Jurisdictions receiving Choice grants must ensure that at least $50 million is made available to public housing authorities.
The bill provides $145 million to the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes’ grants, a $35 million increase above FY16, and proposes initiatives to address lead-based paint hazards in affordable housing. The bill directs HUD to establish a process to improve data on how PHAs are complying with lead-based paint regulations in properties that use Section 8 vouchers.
The bill also takes steps to address the physical conditions of HUD-assisted housing to ensure residents are living in decent and safe homes. It requires HUD to act against property owners receiving rental subsidies that do not maintain safe properties. The language authorizes the HUD secretary to replace the property’s management agent with one approved by HUD, impose civil monetary penalties, change HUD’s contract with the property owner until the program is resolved, transfer the property or contract to a new owner, and relocate tenants, among other actions.
The bill funds the HUD’s office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the same level as FY16. The bill also prohibits HUD from directing local governments to change zoning laws under the agency’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule or with the AFFH assessment tool.
Department of Agriculture
The FY17 spending bill includes $2.94 billion for rural development programs, an increase of $166 million above the FY16 enacted level. The Agriculture section of the omnibus includes a provision setting aside at least 10 percent of most rural development programs for counties with at least a 20 percent poverty rate for the last 30 years (10-20-30).
The bill funds USDA’s Section 521 Rural Rental Assistance program. It also provides a modest increase to USDA’s Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Loan program and the Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization demonstration. It provides increases for rural housing programs including Section 502 Single Family Direct Loans, Section 504 Housing Repair Grants, and Section 521 Rental Assistance.
The Agriculture section of the bill provides $24 billion in loan authority for the Single Family Housing guaranteed loan program, equal to the FY16 level. It includes $1 billion, $100 million above the FY16 enacted level for the direct loan program that provides low-income rural families with home loan assistance. In addition, $1.4 billion, $15 million more than current levels, is included for the Rental Assistance program, which helps low-income families and the elderly in rural communities obtain affordable rental housing.
The bill directs the USDA secretary to incentivize nonprofit organizations and public housing authorities (PHAs) to assume ownership of rental housing properties and to ensure that they remain affordable by allowing these entities to receive a return on investment and asset management fee up to $7,500 per property. According to NLIHC, a record number of USDA rental homes were lost last year due to prepayment or maturity of their USDA Section 515 loan. When that occurs, tenants are no longer eligible for USDA’s rental assistance program and may be subject to rent increases. These incentives are aimed at making it more financially feasible for nonprofit organizations and PHAs to maintain properties as affordable for the long term.
The bill provides discretionary funding, as well as mandatory funding required by law, for food and nutrition programs within the USDA. This includes funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Child Nutrition programs. WIC funding is $6.35 billion, the same as FY16 level. SNAP receives $78.5 billion in required mandatory spending, this is $2.3 billion below FY16. Child Nutrition Programs are funded at $22.746 billion in mandatory funding. This is $637.2 million above the FY16 enacted level. This funding will provide free or reduced-price school lunches and snacks for 30.3 million children who qualify for the program.
The bill supports a $946.8 million grant and loan level for rural business and industry programs to promote small business growth in rural areas. It provides $1.25 billion for rural water and waste program loans, the same as the FY16. The measure provides $6.94 billion for rural electric and telephone infrastructure loans.
The Omnibus funds the communities facilities program at $2.6 billion, a $400 million increase from last year. This program provides low-cost loans to build critical community infrastructure like hospitals, schools and public safety facilities. It targets historically underserved rural communities throughout the country.
A portion of this funding supports the Department of Agriculture’s relending program, which leverages Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) partnerships to build and repair critical community facilities.
Department of Treasury
The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund received a $14.5 million funding increase above FY16 levels to $248 million – the largest appropriation in the history of the fund. The bill places emphasis on serving persistent poverty counties and supports the enhancement of CDFI presence and activities in underserved rural communities.
The Omnibus funds the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at $15 million, level funding from the previous year. This provides certainty to VITA programs that the grant funding will continue for at least the near future.
In other policy matters in the IRS section of the legislation, the agency is prohibited from finalizing any regulation or guidance clarifying the 501(c)4 determination process. Recall, controversy erupted in 2013 when the IRS was accused of targeting nonprofit groups by scrutinizing their political activity while assessing applications for 501(c)4 nonprofit status.
Small Business Administration
The Omnibus Appropriations Act provides $886.8 million for the Small Business Administration (SBA) The bill funds business loans at $157 million. The bill also funds $125 million for Small Business Development Centers, $10.5 million for SCORE, formerly the Service Corps of Retired Executives, and $12.3 million for veteran outreach programs.
Department of Justice
Funding for community safety provisions at the Department of Justice includes $2.4 billion for State and Local Law Enforcement activities, including the Office on Violence Against Women, juvenile justice programs, and community crime prevention grant programs. The bill contains $103 million to fund the recently authorized Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) grant program, which consolidated and expanded existing grant programs to combat opioid abuse, and $10 million for Community Oriented Policing Services’ (COPS) anti-heroin task forces grants. The bill also contains: $403 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG).
Health and Human Services
The Assets for Independence (AFI) program at the Department of Health and Human Services is not funded. According to CFED, “AFI’s $18.95 million in funding that fueled Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) across many programs and states was eliminated as part of a broader $900 million cut to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Education.”
Additional funds are directed at fighting opioid abuse, $801 million, an increase of $650 million or 430 percent is provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs. Specifically, the bill provides a $50 million increase above FY16 levels for CDC opioid abuse programs and a $51 million increase to SAMHSA for treatment and overdose reversal, of which $20 million is for Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) authorized programs. The bill also provides $50 million for Community Health Centers treatment and prevention.
Community Health Centers (CHCs) are funded at $1.49 billion, the same level as FY16. There are more than 10,400 Health Centers nationally, serving over 24 million patients per year. Health centers advance the preventive and primary care model of coordinated and comprehensive care, coordinating a wide range of medical, dental, behavioral, and social services in communities.
SAMHSA and HRSA received $1.2 billion for mental health programs. This level includes an $80 million increase above FY16 for key mental health investments. The bill provides $541.5 million, an increase of $30 million above FY16, for the Mental Health Block Grant, and continues a 10 percent set-aside for serious mental illness activities. The bill also provides $50 million within the funding for Community Health Centers to provide mental health services.
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is funded at $2.9 billion, an increase of $95 million above FY16. Head Start receives $9.3 billion, an increase of $85 million above FY16. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is funded at $3.39 billion, equal to FY16.
Department of Transportation
The bill provides funding for the Department of Transportation based on levels enacted in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. For discretionary transportation programs, the measure provides $500 million for new TIGER grants and $2.4 billion for New Starts transit grants. New Starts will see a boost of $236 million in FY17This includes $50 million for Indianapolis’ transit expansion.
Department of Labor
Several community development related programs are included in the Department of Labor budget. YouthBuild is a program to help at-risk high school drop-outs develop skills and knowledge to obtain industry-recognized job credentials, apprenticeships, and employment. It receives $84.5 million, equal to the FY16 level.
The Apprenticeship Opportunities effort also receives $95 million, an increase of $5 million above FY16, to continue and expand a grant program established focused on the range and number of apprenticeship opportunities available in a wide variety of fields nationwide. A component of the program will also help involve more women and other workers, who have not traditionally participated in apprenticeship programs.
Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) receives $8.058, $81 million below the FY16. This includes $1.394 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $863 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, both, equal to FY16. Brownfield grants receive $47.7 million in funding.
Legal Services Corporation
The legislation provides $385 million for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) equal to the FY16 level. The Corporation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. LSC distributes more than 90 percent of its total funding to 133 independent nonprofit legal aid programs with more than 800 offices. Indiana Legal Services Inc., a Prosperity Indiana member receives these funds.
Corporation for National and Community Service
The Corporation responsible for Americorps and VISTA receives $1.03 billion, a decrease of $65 million overall. The bill maintains funding for core national and community service programs, including $386 million for AmeriCorps grants and $202 million for Senior Corps programs, equal to the FY16 level. In addition, the Committee includes expanded resources for state commissions to build the capacity of national and community service programs locally.
May is Bike Month. In Indiana it’s also a celebration of speed, car racing, and all things local.
I kicked off May a little early with a metric century (100 kilometer/62 mile) bike ride in Louisville with my husband as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. It is a great way to spend a Sunday morning, and great training for my upcoming triathlon season. It also gave us an opportunity to see metro Louisville in a way we hadn’t yet experienced. I have run the Derby half marathon and loved the tour of Louisville it provided. So many great places.
Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP with her husband, David Scovel, LPG Senior Geologist, BCA Environmental Consultants
The month begins with the One America Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon – known locally as “the Mini.” The Mini is something everyone should do (at least) once. It is a local celebration, it is one of the largest half marathons in the country, and it is an opportunity for a physical activity challenge and to see Indianapolis in a different way that most people have experienced it. I have walked/run the Mini eight times. It was my first half marathon. The Mini is walker friendly and is a mix of elite level runners and people who walk a half marathon once a year. The course begins downtown and heads out toward the Town of Speedway, which has been undergoing a transformation of their downtown and Speed Zone economic development area. It then enters the track and you cover the entire 2.5 miles on foot (I have also ridden my bike around the track). Then the course weaves back to Military Park. There are neighborhoods on the route that highlight some of the very real housing challenges in Indy, neighborhoods that many “outsiders” don’t see otherwise. Regardless, people see the city in a whole new way. The training programs that lead up to the Mini create a sense of community (and happen in several places around the state) and connect people in meaningful relationships.
Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP finished her 8th Mini in 2016.
That same weekend is the American Planning Association national planning conference in New York City. I will be attending as part of the Planners4Health collaboration. There we will talk about the work the collaboration has been doing around integrating planning (and community development) with public health and promoting health in all plans.
Connecting bikes and the Indianapolis 500, the Central Indiana Bicycling Association has their 500 miles (or 500 kilometers) in May competition where members try to ride either 310 or 500 miles in May to earn a special jersey (average 10-16 miles per day). These miles can be commuting (avoiding the traffic and enjoying the spring weather), recreation rides, or training for bike races or triathlon. All miles count. All miles are a way to experiences neighborhoods in a different way than you do in a car. Some miles end in local beer or local donuts, which is economic development at its most fun!
Friday, May 19 is Bike to Work Day. While many more days are great for biking to work, May 19 is a day set aside for groups to meet and encourage people to try riding in to work. It’s about people working with people to overcome barriers to biking to work (logistics, safety, etc.). It is about building a community of people. It allows you to experience your commute in an entirely different way. Depending on your community and where you work you may be able to ride most of the way without being on roads. Of my 10 mile bike commute only 1.3 miles is on road, the rest is on the Monon Trail and the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis. Allyson (Director of Sustainability) has been bike commuting for the past few weeks because construction projects have left the roads so congested that her bike commute is faster than driving. Try it out! A few quick guidelines if you aren’t used to bike commuting:
Indiana State Department of Health Healthy Communities Planner Pete Fritz, AICP, ALSA is a regular bike commuter and always ready to ride
Look for bike events in your community – in Indy we have organized rides to the ball park, weekly recurring rides, women’s rides, grand touring weekend rides (often involving stops at local restaurants), and beer rides (lots more too). It’s a great way to get some physical activity, meet new people, and explore. You don’t need a fancy bike. You don’t need to wear spandex.
If your community has a local bike share program May is the perfect month to try that too! I use Pacers Bikeshare in Indy to get around downtown without moving my car. It’s a great way to get to meetings or appointments (or lunch) and is faster than walking – or getting the car from the parking garage. More communities in Indiana have added bike share programs in the past few years.
If you try riding on trails and decide you like it (you’ll love it), the Greenways Foundation of Indiana has a number of different challenges that run from April 22 (Earth Day) through October. Some are focused on local trail use while others encourage exploring your region or the state. I am participating in the Hoosier Trail Hero challenge for the second year – riding (or running) at least 10 different trails around the state. http://www.greenwaysfoundation.org/
Beyond Monumental Strategic Partnerships Manager Swati Gunale and Prosperity Indiana Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP riding in the Greenways Challenge in 2016.
Planning, Healthy Communities, Bikes, and Community Development are all connected and help connect people and places to make prosperity. Prosperity Indiana’s capacity building team can help you make connections and provide information resources on how to make your community healthier (and more fun).
Also, Prosperity Indiana will be hosting our first Twitter chat on May 11 at 11:00 AM and we'll be talking about healthy neighborhoods and physical activity. I'll have control of the @INCommDev Twitter handle and we'll have fun for an hour. There will be six questions to respond to and opportunities to connect with others doing the same work.
Happy biking! Cheers to healthy communities!
Rose Scovel, AICP
Director of Capacity Building
First organized in July 2001 by a collaboration of Chicago-area organizations and directed by the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, Money Smart Week has grown and become an annual public awareness campaign promoting personal financial literacy across the nation. During the six days of Money Smart Week, participating organizations from community groups, financial institutions, and government agencies will host events to educate the general public on smart money practices. This year, Money Smart Week will be from Monday, April 24th to Saturday, April 29th.There are several opportunities to attend events in Indiana with hosts including the Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, AARP Indiana, The Social Security Administration, The Indy Star, Indiana Legal Services, and more. Below are some events that will be held throughout the state, but please use the Official Money Smart Week Event Page to find an event near you.
Tippecanoe County: Events will be held on Purdue University’s campus beginning on Monday, April 24th.The Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network joined HomesteadCS and Purdue Federal Credit Union to present to Purdue University staff members, students, and interested community members about the predatory nature of Payday lending. The presentation took place at Purdue University’s Horticulture Building room 117 at 12pm and at 5pm. A recording of the presentation will be made available to the public. On April 28th, a seminar on Homebuyer Education will be held in the Horticulture Building room 117 at Purdue University from 12pm-1pm. This event is open for students, faculty, and staff.
Marion County: Events will be held throughout Indianapolis including an Indy Star Call for Action event on Tuesday, April 25th from 4:30pm-8pm. The event will take place at the John Boner Community Center at 2236 E. 10th St. and will provide consumer advice through free attorney consultations available in both Spanish and English.
On Wednesday, April 26th from 9:30am-12pm there will be a viewing of $CAMMED: Investment Fraud Revealed—a thirty-minute documentary about investor fraud in Indiana. Afterwards, investigative reporter for RTV6 Rafael Sanchez will M.C. the event with a panel of experts including Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, Deputy Attorney General Steve Frank, Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Cindy Oetjen, and Dr. Mary Guerriero Austrom from the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Center, among others. The event will be held at North United Methodist Church on 3808 N. Meridian St.
On Saturday, April 29th the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the Indianapolis Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will present Women Building Our Financial Legacy: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Social Security & Investments. The event will begin at 8:30am at the New Direction Church located on 5330 E. 38th St. Breakfast will be provided, but please RSVP by Thursday, April 27th through the eventbrite page or 317-748-3195.
Johnson County: Kelly Griese, an Investor Education Coordinator from the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office will provide a free fraud prevention presentation on Tuesday, April 25th, from 6:30-8:00pm. The presentation will be held at Prince of Peace United Church of Christ on 3050 West Smokey Row Road, Bargersville and will cover the latest scams and techniques used by fraudsters, how to request and review your credit report, how to freeze your credit, and how to report fraud. Seating is limited so please register online at center.com/register or by calling Pastor Joan Dell at 317-535-7712.
Webinar: On Tuesday, April 25th from 11am-12pm, the Social Security Administration will host a Social Security Retirement Planning webinar. Register to attend the webinar at attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/6272735108852379650 in order to learn more about the many factors to consider when deciding when to start receiving your Social Security benefits.
Through the joint efforts of dedicated individuals, agencies, community organizations, and financial institutions, Money Smart Week will empower Americans in all fifty states with the knowledge and tools to become financially stable. Please join us by finding an event near you through the Official Money Smart Week Event Page.
The time is fast approaching when Prosperity Indiana staff members hit the road for regional meetings. We will travel across our state for a series of meetings with community development professionals, advocates, neighbors, elected officials, and other stakeholders that are focused on building resilient families and vital communities.
Join us at five locations this summer to engage on issues currently facing your organization and community, the work Prosperity Indiana is doing on your behalf and how Prosperity Indiana can help you build on your organization’s and community’s strengths.
These meetings will allow you to:
Please mark your calendars for this opportunity and register today! Up to five staff at member organizations can attend for free, if the Executive Director is among the attendees. Lunch will be provided.
June 19: Northeast Regional Member Meeting Fort Wayne, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member Brightpoint 12-2 pm EST
Come learn about the Community Loan Center program and hear from Brightpoint staff about their experiences and impact through this employee lending innovation aimed at reducing reliance on payday lending. Community Loan Centers allow local employers to offer employees small dollar loans at 18% interest rate on a 12-month term. Participating employees can build their credit and take advantage of financial education classes.
June 27: Southeast Regional Member Meeting Jeffersonville, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member New Hope Services 12-2 pm EST
Thinking about going solar? Come hear Allyson Mitchell, Prosperity Indiana's Director of Sustainability, discuss the Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) For All program and learn how you and your organization can participate. The group-purchase solar discount program aims to help community organizations and residents purchase and install solar panels at a reduced rate to lower their organizational and household operating costs and pass those benefits on to low- moderate-income (LMI) individuals. Direct funding opportunities are available to Prosperity Indiana members.
July 20: South Central Regional Member Meeting Bloomington, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member City of Bloomington 12-2 pm EST
Incorporating asset-building strategies into existing programs can enable and support individuals and families at all income levels. Discuss with Kelsey Clayton, Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network Manager, the economic barriers families face. Also learn about the Learning Cluster, a current initiative assisting organizations in integrating financial capability services, which help Hoosiers achieve financial stability and provide access to tools that help organizations think through this innovation.
August 10: Northwest Regional Member Meeting Hammond, Hosted by the Continuum of Care Network of Northwest Indiana 10 am -12 pm CST
Hear Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel share about how you can utilize the staff expertise at Prosperity Indiana to assist you with consolidated planning, housing needs assessments, housing studies, assessments of fair housing, HUD compliance, and other plans and processes that might be required for your organization.
September 27: Southwest Regional Member Meeting Evansville, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member Old National Bank 12-2 pm CST
Come hear about the Outcomes Platform: a new data collection, tracking and outcomes reporting solution. Learn how you can use this comprehensive and interactive data tracking tool to visualize the impact that your organization has on your community and the results of your collective efforts with local partners.
Every day, I get to work with the brightest people and impactful organizations across Indiana. These organizations and their staff are Prosperity Indiana member organizations - local nonprofits, private businesses, and government - each with a mission and drive to serve and build communities. From amongst these member organizations, the board of directors receives and solicits nominations to help lead our organization.
Know someone who fits this description, apply to join the Prosperity Indiana board of directors here.
At the March 17 meeting, the board of directors approved a slate for election to renew and supplement the board leadership.
The slate for renewing members of the board includes:
The slate for new board members includes:
If you are the membership (bundle) administrator of a 2017 voting member organization, please log into the member portal and cast your ballot for the board of directors election.
Are you looking to make positive difference in people's lives?
Carey Services is seeking applicants to serve adults with development disabilities as:
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