LISC Indianapolis created the Love Thy Neighborhood Award in 2017 to recognize and celebrate the community development game changers in the Indianapolis region that transform their neighborhood into authentic places, profoundly attractive and livable for both residents and visitors. Each year, 12 organizations or projects are recognized as finalists for their role in impacting their neighborhoods in four categories.
In 2021 we have once again partnered with WISH-TV to produce and broadcast a 60-minute on-air special that will celebrate and tell the important stories of these 12 finalists. The broadcast will simultaneously stream on WISH-TV's Facebook channel and will live on WISH-TV's YouTube channel post event. The winners for each category will be announced during the broadcast and will receive $2,500 in unrestricted funds. In addition, a $5,000 People's Choice Award will be given, determined by viewers through an online voting process following the broadcast.
The following have been named as 2021 Love Thy Neighborhood Award finalists:
Livability Category:
Fonseca Theatre Company: Exists to give voice to and celebrate the minority communities of Indianapolis through the prism of purposeful theater and civic engagement. The goal is to bring about social justice through programs that educate, illuminate, and ignite conversations on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Women In Motion: Women In Motion provides education on the prevention of HIV/AIDS, targeting primarily women of color. In addition, they provides education on other topics that lead to unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse, domestic violence, obesity and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The Ross Foundation is an Indianapolis non-profit focused on improving the city's Far East side through youth programming, economic development, and community engagement.
Opportunity Category:
S.H.E. Event: The SHE. Xperience provides venues for Black-owned businesses to increase their customers and revenue, learn sound business practices, build relationships, and circulate their dollars within the Black community.
Accelerate Latinx: An in-depth program that prepares high potential, Latinx-owned businesses for accelerated growth and expansion. Utilizing an internationally recognized curriculum, participants of this program will join a cohort of peers and take part in class sessions, peer-to-peer mentoring groups, and self-analysis case studies.
Cleo's Bodega: Developed in 2020, the project redeveloped an existing commercial building on the Flanner campus and converted it into an operational bodega and cafe, employing up to 10 residents and providing food access for residents including WIC/Food Stamps recipients who otherwise have great difficulty obtaining healthy affordable food.
Vitality Category:
Aspire House: Focuses on community redevelopment and social justice; education, experiential programming, and workforce development for youth; and real estate development and sports and entertainment production. Every project or program offering is designed to help the Near Northwest area of Indianapolis to experience uplift.
One Home at a Time: A community-based organization that focuses on youth outdoor learning, affordable housing for veterans, and employment of Near West residents. One Home at a Time envisions the Near West neighborhood to be a place where access to resources and opportunities are available to all people.
Back on My Feet combats homelessness through the power of running, community support, and essential employment and housing resources. The organization provides services to members living in three partner facilities: Wheeler Mission, Pathway to Recovery, and Progress House
Education Category:
The Latinas Welding Guild is a need-based program focused on creating barrier-less education and the advancement of women in a field that has traditionally been less accessible to them. By providing a safe space to learn the welding skill, scholarships, and language support, we empower our students to take control of their careers as they enter the industry.
VOICES has been working to change the narrative of some of our most vulnerable youth and families in Indianapolis. Through the power of self-expression, and community connection, the organization empowers youth to change their lives through mental health, crime prevention/intervention and education.
PR Mallory Redevelopment for Purdue Polytechnic High School and Paramount Englewood Junior High: This project is a true collaborative effort, bringing together public, private, and nonprofit entities, neighbors, stakeholders, community organizations, and schools to create a campus and redevelopment that serves its direct users and the neighborhood as a whole.
The LOVE Thy Neighborhood Awards were created in 2017 by LISC Indianapolis and partners to encourage the transformation of neighborhoods throughout the Indy region into authentic and places, profoundly attractive and livable for both residents and visitors.