As a native of the Martindale Brightwood area on the east side of Indianapolis, James Wilson, CEO of Circle Up Indy, is a true testament to how one can turn their life around regardless of the past.
Rising Evolution: A New Wave Of Community Development is a movement in need of support from the community so it can help build the community.
Currently, there is a $4 million dollar housing and community support fundraiser for Circle Up Indy’s affordable housing initiative.
You can learn more about this Community Co-op Movement on Wednesday, April 27, 5 p.m. at 2917 N. Olney Indianapolis, Indiana 46218. There will be music, food, fun, community engagement and an open opportunity to ask questions.
Wilson and Monalisa Baxter, owner of Momma’s Kitchen, joined us Tuesday on “Life.Style.Live!” to share more about their movement and how you can support. Here’s more from them:
Rising Evolution is the idea of an organization that began as a concierge of resources to the community, thus inspiring less violence and building a stronger community inspired Wilson and Circle Up Indy was born. Wilson has served as CEO of Circle Up Indy, a non-profit grassroots organization, for the past 9 plus years. Circle Up Indy’s focus is socio-economic evolution, community development/engagement, housing and community self-stability.
In August 2014, the Circle Up Indy team hosted the first Youth Against Violence Peace Festival at James Russell Lowell IPS School 51. This successful inaugural event brought over 1000 people from the community to support local businesses in their community, and subsequent events have continued to grow. Supporters have included Community Hospital East, Edna Martin Christian Center, Indianapolis Public Schools, Indygo, Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated, Radio One, and many more. The Peace Festivals bring everyone in the community together, including health care services, law enforcement, education, job placement, and other essential resources, while providing a festive family atmosphere and free prizes and giveaways.
Circle Up Indy’s future goals are to continue inspiring others by developing more supportive initiatives that meet the standards of our community aimed at reducing violence, increasing opportunity, and strengthening families and the community.
Background:
Rising Evolution takes a comprehensive approach to community economic development through:
• Affordable homeownership access.
• Moving residents from renters to homeowners.
• On-site affordable 3D printed and container home development.
• Fundamentals of construction using 3D printer training.
• Indiana Roundtable OSHA Construction Certification
• Community resident/stakeholder home repair and collaborative entrepreneurial development.
Details:
Through a dedicated collaborative and transparent partnership with Circle Up Indy, Edna Martin Christian Center, and the Martindale Brightwood CDC, Rising Evolution seeks to address redlining, equity, social justice, and affordable housing assistance in a manner translating resources to cultivate sustainability among those the collective seeks to directly impact.
For more information, visit circleupindy.com/rising-evolution.
Circle Up Indy is Proudly Hosting the 5th Annual Peace Festival in Indianapolis on Saturday, July 10, 2021 from 12 pm to 7 pm. James Wilson of Circle Up Indy joined us today with all of the details. Here’s more from him:
Living in poverty or living at a low socioeconomic status is one of the most significant social determinants of poor physical and mental health, intersecting with all other determinants including education, local social and community conditions, race/ethnicity, gender, immigration status, health and access to care, and neighborhood factors.
Furthermore, the ramifications of untreated trauma, including untreated mental illness, untreated substance use disorders, the institutionalization experienced while incarcerated, and the absence felt by being a single parent with little to no stability are some of the critical factors leading to violence in our community. It is our initiation to address and make aware perpetual disparities that plague the black community.
In an effort to intentionally discuss and address socio-economic disadvantages many black and minority families experience and to increase community accountability across the city, Circle Up Indy will host the 5th Annual Peace Festival on July 10, 2021, from 12 pm to 7 pm at Frederick Douglass Park on the Park’s 100th Anniversary.
In addition to offering carnival games, drawings, prizes, kid zone activities, animal attraction, food, live entertainment, and a wide range of information and resources staffed by local organizations who will help us focus on addressing untreated trauma, slow economic development, and community accountability through effective programs, resources, employment, entrepreneurial development, and educational opportunities.
The event will once again include the cornerstone of the event: Community Health Network Pavilion (Healthcare Zone) staffed by Community Health Network
physicians, nurses, and volunteers will provide attendees with blood pressure checks, free COVID-19 vaccines, mental health education, and other health-related wellness education.
Through compelling collaborations, this partnership hopes to connect Indianapolis residents to resources that will assist them in overcoming a wide variety of barriers to push for community evolution.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 4, 2021, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
WHERE: Frederick Douglass Park, 1616 E.25th St., Indianapolis, IN 46218
WHY: Bring awareness of the 2021 Peace Festival with Partnership with Indy Parks for the Fredrick Douglass 100th Anniversary. Deliver CUI Spirit Of The City: addressing community violence and support. Discuss Circle Up Indy’s Affordable Container Home development while looking to the future to reduce violence in the community by building employment opportunities, affordable housing, direct case management, entrepreneurial development, and community engagement/evolution. In contrast, increasing access to economic, education, health, and workforce development opportunities will also be an occasion to advocate and be the voice of those in the black community that has fallen silent. We strive to ensure families impacted by Covid also receive the services they need to be selfsufficient.
COST: Free and open to everyone!
THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY CIRCLE UP INDY.