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 2023 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 2023 Love Thy Neighborhood Award finalists:
Livability Category:
Nine13sports is a non-profit that promotes health, wellness, and exercise for local youth through programs like Kids Building Bikes, Kids Riding Bikes, camps and more. In addition to a core focus of health and fitness, thier programs promote community, teamwork, and mutual respect for one another designed to foster a lasting impact.
Mackida Loveal & Trip Outreach Center's Bridging the Gap Program is a community canvassing collective that provides resources; fresh, healthy food; barrier busters; and mental health support to neighbors in the Northeast Corridor. The vision is to heal the community one block at a time by connecting families to resources and services through an evidence-based canvassing strategy.
Gennesaret Free Clinics’ mission is to provide free, quality, and compassionate patient-centered healthcare for persons experiencing homelessness or lacking established healthcare. The clinic serves thousands of Indianapolis' most vulnerable individuals each year.
Opportunity Category:
Indy Black Chamber of Commerce serves as a comprehensive resource for developing Black and minority-owned businesses by providing business education, financing, and access to capital opportunities to impact the economic enhancement of the Black community.
The 38th and Sheridan project includes the Goodwill Commercial Services facility, a registered medical device manufacturer that will bring 100 jobs to the community with the goal of hiring residents within the surrounding neighborhood; as well Indy Fresh Market, an adjacent full-service grocery store, that will bring fresh food options to the area.
Emprendedoras Latinas en Indiana is women's entrepreneurship program that promotes sustainable and inclusive economic development by addressing gaps in entrepreneurship, working toward gender equality and generating a single ecosystem for the female entrepreneur in the Latinx community.
Vitality Category:
SEND's residential plan in the Norwood neighborhood has resulted in nine, new single-family homes contructed for sale to low-income buyers. To date, SEND has leveraged over $1.4 million to bring $4 million in investment to the Norwood neighborhood.
The Alley House, owned and managed by Englewood CDC, is a two-family duplexintended to be a pilot project for net-zero energy that addresses climate waste and sustainability; affordable housing; neighborhood connectivity; and social health.
Trusted Mentors provides volunteer mentors to adults at risk of homelessness, ex-offenders re-entering society, and young adults aging out of the foster care system.
Education Category:
Wayne Township Adult Education exists to help immigrants master the English language, assist students in attaining a diploma, build academic skills, and advance students into career training pathways.
Tru Dialogue is an annual event created as a space for young people and their lived experiences to be centered and supported by adult stakeholders in the community. This includes discussing challenges they are facing, exploring relevant solutions, and finding intergenerational collaboration opportunities.
Project Will serves teens and young adults with cognitive disabilities and/or behavioral health challenges. Thier LINKS initiative connects adults with cognitive or intellectual disabilities to employment training to develop life skills, financial literacy, and job readiness.