New Southeast Grocery Moving Toward Fruition

By: Susan Beauchamp

Does Southeast Indianapolis need more options to buy healthy food that are accessible for all residents? A group of residents and other people from a faith-based study circle believe the area has the need and they are acting on their thoughts. This group began meeting in 2008 and developed the idea of a food Co-op or a resident owned grocery store. They believe that the current food purchasing options are limited, sometimes too expensive, and need more access for walkers or others who rely on public transportation. Their idea has progressed into Pleasant Run Grocery: a community owned grocery store. Their mission statement is: Pleasant Run Grocery is a member owned, community based grocery store dedicated to serving the need of local producers and consumers by providing goods and services, education and reasonably priced healthy foods.

Currently the Pleasant Run Grocery Committee is developing a business plan to obtain funding. They are also looking for a central location, which is well lighted, has enough parking and is on public transportation routes. The Co-op would like to offer the opportunity for residents to buy bulk food, which can be less expensive. Additionally, they would like to offer food education and possible cooking lessons for residents to promote healthy food options with basic ingredients, rather than more expensive processed food. With fresh produce in season, the Grocery hopes to attract others from downtown and around the city to also shop in this neighborhood.

Part of the original funding for Pleasant Run Grocery would come from memberships, although anyone will be able to shop in the store. Membership would give partial ownership. Food stamps will also be accepted. For more information about Pleasant Run Grocery, contact Jerry Keyes at seorganizer@gmail.com.

The Farmers Market at Southeast Community Services Center provides an additional option for food shopping in the area. Meeting on Saturdays, July 4, August 1, Sept. 5, and October 3, it is from 9 AM to noon, at 901 Shelby Street. Start up money was obtained by an IMAGINE grant through INRC. The SECS summer program youth are assisting with the market by helping set up and making items for sale. Look for fresh produce, crafts, herbs & plants, jewelry, and photography. It is free to look around. Vendors are welcome at $10 per space. For information, contact Terri Garcia at 283-8748 or Kate Voss at 607-3235.

Please take time to fill out the survey about food shopping that was enclosed in the last issue of the South East Square News, or fill one out at SEND, to assist in the planning for the Pleasant Run Grocery. The Southeast Learning Partnership, SELP, which documents and collects data for the Southeast Neighborhoods, administers this survey. The SELP meets on the 2^nd Monday of each month at SECS at 901 Shelby St. at 5 PM. Anyone who has an interest in SE Indy is welcome to attend. Childcare and dinner are provided. For more information, contact Chairperson Marti LaMar at selp_chair@yahoo.com.

Seniors Speak Out About Programs

by Susan Beauchamp

Southeast Community Services at 901 Shelby St. has many great programs and services for area seniors, but there are many people who do not participate at this time. In an effort to understand why many seniors do not access the services, SECS has partnered with Southeast Learning Partnership and the University of Indianapolis to conduct a survey to identify the interests and unmet needs of our older residents. Lyndsey McCubbin and Emily Burgett from UIndy worked on the project as part of their Spring Term Service-Learning Course. The students, along with Project Manager and neighborhood resident Angie Calvert, worked together to design a survey, interview seniors, and analyze the data collected.

In May 2009, the project team surveyed 75 low-income seniors in and around the southeast area of Indianapolis. Throughout the month, the team interviewed seniors at Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center, Concord Neighborhood Center, The Good Life Center, and Southeast Community Services. They also conducted interviews at seniors’ homes. After all the survey data was collected and compiled, the project team invited all participating organizations and seniors to review the results.

Fifty-four seniors who participate at senior centers took the survey. Twenty-one who do not participate at centers also took the survey. The following is a sample of the information obtained:

Seniors who participate at centers replied that many get there by driving, walking, shuttle or Indy Go and these methods work well. They receive information about the center by word of mouth, the center calendar, and at the center. Many would like to receive information by mail and few would use Internet. The favorite activities are Bingo, card games, taking trips, crafts, and puzzles. The activities that they would most like see added are music/Karaoke/musical instruments, arts & crafts, more exercise, more games, and more trips. The with family, a spouse and or friends. Most have family and friends in the area and some attend church in the area. Many have friends who do not participate at the center.

Of the residents who do no use the senior centers, most have no time due to taking care of a spouse or family members. Others have no transportation or do not know about the senior center activities. About half of the non-participants would participate if they had transportation or more information about the centers. Most would prefer to be contacted by mail or by phone and few would use email. They would most like to receive activity and event details, information about trips and health services. The activities they most want to be offered are exercise classes, trips, Bingo, card games and crafts classes. Most have family and friends in the area. A third of the non-participants live with family, a third live alone, and a third live with a spouse.

Lyndsey and Emily enjoyed meeting the senior residents of Southeast Indianapolis and were happy to learn more about this area of the city as well as to earn college credit for their help. The mission of the Southeast Learning Partnership is to document and collect data for the neighborhoods. This organization is composed of residents and organizations that have an interest in Southeast.

Longtime Resident Thelma Reed Dies

By: Susan Beauchamp and Darlene Jones

There are many people in Southeast Indianapolis Neighborhoods who have lived here for a long time, but Thelma Reed might hold the record. In 1918, Frank and Clara Kenyon moved into their house on lot 41 on St. Paul Street along with their three year old daughter, Thelma, and her 7 siblings. Thelma still lived in the same house until her death on February 26, 2009 at almost 94 years of age. Thelma was one of the residents featured in the documentary film, Revival Road, produced by the Southeast Learning Partnership, which was shown at the last Southeast Indianapolis Neighborhood Gathering in September 2008.

Thelma recalled a glass factory at the south end of St. Paul St. and remembered riding the railed trolley on Prospect St. going to Fountain Square and then downtown. Her mother bought live chickens in Fountain Square to prepare for Sunday dinner.

Thelma went to School #20 on Spruce Street and to School #39 on State Street for the eighth grade. Thelma said, ”Every home on Saint Paul Street was nice, yards were kept neat and neighbors were friendly and helped each other. No one locked their doors back then.” In the '30s Thelma would go to Fountain Square at The Shadow Box on weekends for dancing, Jitter-Bug, of course. Though raised here during the depression years Thelma said, “Mom always kept her family fed and dressed. She was a good cook and homemaker. She made a little bit of money go a long way.”

Thelma remembered an A & P Grocery on Prospect between Keystone and St. Peter and a Drug Store next it. Much later, in the '50s, the standard Grocery moved on the corner of Prospect and Churchman where Family Dollar is now. A summertime favorite was the ice cream store across the street from this grocery. The Avalon Theater was located on Prospect between Churchman and Harlan. Thelma recalls spending many weekends there when admission was only 15 cents. The black and white movies featuring westerns starring Tom Mix, and many of the classics of today were great entertainment for neighborhood children. In the late 1930s Sunday mornings were spent at Calvary Tabernacle Church on Fletcher Ave. The family would catch a bus and get off at Virginia Ave. and Cedar. Ave. where the Interstate is today.

Thelma had continued as a faithful member of Calvary Tabernacle. She had been a Sunday school teacher, choir member, and when she was in her 80s assisted in nursing home ministry. Her funeral service was held there on March 2.

Darlene Jones, daughter of Thelma Reed, still resides at the old homestead on
St. Paul Street. She is part of a revitalization of the area with her neighbors as part of ICAN, Indianapolis Churchman Ave. Neighbors.

The Southeast Learning Partnership, SELP would like to celebrate other long time residents, please contact 610-7425 or selp_chair@yahoo.com for more information. The SELP meets monthly to document and collect data for all the neighborhoods. Everyone who lives or works in the area is welcome to participate. Come to meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month at 901 Shelby St., 2nd floor classroom. Dinner and childcare are provided.

SIGN UP NOW for Summer Youth Programs

By: Susan Beauchamp

Now is the time for southeast youth to plan for summer. The Southeast Learning Partnership has compiled a booklet about youth programs in the area. To obtain a copy, look in the Fountain Square Branch of the Public Library or call 686-0293 at the NACS office.

The Southeast Community Services will have Youth Developing Communities Program for 6 weeks beginning on June 23, 2009. The program will include reading support, life skills development, employment assistance and computer instruction, community service, recreation and field trips. It is for ages 12 to 17. Breakfast is provided each day. Cash stipends are given for reading books and a gift card stipend for back to school. For more information or to sign up, contact Shawn Delmolino at 236-7400 extension 226 or shawnd@southeastindy.org.

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful will have the Youth Tree Team for high school age youth. It will run Jun. 1 – Aug. 6, 2009. 7 am - noon, or 12:30 – 5:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. There will be a Wilderness Trip on Jun. 19 – 20. Lunch is provided each day and students are paid hourly. Students learn landscape maintenance and management with several field trips. To apply or for more information, contact Nate Faris at 264-7555 extension 111 or nfaris@kibi.org.

Southeast Community Organization, SECO, has a youth program. Kids work in the community each Saturday of the summer from 8 am to noon, painting houses and garages, and doing general cleanup in the neighborhood. They are paid hourly. The students also take several trips for enrichment. To register or for more information, contact SECO at 236-9245.

IPS Emmerick Manual High School will have an Algebra I class for credit beginning Jun. 1. There will also be a GQE remediation program for Language Arts and Math beginning Jun. 1. Those participating in sports can enroll in summer conditioning and those in the band can participate in Summer Band. For more information about these, call 226-2200. Students over 16 years of age can enroll in Evening School at Manual H.S. to enroll in the evening program call 226-2231.

The Fountain Square Academy, which is a public charter school open to all in grades 5 through 12, will have Remedial Summer Program. This will help with ISTEP and GQE preparation. It will be from 8:30 am to noon starting in early June. There will be two sessions, each to run 3 weeks. The school offers a free lunch for anyone who wishes to visit. To enroll, call Mr. Bardonner at 951-1000.

The Southeast Learning Partnership, SELP, meets on the 2nd Monday of each month on the 2nd floor of 901 Shelby Street at 5 PM. Dinner and childcare are provided. Everyone in SE Indy is invited to participate. This organization provides documentation, information and data collection for the community.

Neighbors Together Make a Good Neighborhood

Neighbors Together Make a Good Neighborhood

By: Susan Beauchamp

Have you heard about the Study Circles that have occurred in Southeast Indianapolis? These are part of the Making Connections Initiative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Study Circles are a facilitated discussion between neighbors, friends, and other residents to discuss a particular issue. Through the discussion comes a plan for action to improve the neighborhood. The Study Circle is providing a small host grant ($) that helps fund dinner, childcare, a facilitator, or other challenges to implement the meeting. People usually meet 4 – 6 times at a home, church or other community building for about 2 hours each time. The discussion is fluid for the group to make their own agenda. By the end the series of meetings, the group comes up with an action plan and can receive a mini action grant (more $) to implement their goals. About 30 groups have met in the past several years. Plans have resulted in building block clubs, the Fountain Square Arts Council, youth & teen issues, education, and especially better communication among residents. In 2008, 10 groups have finished meeting and developed action plans. Groups are forming for 2009. It is still possible to make an application, train a facilitator, and plan for spring, summer or fall study circles now. Please contact Elizabeth Ryan, resident coordinator, at 974-5741 or email bibliobus@netscape.net .

FSAC Children’s Art Contest

By: Susan Beauchamp

The Fountain Square Arts Council sponsored a Children’s Art contest during Santa In The Square again this year. Fifty-four Children managed to complete drawings about the holidays while they waited to visit with Santa, in spite of cold and snow. The winners were Shampaingn Barton with a picture of a Christmas elf; Madison Darr with a decorated tree; and Jaquan Hankston with a snowman. They received art supplies or a gift certificate from the Fountain Block Building. All of the children’s drawings were displayed in the windows of the Fountain Square Branch of the IMCP Library. The Fountain Square Arts Council plans to sponsor children’s art classes in January or February. For more information, contact fsacouncil@yahoo.com.

2008 Southeast Neighborhood Gathering

2008 Southeast Neighborhood Gathering

By: Susan Beauchamp

Were you one of the over 200 people who met together at the Neighborhood Gathering on September 25? If not, you missed a good meal and good communication between neighborhood residents at “Fine-Tuning Our Success.” Doors opened for registration at 5:00 pm at the Southeast Community Services Building at 901 Shelby Street and several people came early! Santorini, Gusto, and Deano’s Vino restaurants provided a delicious dinner. As we finished eating, we watched an oral history video: Churchman Avenue – Revival Road. This documentary was produced by students Wesley Walker and Karl Myers. Those interviewed were Bill and Maria Sparkman, Thelma Reed, Andrew Britt and Carol Bales. Jennifer Rice, GINI Coordinator, was the announcer. Mark Stewart, President of Southeast Neighborhood Development (SEND) and Terri Garcia, Executive director of Southeast Community Services (SECS), welcomed us. Jim Mulholland asked all participants to submit the name a southeast leader or organization that has significantly assisted our neighborhood. Elaine Cates spoke about the accomplishments of the last year. At about 7:45 pm, residents were invited to choose a Break Out session to attend based on their interest in the goals of the Quality of Life Plan:

• Community Building/New Ideas
  
• Youth Programming
  
• Beautification/Infrastructure
  
• Housing
  
• Commercial Viability
  
• Workforce Development

In each session, the goals were discussed and a report was made on the progress of the past 6 months since the plan was adopted. Data, the numbers and stories that measure the progress toward the goals, was collected by the SELP, Southeast Learning Partnership. We stayed with these issues for about ½ hour and then moved to a second goal for additional discussion and comments on the past and the future. Participants reconvened for dessert provided by Deano’s Vino restaurant at 8:15 pm and filled out a questionnaire about the evening. One name was chosen at random to receive a gift certificate. We were happy to see many parents bring their children, and childcare was provided. Whether you are excited about positive change, or you wish there had been a greater impact, we hope you will be inspired to get involved in strengthening the community.