Meet the “Award of Awesomeness” nominees

2016 is Indiana’s Bicentennial year – the perfect time for Hoosiers to celebrate, explore, and consider the different meanings and dimensions of “home.” To honor this, the 2016 Spirit & Place Festival presents HOME as a place, a space, and an idea through 40 events November 4-13.

Nine of those events have been recognized this year for exemplifying the values that make the Spirit & Place Festival special. The winning “Award of Awesomeness” event will receive a $1,000 award at the conclusion of the festival that will be announced at the Public Conversation on November 13. Learn more about each of these events below!

SPIRIT & PLACE FESTIVAL 2016 – AWARD OF AWESOMENESS NOMINEES

Moving Stories 

**Bold & Daring “Award of Awesomeness” nominee

Saturday, Nov. 5 — Sunday, Nov. 13 (times vary based on bus schedule)

IndyGo busses & Julia M. Carson Transit Center

$1.75 per ride

A “moving” exhibit—literally!—devoted to the stories and images of what makes Indy home for our community. Presented by Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, Writing Futures at Marian University, CityWrite, IndyGo Transit Ambassadors, and Indianapolis Arts Council. Fare can be purchased online at buy.indygo.net, on a bus, by calling 317-635-3344, or at the Transit Center during retail hours.

I Am Home: Muslim Hoosiers

**Inclusive & Open-Minded “Award of Awesomeness” nominee

Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. to Friday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m.

Center for Interfaith Cooperation (1100 W. 42^nd St., Ste. 125, Indianapolis, IN)

Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. — 7 p.m.

University of Indianapolis, Schwitzer Student Center (1400 E. Hanna Ave, Indianapolis, IN)

Photo and audio gallery experience of Muslim Hoosiers sharing what makes Indiana their home. Presented by Muslim Alliance of Indiana and the Center for Interfaith Cooperation. 317-306-1998 or aliya.amin@indianamuslims.org.

Riverside Speaks! Past, Present, and Future

**Rooted in Place “Award of Awesomeness” nominee

Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m. — 4 p.m.

Ebenezer Baptist Church & Rock ‘n Riverside House (1901 N Harding St)

FREE

Riverside Speaks! celebrates a community with a “pop-up museum,” historic recreations and performances, and a church and home tour. Presented by Ebenezer Baptist Church, Indiana Historical Society, Riverside Reunion, Indiana Humanities, Kenyetta Dance Company, and Insight Development Corp. 317-631-5946 or cb212be@gmail.com.

Finding Home: Indiana at 200

**Collaboration “Award of Awesomeness” nominee

Saturday, Nov. 5, 4 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 12, 5 p.m. & 9 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m.

Indiana Repertory Theatre, Upperstage (140 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN)

Tickets start at $25. Order at irtlive.com or by calling 317-635-5252

Multifaceted look at Indiana’s life and times mixes music and history, comedy and drama, fact and fable. Presented by Indiana Repertory Theatre and Indiana Historical Society.

Closing in on the Homestretch: A Community Dialogue on Youth Homelessness

**Socially Meaningful “Award of Awesomeness” nominee

Sat., Nov. 6, 1 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.

Central Library (40 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN)

FREE

Film screening and dynamic community dialogue on youth homelessness with the filmmakers of “The Homestretch.”

Presented by Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP), Spargel Productions, Homeless Youth Taskforce, Outreach, Inc., and Stopover, Inc. 317-472-7636 or zalexander@chipindy.org.

Homing the Houseless

**Spiritually Meaningful “Award of Awesomeness” nominee
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m. — 9 p.m.
Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation (6501 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN)

FREE

Watch the “Road to Eden” and reflect with filmmaker Doug Passon on the connection between homelessness, spirituality, and holiday of Sukkot. Presented by Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, 317-255-6647 or info@ihcindy.org.

Homes Before Highways: Communities Under the Exit Ramps

**Build Community “Award of Awesomeness” nominee

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. — 9 p.m.

Concord Neighborhood Center (1310 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN)

FREE

Share stories and see photos of homes and businesses destroyed on Indianapolis’ south and west sides by the interstate construction of the 1960s and ‘70s. Presented by IUPUI Department of Anthropology and Concord Neighborhood Center.317-278-4548 or suhyatt@iupui.edu.

Spirited Chase: Something to Write Home About

**Fun “Award of Awesomeness” nominee

Saturday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. — 3 p.m.

5 Mystery Venues

$9 Per Person, RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 9 at wfyi.org
This on-the-go program offers the chance to visit five mystery locations to learn what “home” means to the people and places of Indianapolis. Must provide own transportation. Presented by WFYI and its community partners. 317-636-2020 or cweidman@wfyi.org.

The Things They Brought Home: Military Tattoos

**Most Thought-Provoking “Award of Awesomeness” nominee

Saturday, Nov. 12, 3 p.m. — 5 p.m.

Indianapolis Art Center (820 E 67th St, Indianapolis, IN)

FREE

This interactive art exhibition explores the veteran experience, tattoos, and the concept of the “body as home” through photography, writing, and panel discussion. Presented by Indianapolis Art Center, Veterans in Industries and Arts, and Indiana Writers Center. 255-2464 or awalbridge@indplsartcenter.org.

A full listing of events is available at spiritandplace.org.

Tiny Homes – Big Futures

By Teresa Mankin

Every night in this country, thousands of veterans are sleeping on the very streets that they once swore to protect. Of the over 600,000 homeless people in our country, more than 60,000 have served in the armed forces. Homelessness is a devastating problem in this country, but the fact that many are veterans who once served their country is a tragedy.

Valiant Seed is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 2015 by two Army veterans, run by volunteers who are also veterans. Regardless of the reasons behind it, homelessness affects our communities and its effects grow more serious the longer a person is homeless. People who fought for our freedom deserve a safe space, privacy, dignity, and access to medical, mental health, occupational and other kinds of care. This is our mission.

By building tiny houses in small, sustainable communities, Valiant Seed hopes to create a new model for solving this problem. We hope to help those veterans who have somehow fallen through the cracks and who are less likely to be successful in a traditional program.

Until veterans have safe, affordable, stable housing, they can’t tackle other problems they may be facing, such as medical disability, mental illness, substance abuse, unemployment or relationship issues. That safe space that respects the veteran’s free will to choose the type and amount of help they receive is key to our mission.

Our tiny houses – about 400 square feet – will be totally off-grid to help manage limited incomes. We will employ pioneering technologies like solar electricity, LED lighting, water catchment, passive solar heating and cooling, and a composting toilet in every unit.

Our long term plans include community gardens to both feed residents and provide opportunities for micro enterprise. The sense of purpose and urgency we have felt in making Valiant Seed a reality has reinforced the idea that making sure our residents have a sense of accomplishment or purpose is paramount.

Our first communities will be built in Indiana and Oregon – our home states – and then, we hope, around the country. We believe in this model, we believe in our brothers and sisters, we believe in the communities where we want to build; and it is our fervent hope that there are people out there who will believe in us.

For more information, please visit www.valiantseed.org, or find us on Facebook or Twitter @valiantseed.

Teresa Mankin is co-founder of Valiant Seed and a native Hoosier. She is very interested in affordable and sustainable housing. In her day job, she works as a property manager. She is also a single mom, avid reader, NCIS addict and Colts fan. She and her 17 year old son live in Plainfield.

The front line of service for Indy’s homeless

By Karen Hurt

Home to many of us is the four walls and roof over our heads; however, Indianapolis is also home to people who may be invisible, without a permanent address or structure to call home.

About a year ago, I went out with some members of the Professional Blended Street Outreach Team who serve our city’s homeless population. I shadowed the group as a part of my company’s involvement with the Know Outlets campaign and it completely changed my view of what “home” means to many in our city.

The Professional Blended Street Outreach Team is a consortium providing first-response services for Indianapolis’ homeless population. The teams are made up of 43 professionals from 16 organizations including local law enforcement, nonprofits, and health and mental health entities. These teams serve as the front line of service for providing basic food and supplies to people experiencing homelessness, with the goal of developing a relationship with each person encountered and connecting him or her with the resources to eventually transition them into permanent housing.

One of the social workers explained to me that people who live under bridges, in camps or on the street feel that the city is as much their home as I do. Many people live in the same area where they grew up, even if they don’t live in places most of us would consider permanent shelter. Many of these folks see the outdoors or their spot of the world as home.

Outreach team members create relationships with our neighbors experiencing homelessness, as it is sometimes just a real conversation and a relationship with an outreach worker who cares to get people the medical or mental health care they need. This relationship could also be the catalyst to eventually find permanent housing.

In conversations with outreach workers, I quickly learned that there is no single solution to homelessness, but keeping those members of our community invisible is not a way to reach any kind of solution. You can learn more about the work of Professional Blended Street Outreach Teams at www.knowoutlets.org.

Karen Hurt supports nonprofit organizations at Bohlsen Group. She works with specialized leads to make sure clients’ goals are being met, not just for communications, but for the organization’s mission as a whole. A former nonprofit employee, Karen has worked for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and the Chicago Humanities Festival, which gives her unique understanding into the unique dynamics of how nonprofit organizations operate behind the scenes.

 

 

Why one man is learning to drive again

By Debra Des Vignes

For several years Tyrone C. was homeless and struggled to keep a job and find a place to stay. He felt alone and overwhelmed. Take a look at how one homeless veteran’s journey might look like.

Tyrone’s part-time job ended and he did not know where his next paycheck would come from. With his daughter in Indianapolis, he traveled by bus to stay with her and they looked for help, a place for a homeless veteran to stay. On his third day in Indianapolis he heard about the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation (HVAF). From the moment a veteran enters HVAF’s housing, the goal is to help him or her regain stability and take back their life. The following day Tyrone spoke to a case manager and was provided supportive housing at HVAF’s Moreau property. At Tyrone’s request, his case manager connected him with one of HVAF’s partners, the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic for legal help.

“The 53-year-old Marine Corps veteran couldn’t get behind the wheel.”

From the street.

Once housed, Tyrone had a barrier he faced that limited his mobility. His driving privileges had been indefinitely suspended since 1999. In fact, he was on a lifetime habitual traffic violator (HTV) status. The 53-year-old Marine Corps veteran couldn’t get behind the wheel.

The Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic represented Tyrone in successfully petitioning the Marion Circuit Court for a probationary, restricted license which allows him to drive to and from work, medical appointments, and rehabilitation programs. Although this type of license comes with significant restrictions, Tyrone learned in September that he will receive full driving privileges back in three years (which would be for the first time in 18 years!). He currently has probationary driving privileges, so he can drive to work and medical appointments once he has a vehicle.

Someone to turn to.

“It’s overwhelming, the outpouring of support. I get emotional sometimes because I definitely needed the help,” says Tyrone.

NCLC also represented Tyrone in seeking an expungement of his prior convictions. Although it has been moer than 15 years since his last conviction, a record can still present obstacles to getting a better job. This process will improve Tyrone’s prospects because it removes low-level convictions from the public record.

Tyrone has a lot to look forward to. He moves into his own one-bedroom apartment next month and is excited about driving again soon as well as having a clean record and a fresh start.

He says his life intersected with organizations and resources that made a difference and the results will last a lifetime. There’s no greater example than Tyrone to show us that along life’s journey, second chances remain within reach.

 

Debra Des Vignes is Vice President of Marketing, Communication and Public Relations at HVAF of Indiana.