When Plastic Recycling Inc. signed on with the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), it hoped to fill workforce gaps. When Cristina Llamas and Danny Bonilla signed up to be apprentices, they hoped to get some real-world workplace experience.

Just a few months into the program, everyone involved says they’re getting everything they hoped for, and more.

For Plastic Recycling, that “and more” is what might be the greatest benefit: The apprentices bring a special energy, new ideas and unique technology skills with them to work every day.

“These kids are just so mature,” said Plastic Recycling Chief Personnel Officer Chad Smith. “They just come in and get things done.” 

Designed to give young people hands-on career training, MAP collaborates with employers to place high school students in paid positions that give them skills, experience and, in most cases, certifications that will help them start a career when they graduate or continue for post-secondary attainment. MAP participants who do go on to more schooling often do so with a year of college credits in hand.

Each MAP experience is designed as a three-year commitment, with students working about 10 to 15 hours a week their junior year and up to 20 hours their

Cristina knew she was interested in business, but she didn’t have a good sense of what specific career area to pursue. Urged by a friend to check into apprenticeships, she read the job description for a human resources position at Plastic Recycling and felt that she could see herself in the role, and that a career in human resources could be meaningful.

Once at the Plastic Recycling’s facility, the Ben Davis High School student was won over by the welcoming staff. “I expected them to shoo me off, because I’m a young person,” she said. “But they were very accepting.”

Also eye-opening was how much the firm has included Cristina in everything the HR team does, which has been especially educational, she says. For example, she has been involved in many real-world HR scenarios such as sitting in on interviews for a new plant manager. Some of her favorite moments on the job come when she simply walks the floor of the facility and talks to other employees.

“We’re very diverse here, so you see people from all walks of like,” she said. “That really brings me joy.”

As an extrusion operator, Danny, a Pike High School student, is getting to do the kinds of hands-on work he loves. Like Cristina, he was impressed by how quickly other workers accepted him, and by how eager they are to teach him the ropes.

“They have so much knowledge, and they learn to pass it on to you,” he said.

Danny first learned about the MAP program through a postcard he received last year, and he saw it as a good opportunity to get a sense of what he might want to do with his future. “I just knew I wanted to do something hands-on,” he said. “Now I know this is what I want to be.”

Like Cristina, Danny attends school for a half day each weekday and works a half day at Plastic Recycling. Some of his peers were surprised to learn he would be dividing his day this way, and he says the days do feel pretty packed, but he enjoys what he’s doing and feels he’s learning something new every day.

As much as Danny and Cristina are getting out of their apprenticeships, they aren’t the only ones benefiting, says Plastic Recycling’s Smith. The firm sees it as a great experience as well, appreciating a couple more pairs of hands to help with the workload, but also the energy the high schoolers bring to the workplace.

Plus, Danny and Cristina each bring tangible skills to the organization. For example, as a digital native, Danny is a quick learner who has helped shop veterans learn about newer equipment, Chad says, and, as a Spanish speaker, Cristina has been able to serve as a translator between the company and some of its employees.

All of these plusses have left Plastic Recycling with such a good feeling about MAP that it plans to expand its participation, adding apprentices in both the front office and production roles.

“It’s a great program,” Chad says. “I feel like it’s a win-win.”

The Modern Apprenticeship Program was developed by EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana. Conexus Indiana partners with MAP to help prepare young talent for careers in advanced manufacturing and logistics. Learn more.

Damar Services was among area organizations included in an article inviting residents to get involved in spreading holiday cheer. Damar's listing is below. Click here to read the full article. 

Damar Services

What: Volunteers and staff of the agency, which serves Hoosier children and adults with cognitive and intellectual disabilities and their families, will meet at a southwest-side Meijer (10509 Heartland Boulevard) to pick out and wrap gifts for the 200 children who call Damar home. The gifts are purchased with donated funds and given to children served by the agency throughout the holiday season. Volunteers are encouraged to wear their most festive outfits for the occasion.

When: Dec. 6-7, with volunteer openings both days from 3-4:30 p.m. and 4-5:30 p.m.

Get involved: To register as a volunteer, visit bit.ly/3NAe3tK.

This article originally appeared in Indy Maven. To read it online, click here. 

By Rima Shahid  

Standing on the steps at the Indiana Statehouse after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, I saw what outrage looks like.  

I saw thousands of Hoosiers demanding the attention of elected officials. I saw people from every corner of the state holding up hand-lettered statements of dismay and disgust. I saw men and women who had never attended a political event standing alongside protest veterans. And I saw frustrated people who promised they would remember that day on election day.  

It’s time to make good on that promise.  

 I know, I know: It’s tempting to ignore midterm elections. They don’t get the same level of hype that elections get when the presidency is up for a vote, and it can seem like there aren’t any big races on the ballot. It’s easy to think this election isn’t that important.  

But it is, for a number of reasons.  

First of all, this is our opportunity to demonstrate that the outrage I saw on the Statehouse steps wasn’t just noise. We need to translate our immeasurable frustration into measurable votes, showing our elected leaders that we believe women in Indiana should have full reproductive rights. Furthermore, we should accept a challenge issued by Indiana Speaker Todd Huston after the General Assembly passed SB1, which banned abortions in Indiana. I’m paraphrasing, but the gist of his comment was that, if people aren’t happy with the law, they should vote. So, let’s do just that.  

Second, we need to make it clear that women are a force to be reckoned with on election days. We need to turn out in record numbers to let anyone who plans to run for office know that women’s votes can be deciding votes.  

Third, we need to show the world that young Hoosiers are as engaged in the civic process as they are in civic protest. In the 2020 election, only 29% of Hoosiers aged 18 to 24 voted. Imagine the changes they could drive if every young adult who voted two years ago made sure to visit the voting booth again and took along someone who didn’t vote back then.  

Finally, we need to acknowledge that these elections do matter. One of Indiana’s U.S. Senate seats is up for consideration, as are all of our U.S. House of Representatives seats. Plus, every Indiana House seat is up for election, as are half of the seats in the Indiana Senate. While those are “only” state-level offices, the decisions made in those chambers matter to Hoosier women. If previously unengaged Hoosiers cast ballots in unexpected numbers, we could send a strong message to the people who want our votes: Hoosier women have power and they’re willing to use it. 

Be sure you’re prepared by downloading our 2022 Voter Guide and learning the key questions to bring up to the candidates in your district. Then, check out your ballot and voting location at Indianavoters.in.gov. 

I saw a lot of passion on the Statehouse steps that day a few months ago. Now I want to see that passion put into action in the voting booth. After all, in a democracy, that’s where change begins.  

Rima Shahid is the CEO of Women4Change Indiana.

Women4 Change filed an amicus brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case addressing gerrymandering. To read the brief, click here. 

Coverage of the filing can be found here and here.

From Women4 Change:

We filed a legal brief with the United States Supreme Court that offers an Indiana perspective on a North Carolina case – Moore v. Harper – that will determine who has authority over federal elections.

Our submission, called an amicus curiae or “friend of the court” brief – provides insights and information on the impact of gerrymandering – the process of skewing districts for political advantage when drawing maps.

North Carolina legislators’ position is contrary to the traditional checks and balances that are intrinsic to our form of government. Under the “independent state legislature doctrine,” they argue that state legislatures alone have the power to draw the maps for federal congressional elections — and that the state judiciary is not permitted to review those laws.

Article 2 Section 1 of Indiana’s Constitution requires that “All elections shall be free and equal,” and Indiana courts have long held that their role is to determine whether legislative action meets the requirements of Indiana’s Constitution.

“The goal of the brief is to provide the US Supreme Court with the Hoosier perspective and demonstrate how important checks and balances are to ensuring fair elections,” said Harmony Mappes, partner with Faegre Drinke

The following originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star. Click here to read it in the online edition. (Photo: Indianapolis Star)

By Cliff Chapman, Executive Director of the Central Indiana Land Trust

Indiana just experienced its biggest day ever for land conservation.

I’ll forgive readers if they didn’t know that. But I’ll also assure them that they and their fellow Hoosiers will benefit from that day ― literally ― forever.

On Sept. 6, the Next Level Conservation Trust Project Committee met and decided how to distribute more than $23 million of the $25 million the state of Indiana set aside for land conservation in the biannual budget passed last year. With the help of those funds, portions of the Indiana landscape will be protected in perpetuity by land trusts across the state.

To the state government’s credit, when it put out requests for proposals for these funds, it told land protection groups to “dream big.” And we did. The conservation community identified swaths of ancient forest, vibrant wetlands, unique geological formations, endangered species’ habitat and other important natural places, many that we thought we might never have the resources to purchase and protect. The requests totaled more than $30 million.

This doesn’t mean that organizations simply found ways to spend money. The Next Level Conservation Trust provides up to three-to-one matching grants, which means that every organization that requested funds also committed to raising money from donors.

The result is that in the near future more money than ever will be used to purchase significant parcels of Indiana’s natural areas and place them into protective care forever. Hoosiers will have opportunities to enjoy pristine natural areas, to experience Indiana’s native flora and fauna, and also to benefit from improved water and air quality well beyond those properties.

The funding was distributed from among divisions of the state’s Department of Natural Resources adding to parks, forests, fish and wildlife areas and nature preserves as well as county and local parks and multiple land trusts from across the state. This is a big deal because these latter properties will be open to the public but their ongoing care will not require tax dollars.

For example, the Central Indiana Land Trust is using its $3.1 million to help purchase and protect land just west of Greencastle in Putnam County. A 570-acre site known as Fern Station, this property has been on our wish list for more than a decade because it represents classic Indiana forestland and serves as home to a number of rare and endangered species. It sits virtually undisturbed now ― with only a single gravel road cutting through it ― but, unable to find a buyer, the landowner had been considering dividing the land into parcels for sale.

Without the help of state funds, we might never have been able to raise enough money to protect the property, which will represent the largest single land purchase in our history. And, because it sits near another protected property ― the Fern Cliff Nature Preserve ― it helps to increase the critical mass of protected land in that area.

With the funds from the Next Level Conservation Trust, similar transactions will take place across the state, bringing thousands of acres of land under protection. This is a critical step at a time when we lag well behind other states in terms of protected land and continue to lose thousands of acres to development every year.

We applaud Indiana’s leaders for making these funds available for investment in the future of Indiana’s natural places, and we thank the generous land preservation supporters across the state for providing the matching funds needed to make these purchases possible. Together, we are all working to preserve the best of Indiana’s natural legacy.

This story originally appeared on the IU Health website. To read it there, go to Health-at-Home Story.  

Dawn Reynolds believes people recover faster when they’re at home— but this isn’t just an idle theory, she’s seen it work first-hand.

That's because she watched her 81-year-old mother, Nancy Johnson, heal at home after first spending a week at Indiana University Health North Hospital. And while she received great care at the hospital, Reynolds said getting home boosted the pace of her mom’s recovery.

That boost was made possible by the philanthropy-funded IU Health Hospital at Home Program—an initiative supported by IU Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund.

Launched during the height of the pandemic in 2020, Hospital at Home was initially designed to free up bed space in IU Health facilities by sending patients with COVID home to recover.

But because the program was so successful, it expanded to include those recovering from chronic heart failure and infections—and in Johnson’s case, pneumonia.

When Reynolds took her mom home, she packed their car with equipment supplied by IU Health to measure Johnson’s vital signs—a blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter and thermometer. They were also sent home with a tablet computer which enabled them to easily share that information with hospital staff.

While Johnson initially had some challenges mastering the devices, the Hospital at Home team helped her learn the technology.

“They were so patient with her,” recalled Reynolds. “They even helped me, and my brother and sister get up to speed with the equipment.”

In addition to providing care for her mother, Reynolds said the program gave her and her siblings comfort because, while they all live within driving distance of their mom’s Westfield home, jobs and other challenges made it difficult for them to continually monitor her health.

“It was just great peace of mind,” Reynolds says. “We knew she had the ability to contact her care team immediately if she needed them and we weren’t there.”

Because anyone can qualify for the Hospital at Home Program, regardless of their ability to pay, it helps patients of every socioeconomic class thrive, and because it is not covered by insurance, the program has required the support of IU Health Foundation donors.

Reynolds sees the value in that support.

Because now, her mom is her old self, and Reynolds believes that’s due in part to her being able to heal in her own home.

“I say, kudos that you can get people home sooner,” Reynolds said. “It just helps being in your own surroundings and sleeping in your own bed.”

If you’d like to help Hospital at Home expand, contact IU Health Foundation Development Officer Veronica Onofrey at 317.478.7102.

The following was originally published by Indianapolis Monthly. Click here to read it online.

By Emma Uber    

If there’s one thing Indianapolis knows how to do well, it’s host a race. Of course, the racing in question is usually done by cars. This month, the Racing Capital of the World will live up to its title by hosting a bike race of national significance.

USA Cycling named Indianapolis’s Mass Ave Crit the ninth stop of the American Criterium Cup, a new 10-race U.S. crit series. This is big news—if you’re one of the few noncyclists who are familiar with crits.

A criterium, or crit, is a multi-lap bike race on a closed course. The Mass Ave Crit and Indy Crit combine to create IU Health Momentum Indy, a two-day bicycle festival in downtown Indianapolis on August 27 and 28. The downtown location means cyclists will race through closed-off urban streets while zooming past festival activities, restaurants, bars, and apartment complexes. Momentum Indy founder Jennifer Cvar compares crits to IndyCar races on bikes due to the multi-lap, high-speed format that often leaves riders biking elbow-to-elbow.

Cvar knows the Mass Ave Crit’s new status as a stop on a national race series will attract more elite cyclists than ever, and she hopes the number of spectators will follow.

“The caliber of competition for the pro races will be through the roof,” Cvar says. “This really elevates the level of competition and the stature of the event. Just like hosting a major golf tournament or NCAA tournament, this criterium series is the equivalent for bike racing.”

The courses are designed with spectators in mind, Cvar says. The short length of each lap, .64 miles for the Mass Ave Crit and .71 miles for the Indy Crit, means cyclists will pass the crowd as frequently as every two minutes. The sharp angles of the turns, some even sharper than 90 degrees, add difficulty and drama by increasing the likelihood of accidents. Choosing locations such as Meridian Street, Mass Ave, and New York Street ensures spectators can enjoy Saturday night’s Mass Ave Crit while out at the bars or watch Sunday’s Indy Crit while brunching at local restaurants. Cvar even invites crowds to feel the rush of air from cyclists speeding past by standing directly against the barricades blocking off the course.

Damon Richards, executive director of Bike Indianapolis, says people underestimate the excitement of crits. When people think of bike races, they think of the Tour de France, where crowds stand around all day waiting for a single, brief glance of the cyclists. The short-lap format of crits means riders sprint past spectators again and again. The exhilaration, not to mention the free admission, leaves Richards confused why anyone wouldn’t attend Momentum Indy.

“This is a free event for spectators, and it’s as exciting as going to see the Indy 500,” Richards says. “Of course, the cyclists are not going as fast, but you’re a lot closer to them. People don’t generally think of bicycling as a spectator sport, but crits are designed for spectators to enjoy and have a good time. Basically, crits are a really fun way to see riders going really fast.”

Momentum Indy offers two ways for spectators to enjoy the races. The Mass Ave Crit, founded in 2008, and the Indy Crit, founded by Cvar in 2010, combined under the Momentum Indy festival name in 2021 to offer a weekend-long cycling attraction that accommodates all ages and cycling abilities. The Mass Ave Crit caters to a more adult audience, with the Women’s 3/4/Novice racing kicking off the afternoon at 3 p.m. and the Men’s Pro 1 race concluding at 8:30 p.m. While there are categories for a variety of cycling abilities, the Mass Ave Crit does not include any junior or kids’ races. Spectators can listen to music from the Red Bull DJ truck and mill around the bars lining the course.

The Indy Crit offers a family-friendly environment on Sunday, as does Saturday morning’s Honor Major Taylor Ride. The free community ride, open to anyone who brings their own bike and helmet, honors the memory of Marshall “Major” Taylor, a trailblazing Black Indianapolis cyclist once known as the “World’s Fastest Man.” The Mini Major Taylor Ride for families with small children follows. The age inclusivity continues throughout the day, with competitive crit racing categories for kids (ages 3–9), juniors (ages 9–18), and those above 40, 50, and 60 years old. The Indy Crit route surrounds University Park, where Momentum Indy offers a festival complete with food vendors, BMX stunt shows, bicycle obstacle courses, games, and more.

“If a family is looking for something free to do on a Sunday, they can come out and entertain their kids for three or four hours with bike obstacle courses and a lot of other fun, free activities,” Cvar says. “More people than ever are out biking, and whether you’re a serious cyclist who is suiting up in a kit or if you just like to take your kids for a bike ride around the neighborhood, biking just builds community.”

The Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF) received $239,500 of Next Level Trails funding to bring a cutting-edge project consisting of new trails and a digital interpretive app to Betley Woods at Glacier’s End Nature Preserve, which is owned by the Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI).

Located on the southern border of Johnson County near Trafalgar, Betley Woods at Glacier’s End is so named in honor of Leonard and Kathryn Betley for their generosity toward conservation in Indiana, and because it sits where a line of glaciers stopped their southward march thousands of years ago.

The resulting mix of both glaciated and unglaciated land supports a surprising diversity of flora and fauna in a compact area. The preserve features clear running water, steep bluffs, exposed bedrock, shale bottom streams and chunks of granite strewn across the valley floors. The area is a haven for rare species, including timid sedge and Northern long-eared bat (both state-endangered), red-shouldered hawk, hooded warbler and worm-eating warbler (both species of special concern). Several spider species that are new to science have been discovered on the property.

Johnson County Community Foundation provided CILTI with additional grant funding to create an ADA-compliant one-mile loop through a flat section of the property. This easy trail will give all Hoosiers the opportunity for a deep-woods experience with exceptional wildlife viewing.

IWF will construct the trails using its Certified Sustainable Trail Program that minimizes drainage and erosion impacts, keeps pedestrian traffic away from sensitive wildlife breeding areas and protects critical habitat. Design work on the trails has begun.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to come together as IWF and CILTI and receive funding from the state,” said Cliff Chapman, executive director of CILTI. “When completed, these trails will provide a visitor experience that’s unlike any other in Indiana.”

“We’ve wanted to partner with CILTI on a large scale project for a long time, and this property is just the perfect site to be able to do something together,” said Emily Wood, executive director of IWF.

Additional funding and support for the project comes from local neighbors, and IWF and CILTI members and volunteers.

About the Indiana Wildlife Federation

As the nonprofit, grass-roots affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, IWF works to promote the wise use of our renewable resources through educational programs like Certified Sustainable Trails and the Backyard Wildlife Habitat. Our organization works with state agencies and other organizations to monitor Indiana’s wildlife and habitats, including Hoosier lakes and rivers, air, and soil. We pay particular attention to legislation that affects Indiana’s conservationists, wildlife watchers, sportswomen and men–and of course our state’s wildlife and wildlife habitat. More at IndianaWildlife.org.

About the Central Indiana Land Trust

The Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI) preserves the best of Central Indiana’s natural areas, protecting plants and animals, so Hoosiers can experience the wonder of the state’s natural heritage. Since it was created in 1990, CILTI has protected more than 6,500 acres of land that meet science-based criteria for conservation value. More information at ConservingIndiana.org.

When you work with smart clients on an important cause, good things happen: JTPR was honored to win a Pinnacle Award from the Hoosier Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for our work with Women4Change. The winning campaign, The Clothesline Project, resulted in a new Indiana law defining sexual consent. 

AUSTIN, Texas, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ren, North America's leading independent philanthropic solutions provider, and The Giving Block, the leading Crypto Philanthropy platform connecting nonprofits with crypto donors, today announced that they have jointly launched one of the country's first donor-advised funds that allows donors to invest a portion of contributed cryptocurrency.

General availability begins today and is highlighted in The Giving Block booth (#529)s at Consensus 2022, the world's biggest and longest-running crypto festival, held June 9-12 this year at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas.

Until today, donor-advised funds, which are giving accounts where donors contribute assets and recommend grants to qualified charities, could receive crypto, but the crypto was liquidated upon receipt. Today's announced partnership harnesses The Giving Block's platform, which allows charities to accept crypto, and combines it with a donor-advised fund through Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF), a public charity.

"Crypto will play an ever-growing role in the changing philanthropic landscape – and this new donor-advised fund offering, an industry first, stands as a game-changer in the crypto world just as it does for non-profits," said Kelly Palmer, EVP of Strategic Growth Operations at Ren. "We are honored to work with a fellow driver for good such as The Giving Block to bring an entirely new way to not only leave a legacy but recognize an immediate tax deduction. By investing crypto in a donor-advised fund, you can further organize your philanthropy and even recommend grants anonymously while also giving your heirs the ability to make future grant recommendations."

"We're frequently asked by donors and advisors why a donor-advised fund must liquidate the entire gift and if it's possible to maintain a portion of contributed cryptocurrency inside the DAF," said Mike McLean, Head of The Giving Block Institutional. "The cryptocurrency market is maturing and we're seeing more sophistication at both the user base and with crypto product providers such as Ren. With the launch of this new offering for DAF users, we can empower donors and advisors to harness the full power of cryptocurrency to ensure their philanthropic goals are met and the nonprofits they are passionate about supporting can benefit from the growth of the cryptocurrency industry."

How It Works

Once the donor-advised fund account is established, RCF creates a unique wallet address that is sent to the donor to transfer their crypto assets. Investments of both Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently accepted with the minimum value to open the new donor-advised fund starting at $100,000. Fifteen-percent of the donor-advised fund's value is required to be invested in traditional assets and will be evaluated on a quarterly basis. Therefore, donors can either contribute cash or other traditional assets to their donor-advised fund account alongside their crypto donation. RCF can also convert a portion of the contributed crypto into cash which can then be used to invest in traditional assets within the donor-advised fund. RCF staff work with the donor to help develop a plan to meet the objectives of the donor-advised fund.

For more information on establishing a new donor-advised fund, visit reninc.com/investcrypto.

Today's announcement significantly builds upon the strategic partnership between The Giving Block and Ren, which was announced in September 2021 and began the acceptance of crypto for philanthropic giving at Ren, previously named RenPSG.

About The Giving Block

Founded in 2018, The Giving Block, a Shift4 company, is turning Crypto Philanthropy into one of the greatest forces for good on the planet by making cryptocurrency fundraising easy for nonprofits while empowering donors to give Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to their favorite causes. The Giving Block currently enables more than 1,000 mission-driven organizations, charities, universities, and faith-based organizations of all sizes to accept cryptocurrency donations and helps them maximize their fundraising outcomes with strategic consulting and personal support. Learn more and discover why cryptocurrency is the fastest growing donation method for Millennial and Gen-Z donors, at www.TheGivingBlock.com.

About Ren

Ren is a driving force for powering people, ideas, and institutions for good. As a leading independent philanthropic solutions provider in North America, Ren supports more than $20 billion of assets, delivering the expertise, standards, and technology necessary to power growth and scale throughout the philanthropic economy. The country's most elite financial services firms, nonprofit organizations, and community foundations rely on Ren to provide online access for donors, professional advisors, and staff, to manage their planned gifts, including charitable trusts, donor-advised funds, pooled income funds, endowments, and private foundations. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Ren holds an SOC 2 Type 1 certification that underscores its commitment to trust, security, compliance, and transparency. Visit www.reninc.com.

Note: It is important to seek advice from your CPA regarding the characterization and tax treatment of any gains or losses before donating virtual currency.

SOURCE The Giving Block

Happing July 3 – 8, the YMCA is hosting a camping experience exclusively offered to children of families with parents who are veterans or active in the armed services, including the Reserves and National Guard. Mark Scoular, the Executive Director of Flat Rock River, joins us live from St. Paul, Indiana with more details on the camp’s week of events. You can also find more information on Camp Flat Rock River’s website.

To view the Fox59 segment featuring the camp, click here: https://fox59.com/news/ymca-ca... 

From Fox59: 

Millions of people participate in book clubs every month, especially during the summer months.

Nonprofit Indiana Humanities has a program called “Novel Conversations” helping people get started with reading.

To view the segment featuring Novel Conversations, click here: https://fox59.com/morning-news...

To learn more about the program, click here.

From Fox 59: Distracted driving is an important behavioral factor in fatal crashes.

All drivers can help make roads safer by keeping their eyes up and just driving. That’s the goal of the “Eyes Up, Just Drive” campaign.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Anna Gremling shares why it’s such an important message.

To view the segment featuring Anna Gremling, click here: https://fox59.com/morning-news...

To learn more about the campaign click here.

The following originally appeared in the IndyStar on Dec. 22, 2021. To read it in the Star, click here. 

By  Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star

Since Damar Village opened on Indianapolis' southwest side this summer, one resident has become the neighborhood's "unofficial mayor."

Most nights around dusk, Robert Burcham walks through the complex, which serves Hoosiers with developmental and intellectual disabilities, checking to make sure everyone's wreaths are lit, ensuring the holiday spirit flows throughout the neighborhood.

It's just one of the roles he's assumed as the complex's unofficial mayor, a title Burcham is quick to laugh off. But this quasi-leadership position came naturally to Burcham, said Jim Dalton, Damar Services president and CEO, who said the 42-year-old has a knack for uniting those around him.

While the title doesn't come with official responsibilities, Burcham can often be found walking through the complex, making sure litter is picked up and checking in with his neighbors.

“He’s such a lovable guy," Dalton said. "We love the way that he uses his skills and influences people positively. He’s always in such a positive mood.

"He just brings joy everywhere."

Creating a community for Hoosiers with disabilities

Damar Village is one of the 54-year-old organization's latest efforts to expand services to Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Each unit includes four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and shared living space, and adjustments like grab bars and reinforced walls can be made to meet an individual's needs.

The 13-acre complex, adjacent to the agency's main campus on the city's southwest side, will eventually provide housing to 120 adults with disabilities. The current capacity is 51, Dalton said, and all existing units have already been spoken for.

Dalton said the organization hopes to break ground on the next phase of the project in 2022, which would create 100 additional opportunities for housing.

The goal is to create a space where residents can feel safe, valued and respected. They want to build a community for Hoosiers who may not have found that elsewhere.

“A lot of the people that we serve come from bad situations, bad places," Dalton said. "Even though they’re living in the community, they’re really ostracized in the community."

Burcham said, in his experience, the complex has succeeded in creating that feeling of community. One distinction he wanted to make for those otherwise unfamiliar with the complex is that it doesn't have a clinical, institutional feeling, where residents are isolated from each other.

“It’s not like that,” he said. “That’s what I like, is the freedom to be able to walk outside, interact with people, interact with the staff.”

'We all need to be more like Robert'

When he's not working — Burcham just celebrated his 25th work anniversary at Burger King — or strolling through his neighborhood, Burcham can sometimes be found in his apartment's spare bedroom, where he keeps his train sets.

It's a hobby his father had as a child, and one Burcham said he's come to love over time, too.

His current set-up includes at least two locomotives, including a scale model he says may be his favorite. Because the scale pieces are larger, they often include more detail, he said: "I get more joy out of (it)."

"I have cerebral palsy and scoliosis,” he said, “and it’s much harder for me to put a smaller train (on the track) than it is a bigger train.”

So, it's no coincidence that when volunteers set up the neighborhood light display, the piece placed nearest to Burcham's apartment, visible just outside his living room windows, was a train.

"There was a little strategy," in the placement of that particular piece, Dalton admitted.

When asked what he was most thankful for this holiday season, Burcham said he's excited for the first Christmas in his new apartment.

“I’m grateful for what I have," he said, "and where I’m living.”

There are some people you meet, Dalton said, that can offer you valuable lessons in life — if you're open to learning from them. Burcham, he said, is one of those people. He sets an example for others just by engaging with and appreciating the world around him. 

"We all need to be more like Robert,” Dalton said.

Learn more about Damar Services and Damar Village

To learn more about Damar Village, visit damar.org/damarvillage.To learn more about all the services Damar offers, visit damar.org.

You can reach IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at holly.hays@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.

Sometimes marketing types talk about brands and identity like they’re talking about alchemy. Or top-secret missile codes. Or Col. Sanders’ seven herbs and spices.

We tend to think of it more plainly than that. A brand should simply be a reflection of an organization or product. And as that organization or product evolves, that brand and the way it is communicated – through a graphic identity, a tagline or whatever – should evolve, too.

That’s why you’re seeing a new logo for JTPR. We’ve evolved, and it’s time for the way we present ourselves to evolve, too.

Of course, we started out as Jen Thomas PR, a one-woman show that quite simply got the job done.

We grew into JTPR, a two-JT firm that offered solid, clear-cut skills and expertise.

And now we think of ourselves a little differently. We still offer those same services, but we put an increasing emphasis on the power of the well-chosen word, straightforward counsel and the right action at the right time. It’s what our clients say they expect from us … what we do best.

So now we describe ourselves like this: JTPR gets people talking about things worth talking about in order to move people to action. With expert counsel, the right words and hands-on execution, we help organizations reach the right audiences, say the right things and get the results they want.

This fits nicely with our business plan, which we sum up by saying, “Work with nice people, and have fun doing it.”

When we discussed this vision of our business with our friend (and designer extraordinaire) Lindsey Hadley, she brought back a new logo for JTPR that we think captures wonderfully who we aspire to be: It’s sturdy and solid, with a dash of color and whimsy. It gets the job done with a bit of flair and fun.

That might not be as impressive as alchemy, or as intriguing as missile codes, or as “spicy” as a secret chicken recipe. But it’s who we are. 

During our firm’s recent rebrand, we spent a lot of time pondering the right words to describe what we do best.

We settled on Advisors. Writers. Doers.

Since the core of our work involves writing, Writers was a no-brainer.

Advisors was pretty easy, too. At this stage of our careers, we’re confident in our recommendations and the advice we provide clients.

The last word, though, was harder. We ended up with Doers.

We hesitated about that at first, worried that it sounded too tactical, too elementary, too lightweight. “Doers” are often seen as the “lowest rung” on the ladder, and we didn’t want people to think of us as a “low-rung” organization.

On the other hand, one of the reasons we opened our shop is that we wanted to provide advice to our clients and then actually see it through to fruition. To DO the work. We like what we do, and we plan to stay small – just the two of us – so we are, by design, the doers.

Of course, we also believe that serves our clients well. When they choose us, they get veterans doing the work. We’re not cooking up big ideas and handing them off to junior staffers. We’re not promising expertise and delivering rookie execution. We’re following through. Putting our experience to work. Making sure the job gets done.

And when we do need help? We reach out to the best partners and subcontractors in the business – people who we know value good work as much as we do – and continue to be engaged so that the job is done right.

Yep: We’re doers. And we feel good about that.

John and Jen