Mission

The mission of the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis is to cultivate global citizens through the arts.

Overview

In 1990, the Asante Children’s Theatre (ACT) was birthed as a place where youth (ages 10-18-year-olds) could achieve self-confidence with cultural pride. After 31 years, we are now the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, Inc. under which ACT continues and where two other branches now exist. They embody what has occurred organically throughout the life of the organization. The Artreprenuerial Incubator is where, through our existing College Connection initiative, we intentionally reexamine the intersectionality of theatre and other industries. It is a system for youth and adults to develop the essential skills and knowledge necessary to be change agents and leaders as global citizens. The Community Connection program is where we preserve and promote African-centered sacred art, create intergenerational scholarship, and arrange community gatherings that foster change in thought and deed for tackling pertinent societal issues. Our mission is to cultivate global citizens through the arts.

Previous Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Program support for Zora’s Daughters’ creative writing and character-development program, Program support for Prep4Life Upperclass youth development program
• 2020: Program Pilot support for Zora’s Daughters’ creative writing and character-development program

Mission

The mission of the Center for Leadership Development is to foster the advancement of minority youth in Central Indiana as future professional, business and community leaders by providing experiences that encourage personal and educational attainment.

Overview

For 45 years, CLD has increased educational equity in central Indiana by empowering Black youth to achieve their academic and career goals. Black students face gaps in academic achievement and college preparation. In central Indiana, only 16.8% of Black people hold a bachelor’s degree or higher than 36.7% of White people (SAVI). This gap is higher in areas that have been identified as having the greatest need for CLD services which provide students, families, and schools with 18 unique, free, or low-cost programs that address specific gaps in holistic college preparation. CLD offers a continuum of support from 4th grade through college, ensuring that students graduate from our programs prepared for future college and career success. CLD’s tiered program pathway keeps students engaged with new programs and builds competencies yearly. Through CLD’s programs, youth 1) Develop the academic skills needed to succeed in high school and post-secondary programs, 2) Acquire life skills and real-world exposure to careers, leaders, and community institutions that will guide their future careers; and 3) Develop the social and emotional skills needed to succeed in life (as seen in CLD’s Principles for Success: Character Development, Educational Excellence, Leadership Effectiveness, Community Service, and Career Achievement).

Previous Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2022: Support for the Self Discovery/Career Exploration program.

Mission

‘The Center’ conducts its own youth programs, and catalyzes partnerships with other youth-serving organizations and ministries to give young people opportunities to thrive regardless of background, personal struggles, obstacles, and support.

Overview

The Center for Whitley County Youth’s mission is to provide developmentally intentional connection and supports that help young people thrive. Connection happens in family-like environments with peers and adults where young people feel a sense of belonging, care, challenge, and support in times of struggle. Supports fill gaps where young people lack basic and developmental needs, as well as opportunities for them grow in skills, character, knowledge and experiences that help shape their ability to contribute to their own future and their community.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Core Operating/Unrestricted Funding, matching funds
• 2020: Core Operating/Unrestricted Funding, transportation support

Mission

Child Advocates focuses on transforming the child welfare system by addressing the significant gaps and barriers that prevent children from experiencing stability in a safe and permanent home and reaching their full potential.

Overview

A long-time leader in protecting and promoting the well-being of youth in Indiana, Child Advocates core programming includes the Child Permanency Program, the Direct Representation Program, the Department of Mental Health & Addiction’s High Fidelity & Wraparound program, and a comprehensive menu of legal services that are designed to provide support to children, caregivers, and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA programs) throughout the state in resolving legal issues and advocating with the Department of Child Services (DCS) to resolve issues that prevent a permanent placement.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Program support for the Direct Representation program
• 2020: Program support for the Youth Advocate program

Mission

To Empower Those We Serve To Become Self-Reliant & Self-Sufficient.

Overview

CAGI’s We CANN program utilizes Trauma Informed & Asset Based Community Building to support the development of African-American Males (ages 16-30), families & Resident Leaders residing in communities adversely affected by trauma & systems of racial inequities. We CANN targets services to residents of neighborhoods that have been challenged by poverty and violence and provides youth with case management, leadership development, and education/employment services that lead to meaningful opportunities in school, career, and life.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Core Operations/Unrestricted funding
• 2020: Program support for We CANN

Mission

To inspire philanthropy, enrich community, and serve donors by creating an enduring source of charitable assets.

Overview

CFWC is a public charity which exists to connect donors to projects that enhance Whitley County. As a Community Foundation, CFWC has the ability to pivot and address needs as they arise. A great example is their response to the COVID Pandemic. In mid-March of 2020, CFWC was able to offer $100,000 in rapid response grant making to the nonprofit organizations in Whitley County experiencing emergency needs such as food supplies or access to PPE. CFWC’s traditional grantmaking funds projects and programs in Education, Health & Human Services, Recreation, Community Development and the Arts. CFWC runs several fund-related programs but one of their most prized efforts is their youth philanthropy program, ‘HANDS’, which has been in place for 22 years and offers students the opportunity to learn leadership and grantmaking skills. Most recently, CFWC’s work has been leadership-centered and worked to collaborate with government agencies, elected officials, and non-profits to address several issues challenging the Whitley County community. The Next Level Whitley County project seeks to address trauma in youth, mental health barriers impacting families, and workforce and vocational opportunities for justice-involved citizens – providing meaningful solutions for one of the state’s highest recidivism rates. Over the past three years this work has led to the establishment of the Whitko Career Academy, jumpstarted community centers in the most troubled areas of Whitley County and secured funding to purchase three multi-unit buildings for transitional housing as individuals seek to re-enter society after homelessness or incarceration. In 2020, CFWC awarded about $300,000 in unrestricted grants and when scholarships and restricted gifts were added, our grants totaled almost $1.6 million dollars.

Previous Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Core Operations/Unrestricted Funding
• 2020: Capital Support, ‘HANDS’ Youth Philanthropy Program

Mission

The Dove Recovery House is committed to empowering women to become substance free, self-sufficient, and healthy, by providing safe housing, quality programming and above all hope for their future.

Overview

Dove House is the largest transitional housing and recovery program for women in Marion County serving 40 women each night and more than 80 women annually. Dove House’s model offers a comprehensive continuum of services including housing, counseling and trauma therapy, case management services, recovery programming, life skills and job readiness classes, nutritious meals, parenting classes, and family reunification services. These services are offered at no cost to women and are designed to support them on their recovery journey from the moment they contemplate treatment, achieve recovery, and transition to independent living. The organization’s comprehensive continuum of care and ability to offer services at no cost is what sets Dove House apart from other treatment providers. Dove House is a leader in the field of recovery and our proven model maintains a high success rate with over 70% of women successfully completing our residential program.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Pilot program support for increased access to mental health services for the children of Dove House clients

Mission

DREAM Alive helps break the cycle of poverty by helping vulnerable youth in 7th-12th grade discover career paths and mentoring them from 7th grade until high school graduation.

Overview

DREAM Alive (DA) is helping vulnerable youth break the cycle of poverty by developing career paths and mentoring them over 6 continual years. With the help and collaboration of strong community partners, volunteers, schools, families and corporations, DA has comprehensive long-term programming that increases employment, education and wealth opportunities for marginalized populations.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Program support for middle school expansion efforts

Mission

The mission of Dress for Success Indianapolis (DFS Indianapolis) is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Overview

DFS Indianapolis has served over 17,000 local women by providing work attire, career placement services, and training to guide them toward employment, and ultimately economic independence. Through its Suits for Success Program (SFS), Professional Women’s Group (PWG), and the Career Development Center, DFS Indianapolis provides women with training along with the professional attire to gain and retain employment, and to propel to higher wage careers. Through its Mobile Services Program, DFS Indianapolis is able to meet women where they are located such as schools, churches, or community centers, or to provide transportation to the DFS Indianapolis Career Center. During the COVID 19 pandemic, these services are available in a contactless environment, or virtually.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Program support for core services, computer acquisition and training for 250 women.

Mission

Through the power of community involvement and self-expression, VOICES empowers youth to change their lives.

Overview

Through culturally sustaining education, healing-centered engagement, and workforce development, VOICES provides the relationships, resources, and opportunities for youth to heal, grow, and further their path towards economic self-sufficiency and civically engaged lives. VOICES programs and services are grounded by our Four Pillars of Wellness:

• Healed- Systemic oppression forces us to acknowledge that healing must be core for communities to transform and thrive
• Educated- Equitable educational opportunities are essential for economically stable and thriving communities
• Creative- A collective and neutral platform for trauma and social justice issues to be explored without judgement is essential
• Disciplined- Communities need tools to create new personal habits and pathways for self-sufficiency

VOICES programming includes community-based services, DCS contracted services, and the Arts as Healing & Activism program.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Program support for the Family Liberation program which works with youth and their families on establishing economic self-sufficiency

Mission

Building long-term, life-changing relationships with Indianapolis urban youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community.

Overview

Elevate Indianapolis, a teaching and mentoring program grounded in Elevate USA’s nearly 40-year relational model, builds on students’ inherent strengths and potential. With its year-round, holistic approach, Elevate connects Indianapolis Public Schools [IPS] students to a comprehensive pipeline of support through its teacher-mentors beginning in elementary school, continuing into middle school, flowing through high school and into post-secondary pursuits. Elevate invests early, consistently, and long-term in the lives of its students. Elevate’s Eastside Pipeline links Arsenal Technical High School, H.L. Harshman Middle School, and Theodore Potter Elementary School #74, while its Westside Pipeline engages George Washington High School and Matchbook Learning at Wendell Phillips School #63, kindergarten to 8th grade.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Core Operating/Unrestricted Funding
• 2020: Program support for expansion of the Pathways to Purpose program

Mission

The mission of the Felege Hiywot Center (FHC) is to guide urban, suburban and second-generation immigrant youth to transform their communities, their environment and themselves.

Overview

Through its agriculture-based STEAM program, FHC engages students from early grade school beyond high school and into careers in educational enrichment and servant leadership. FHC acknowledges that many of the students in the neighborhood are unfairly disadvantaged when it comes to educational opportunities. With that awareness in mind, FHC leverages its role as a longstanding non-profit to best help those students. Through summer programming focused on STEAM+, year-round mentorship, employment training, and community engagement, FHC opens up a world of new possibilities for these young students to elevate the neighborhood in which they live.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Core Operating/Unrestricted Funding
• 2020: Program & Capacity Building Funding

Mission

To help deserving but underserved youth develop the social and emotional qualities to be successful.

Overview

Fight for Life Foundation (FFLF) is rooted in its flagship program, Building Dreams, an evidence-based educational program that uses students’ experiences to help them develop the social-emotional skills necessary for success. Building Dreams is aligned with Indiana state educational standards and integrates Common Core Reading, Writing, Language, and Speaking and Listening skills with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) core competencies. Building Dreams provides a teacher-implemented curriculum designed to teach SEL concepts, with a behavior management system that tracks and rewards student’s behavior and class participation, as well as communicates with families to ensure the student’s wellbeing and academic success.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Program support for Building Dreams

Mission

To inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold.

Overview

Girls Inc. Indy helps participants to explore and celebrate their strengths, their voices, who they are today, and who they will become, ensuring they grow up healthy, educated, and independent. Girls Inc. Indy offers empowering, comprehensive programs at partner schools and at the Girls Inc. Indy office, allowing participants to experience a linear pathway of education and personal development from age 6 to 18. In addition to attending Summer Camp (ages 6-14), participants may begin with Girls Inc.’s Outreach Program (grade 3), transition to EmpowerHubs (grades 3-8), and end with the Young Women in Leadership (YWIL, grades 9-12) and/or Eureka! programs (grades 8-12), enabling the deepest possible impact on their growth and development.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Program support for EmpowerHub services in Marion County schools

Mission

To foster the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the environment by developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and organizations to promote environmental, economic & social well-being.

Overview

Groundwork Indy (GWI) is changing places and changing lives by employing Indianapolis youth to work on community-based projects that equitably enhance environmental, economic, and social well-being. Groundwork’s youth programs, which primarily engage low-income Black youth, are committed to engaging all youth as whole people with incredible potential and to providing a structured and caring work environment that involves youth in meaningful work that builds resilience and a sense of agency and hope.

Arthur Dean Family Foundation Funding

• 2021: Core Operating/Unrestricted Funding
• 2020: Program support for Green Team and Groundcorp youth programs