Connecting hearts, minds, and hands to meet needs in our community
The Mayor's Celebration of Diversity Awards banquet this week was attended by roughly 900 folks--attesting to the dedication of the people of Indianapolis to work toward an ever more diverse community. The awards are presented to businesses and organizations throughout Marion County that embrace, celebrate, and apply holistic inclusion practices, promoting participation of a diverse people in order to improve the workplace environment and to make the community a better place to live, work, and raise a family. UNITE INDY celebrates with them!
Salvation Army is our Partner of the Month! Left, Salvation Army/ Indiana volunteers gather to help natural disaster victims. If the Army isn't feeding or clothing those who need help they are raising funds to assist others. Salvation Army/Indiana is a fantastic addition to the tide of nonprofits which partner with us. Now you can find all their exciting volunteer opportunities through our Meet the Need portal. Look for great things you can do to help those in need by assisting this amazing and fruitful organization! Click Here for a look!
Imam Michael Saahir named the 2019 Interfaith Ambassador of the year at huge CIC banquet.
As we have said, (over and over) that while our Christian faith propels us to do this work, our faith also requires us to love our neighbors. UNITE INDY will always work with anyone of good will, and you won't find a bigger group of people filled with good will than at the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, where love of God fills the room. Imam Saahir has spent his life leading a compassionate, wise and faithful life and has spent decades teaching the peace and love that Islam was always to espouse. He has worked tirelessly to raise funds for hungry people in our area, and has traveled to the Vatican many times to further interfaith relationships. His award is for "distinguished service and leadership in advancing interfaith understanding and cooperation in Central Indiana and beyond." Congratulations Imam Saahir!
Why do so many reentrants crash & burn?
Why is it that so many formerly incarcerated individuals can't make it on the outside, and why do many then return to prison just to gain a roof over their heads and three meals a day? Nancy and her friend Jesse, who lives at the Pendleton Reformatory, left, both worry about this transition coming up for him and for all those who do try to work within a system that seems to thwart their efforts to successfully reenter society. Arcane laws and nonsensical rules are stumbling blocks to those who have paid their debt to society and only want freedom and a job. We need to find another way. A way that encourages employment and gives these folks a real chance for a better kind of life. UNITE INDY is working on that. More to come...
Were you at 17th & Broadway the night Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed?
We got a notice a couple of weeks ago asking if we or anyone we knew was in the crowd 51 years ago, on the night Bobby Kennedy stopped in Indianapolis during his presidential campaign.
It was April 4th, 1968 and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot and killed in Memphis earlier that day. Despite fear of riots and concerns for his safety, Kennedy went ahead with plans to attend the rally. There he spoke of the threat of disillusion and divisiveness at King’s death and talked publicly for the first time about his own pain when he lost his brother to an assassin's bullet. It was a timely message... Click here to read Nancy's Blog
UNITE INDY'S volunteer portal is gaining muscle as nonprofits become partners uploading their volunteer and gift needs to our Meet the Need portal. UNITE INDY'S Sherry Jackson, a retired IT manager, now works tirelessly to train more and more nonprofit personnel, whose input will provide everyone in Central Indiana with ways to help others through volunteer and gift options. Training available now!! CLICK HERE to find out more about partnering with UNITE INDY or email Sherry .
Thanks for being a part of building bridges in our community!
Almost 1 out of every 3 children in Indianapolis lives below the poverty level, yet our economy is roaring, and unemployment is at a historic low. But all this good news stops at the lines surrounding many of our inner city neighborhoods. In some neighborhoods of Marion County unemployment exceeds 20%. and poverty remains the overwhelming divider of people.

UNITE INDY is connecting people every day to make a difference for those in our city who live in in perpetual want. It builds bridges of understanding between those who need help and those who can help.
• Connecting — UNITE INDY introduces urban pastors and ministry leaders to suburban pastors and business leaders. We also make available—At No Charge—a web-based system that connects churches, businesses, ministries, to charities enabling them to raise volunteers and publicize needed items.
• Raising Awareness — Through print, television, and radio UNITE INDY is sharing the needs of our community and celebrating victories.  
• Serving the Servants — UNITE INDY comes behind urban pastors and ministry leaders by addressing personal and professional needs for these men who work tirelessly in their neighborhoods to care for the needy and bereft.

Please send a check today to UNITE INDY, 241 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Or donate via credit card by clicking here . It is secure and safe. By sending your fully tax deductible gift* now we can have a greater impact meeting needs in our community in 2019.

Many, many thanks!
* UNITE INDY, Inc. is approved under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) as a Public Charity, donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170.
Did someone share this email with you? Sign up to subscribe to our newsletter!