EDNA MARTIN CHRISTIAN CENTER

Edna Martin Christian Center seeks to foster neighborhoods where individuals and families have everything they need to learn, live, work, and play in a peaceful, connected and thriving environment.

• The USDA classifies Martindale-Brightwood as a "food desert", so to improve access to food we offer a food pantry every week day. We are also leading the effort (working with a handful of other non-profits) to begin a network of urban growing centers to offer handy access to fresh vegetables.
• Before Mrs. Edna Martin began working in this neighborhood in 1941, The Indianapolis Police Department found that 75% of the crime in the entire city happened in Martindale-Brightwood. Today, we still lead the effort to reduce crime by offering young people constructive out-of-school-time activities, initiating the Re-entry to Indy Program (RIP) to help ex-offenders re-integrate successfully into life on the outside, and we host Community Conversations in which neighbors can meet and talk with police in a non-confrontational way that fosters understanding.
• To address the need for education, we host before- and after-school programs the offer tutoring and homework help. At the same time, our youth workers show the Kindergarten through 12th-grade kids the value that education has, and how it open possibilities and offer them the a better life. When someone comes to EMCC needing help getting a job, we also offer any remedial education necessary.
• Housing will be addressed through the Martindale-Brightwood Education Zone's Housing Village, that will encompass a new housing development of approximately 50 single-family homes and new amenities.
• To help our neighbors find employment, our Career Education and Training Academy (CETA) provides certificate based, job-specific training.

Edna Martin Christian Center is the de facto leader among all non-profits of its type in the neighborhood, and it is so by virtue of being the oldest, most prominent, best positioned, most advantageously located organization in the neighborhood.
Among our many capabilities:
• Leadership. Tysha Hardy-Sellers has been Executive Director since 2008 and has cast an amazing vision for the entire neighborhood.
• Lofty Goals: Including the beautification of the neighborhood, construction of homes, creating jobs, preparing children for Kindergarten, and establishing a network of urban
growing centers.
• Recognition: EMCC has been consistently recognized by the community and the city for effective programs
• Institutional Backing: EMCC is a "Home Mission" of the American Baptist Church
• Support: Several of the city's biggest funders and many individuals continue to support EMCC programs and initiatives.

• Developed a 25th Street Corridor Plan with Ball State University
• Completed a $3 million renovation of the former Jireh Sports site
• Secured matching funds for a façade improvement on 25th Street
• Launched the Generations Gardens program (Star Media grant) which has now grown to become the Martindale-Brightwood Food Resource Network
• Developed a scholar housing plan to be implemented in 2019
• Initiated Technical Assistance with BSU regarding a land trust
• Initiated Technical Assistance with the Urban Institute regarding Social Impact Funding
• Launched Community Voice— community news network
• Became a member of the Collective Impact Forum
• EMCC has initiated Entrepreneurship and Community Solutions Center that will help our neighbors begin new or grow established startup and scale-up businesses.