Last March, the Forest Manor Multi-Service Center (FMMSC) unveiled its 28-page Citywide Crime Prevention and Reduction Plan. The plan, facilitated by local consulting firm Engaging Solutions LLC and funded by the City of Indianapolis Public Safety Foundation, was initially formulated to respond to four key areas: suppression; community mobilization; advocacy; and awareness, intervention and prevention.
“We have been working that plan in house,” said Regina Marsh, CEO of FMMSC.
One of the most recent developments has been a collaboration with nonpartisan activist group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. On Aug. 26, representatives from the organization and members of the community met at Forest Manor’s offices to discuss issues surrounding gun violence. “Fifty percent of these women have been affected by violence; they have lost a child to murder. The other half are women who are involved in fighting against gun violence by preventing guns from getting into the wrong hands,” said Marsh adding that this core group of concerned mothers has turned into something called the Moms Engagement Project. The group’s next scheduled meeting is Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at FMMSC, 5603 E. 38th St.
Additionally, Marsh shared that the center has began going into Beechwood Gardens and Hawthorne Place apartment complexes, both located in the 46218 zip code on the city’s Eastside, to provide case management services in addition to youth programming.
“A majority of the people who come (to FMMSC) live in public housing so instead of just waiting for people to come into Forest Manor, we have been going into the housing projects and working directly with people that live there,” said Marsh. “If a family is having problems paying rent and utilities, could they potentially have issues with their children? What’s going on with their health? So we’re doing a lot of key things in the neighborhoods that are experiencing higher crime.”
During a previous event debuting the prevention and reduction plan to the public, Ameena Matthews, activist and star of the PBS documentary “The Interrupters,” shared that community involvement in addition to reliable resources are needed to address the issue of crime.
“I definitely think (FMMSC) is moving in the right direction,” said Tammy Butler Robinson of Engaging Solutions. She said the center’s existing programs and current expansion efforts, including a partnership with Tindley schools to offer before and after-school care, are evidence of the implementation of some of the four key areas discussed in the plan.
When asked what specific ideas of Matthews’ were explored since her visit earlier this year, Marsh pointed to the aforementioned Moms project, case management services for low-income residents as well as a re-entry service offered to ex-offenders.
Marsh explained the prosecutor’s office has been providing Forest Manor with a list of people who are coming out of incarceration. “We immediately send each of these people a letter saying ‘Hi, we’re Forest Manor, how can we help you become self sufficient’,” said Marsh adding that they are currently hearing back from about 25 percent of those individuals.
“We’ve got to work with our own people in our communities; we can’t be scared of our own folks. I don’t want to hear anything about Black-on-Black crime; I want to hear about people reaching back to the community and really helping those in need,” said Marsh. “We’ve got to decide to be the role models in our community and help these people in need. Until we do that, we’re going to continue to have the same problems.”
For more information and to view the entire crime prevention plan, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
