As a proud product of three Indianapolis public school systems and as a mother of three children navigating the overwhelming, often exhausting maze of school choices, I know the pain and frustration of trying to find quality education for my children.
I founded RISE Indy in 2019 to address the undeniable and shameful inequities Black and marginalized students face in our public education system. RISE Indy’s mission has always been rooted in one fundamental truth: all public schools — district, charter and innovation schools — serve our Black children. And we must ensure that every school has the resources to provide the education these children deserve, regardless of the type of school or their neighborhood.
Through my years of working as a political fundraiser, I’ve learned that real systemic change happens through relationships and political power. It’s this knowledge that drives RISE Indy’s work. We believe that the voices of those most affected by the shortcomings in the public education system — particularly the powerless and voiceless — must be heard. Our work is not about creating division but ensuring that all voices come together to advocate for systemic change.
Right now, the crisis in Marion County is too real to ignore. Less than 30% of third through eighth graders are reading at grade level, and nearly 50,000 adults in this city can’t read well enough to fill out a job application. And let’s be honest, we know exactly who those numbers affect the most. Our Black community. This isn’t just about kids falling behind — it’s about the future of our entire community. It’s about economic survival. It’s about dignity. It’s about schools that have been failing our kids, year after year.
Our approach isn’t just about advocacy; it’s about action and impact. We fight to change policies, and with our two-generation literacy programming, we also work directly to improve outcomes for kids right now. Our community deserves schools that don’t just serve the wealthy or the well-connected — we deserve to have public schools that work for everyone.
Here’s the hard truth: While the adults fight, our kids suffer. And let me be clear, our Black and marginalized children suffer in every school type, whether it’s district schools, public charters, or innovation schools. All our kids are impacted. We’ve seen the rich and privileged flee from schools they don’t want to fix. They take their resources, their voices and their power. And when they leave, they leave our children behind. And we can’t keep letting that happen.
Now is the time for us to lock arms as a community — not to freeze, not to flee, but to fight. We must fight for ALL the children sitting in classrooms that fail to provide the education they are inherently worthy of. How can we serve our most vulnerable when we fight each other and don’t fight for them?
RISE Indy believes in unity. We believe that when we come together — district parents/teachers, charter parents/teachers, community members — we can achieve something that’s never been done before: real, tangible change. We’re pushing for what matters. Increased transportation access for students. Fair pay for teachers. Reducing suspensions for absenteeism that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable. We’re fighting for liberty, justice and freedom for all. We’re putting in the work to change these broken systems.
But we need you. All of you. We get to fight for the kids who have been left out of the conversation. And that’s what RISE Indy is all about: uniting our community to ensure every child can and will succeed, especially our most vulnerable.
Together, we will build a future where our children are empowered, where our communities thrive, and where we all rise together.
Shaheed-Young is the founder and CEO of RISE INDY, a community-led nonprofit working to ensure all students attend an excellent public school.
