Instead of waiting for change, teens in the Keystone Club, a leadership group within the Keenan-Stahl Boys and Girls Club, 1949 E. Troy Ave., on the Southeastside are helping transform a community.
The Keystone Club is a nationally recognized community service group comprised of 14 to 18-year-olds largely responsible for running their own club in Indianapolis. The club strives to make a positive impact on their peers by developing service projects that benefit the community.
The Indianapolis chapter is made up of 10 active members that meet twice a week.
“It’s not just about the Boys and Girls Club, we also want to help the community,” said Courtney Luttrell, Keystone Club advisor. Luttrell works as the adult supervisor to club members.
Recently club members, with the help of a local coalition, put their skills to work.
In response to the hit and run accident of 7-year-old David Lopez that occurred on May 15, Keystone Club members and organizers of Health by Design, a health promotion initiative, partnered to bring about awareness surrounding the issue of safety in the community.
Health by Design was formed in 2006, and is considered a coalition model under the umbrella of the Alliance for Health Promotion Initiative.
It operates primarily in Marion County and works closely with the Marion County Public Health Department to improve community design, transportation, infrastructure and parks and green space as it relates to public health.
The club project, deemed a walkability assessment, was an opportunity for individuals to examine the safety of sidewalks, crosswalks and crossing signals among other safety measures in the community around the Keenan-Stahl Boys and Girls Club.
More than 100 people gathered for the event, including City-County Council member Frank Mascari.
During the walk, Keystone Club members were split into two groups, each walking in different directions on Troy Avenue. While walking, individuals voiced various safety concerns, which included: a lack of sidewalks and crosswalks, a bus stop with nowhere to stand, a broken crossing signal and a stop sign covered by a tree.
While walking, participants were forced to stop on the corner of South Keystone and East Troy, because a crossing signal was broken and a hole in the pavement forced the group to either walk in the street or turn around.
At that point, Keystone Club members voiced their desire for more sidewalks, crosswalks, streetlights, and possibly a reduced speed limit around the Boys and Girls Club.
“Obviously safety is a huge issue around that area,” said Kim Irwin, executive director of the Alliance for Health Promotion.
The Keystone Club hopes that by implementing these safety measures, Troy Avenue will be safer for pedestrians to travel.
With Troy Avenue in its present condition, pedestrians are fearful of their surroundings.
Keystone Club member Te’Charleston White, 15, expressed her concern.
“If I was to take a step out into the street, I’m scared I might get hit or anything might happen,” White said.
Mascari, who represents District 20 on the City-County Council, said he plans to follow up with Lori Miser, the director of the Department of Public Works, about addressing the future safety of the area surrounding the Keenan-Stahl Boys and Girls Club.
When the Indianapolis Recorder attempted to contact Miser, she could not be reached for comment.
