We are so glad that you decided to peek Around the Corner to check us out again. Let’s catch up! You can help to support the work that is going on Around the Corner in a few different ways. Call or e-mail Gina Fears, Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator at 317-637-3776 or gfears@ednamartincc.org.
Also, check out our limited edition neighborhood t-shirts available for sale at facebook.com/unbrandeddesign.
On Saturday Feb. 25 from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm, we will host a free Black History Month Celebration and Living Museum at 37 Place. 37 Place is located at 2605 E. 25th Street. The event, presented in partnership with the Recorder and Felege Hiywot, will feature an inter-generational panel discussion, a living history museum, live music and more.
In terms of local Black History, Martindale Brightwood has plenty. Publisher and politician Frank Roscoe Beckwith was a longtime resident.
Beckwith was born on Dec. 11, 1904 and died Aug. 24, 1965 in Indianapolis, IN. He graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1921 and was tutored in the study of law by Asa J. Smith and Sumner A. Clancy.
He published the Indianapolis Tribune for a short time, was welfare director for the Indiana Industrial Board from 1929 to 1933 and active in the Republican party from 1928 on.
He ran unsuccessfully for state legislature and Indianapolis City Council but was a public defender in the Marion County Criminal Court, from 1951-1958 and a member of Indiana Commission on Aging from1957-1961.
He became the first Black person in the history of the United States to run for president when he was on the presidential ticket with Richard M. Nixon in the 1960 Indiana Republican primary. He was a member the NAACP and the bar of the United States Supreme Court.
On Feb. 25, we will keep the celebration going with another awesome event, supporting the workforce and education priorities of the Martindale Brightwood Quality of Life Plan.“The Taste of Martindale Brightwood” will begin at 4:00 pm at 37 Place. Tickets for that event are $17.00 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
All funds from the Taste will be used to continue the education provided in the Opportunity Central Vocational Training program offered at Edna Martin Christian Center.
You can also join the Vocational Training for free and work to receive certifications in Manufacturing Logistics and Culinary Arts. Just visit the office at Edna Martin to complete the interest form and get started.
We’d like to share with you an excerpt from PACE’s (Public Advocates in Community Re-entry) monthly newsletter:
We applaud and say thank you to all of the employers that have been integral to the success of the program and its participants.
This month’s success story is not about the clients that are a part of the PACE program. It is about the employers that have displayed faith to give PACE clients a second opportunity.
These employers have shown throughout 2016 that they were dedicated to improving the community and investing their faith into giving those who are unemployed, underemployed and those who have a criminal history the opportunity to have gainful employment.
Goodwill was honored for hiring over fifty PACE clients into jobs. Kelley and Ware LLC has hired nearly thirty clients. We Care CleanIt was honored because the owner/operator has a criminal background and has turned his life around, now is in the position to help others do the same.
Pace was instrumental in seeing 1512 clients employed for the 2016 year.
The 46218 area (including Martindale Brightwood) has long been noted as receiving the most individuals returning after incarceration. PACE has worked for many years here in Martindale Brightwood to help with the successful reintergration of these returning citizens.
Their office is located at 2855 North Keystone Avenue, right next door to the Recorder offices. In December of last year, PACE honored Goodwill, UPS, FedEx, Kelley and Ware LLC and We Care CleanIt for employing PACE clients.
Here, you have heard good work that is going on inside two agencies located in the area. We will continue to share more history, and success stories with you.
