Aspire Higher Foundation today announced a new community development project, Bloom + Brew Community Marketplace, in partnership with The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), to improve the Northwest Landing Neighborhood. IHCDA has pledged to contribute $50,000 to the crowdfunding project through a matching grant from its CreatINg Places program if organizers reach $50,000 by 11:59 p.m. on February 7, 2025. To contribute, click here.
Bloom + Brew Community Marketplace is designed to bring people together around the community. It will be a retail incubator and another place where neighbors can connect, replacing an under-utilized vacant lot at the corner of Rader and Udell Streets, with a fresh new neighborhood food asset, shared by all.

āIn many under-resourced urban communities, access to fresh, nourishing food and safe spaces for mental health and well-being is far too rare. Residents often face daily challenges that deepen cycles of hunger, stress and isolation,ā said Sharon Clark, Executive Director of Aspire House. āBloom + Brew is here to change that right in the heart of our neighborhood.ā
The Northwest Landing area is one of Indianapolisā oldest neighborhoods rich in history. It is home to 8,000 people, 78% of whom are people of color. Several schools are also situated in the neighborhood. Over the years, the primarily African American neighborhood has suffered business divestiture and is classified as a food desert. The median household income of $40,024 is significantly lower than the $70,784 national average. Currently, residents have to go three miles just to get to their nearest full service grocery store.
āInvesting in neighborhoods is not just about funding a project; itās about building a foundation for lasting change and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive,ā said Bridget Anderson, Vice President at Patronicity.
On February 15, 2025, Aspire Higher Foundation will celebrate the one year anniversary of its most recent neighborhood revitalization project, Aspire House, located at the crossroads of Rader and Udell Street. Once a firehouse, it now houses The Preceptors Enclave, with apartment living for educators, arts incubation programming, RyZe Kitchen for nutrition-based programming supporting community members and students across the city (Jr. Chef, Senior Sizzle, etc.), and more.

Though itās only been renovated for about a year, Clark said Aspire House has already helped fill gaps and become a community hub. In fact, the popular usage of the community Ryze Kitchen has sped up the need to create more spaces like Bloom + Brew Community Marketplace.
āAspire House was always a part of the beginning,ā Clark said. āThe communityās frequent use of it, especially Ryze Kitchen, has been beautiful and inspiring. This shows us that we need more spaces sooner than later. We want to keep the moment we started for children and families,ā Clark said.
Once created, Bloom + Brew Community Marketplace will, indeed, be a fresh marketplace that will sell the creations made from RyZe Kitchen at Aspire House using produce grown from community gardens. It will also house additional wellness classes and more.
āWeāve listened to neighbors, nearby businesses, and school partners, and this is something everyone wants,ā Clark said. āThis space will create more opportunities for neighbors to become friends. It can be a place where ideas bloom and everyone feels seen and supported. It will be a place where children can learn healthy eating habits, schools can collaborate, reflect on history, and more, all in a safe, thriving environment. Together, we can do this, but we need everyoneās support to make it happen,ā Clark said.

Funding from the campaign will be used to build the new structure, which will be located next to Aspire Higher Foundationās Art Therapy studio. There will also be programming around the creation of Bloom + Brew. For example, high school girls participating in Aspireās BlaTina Varsity Posse āArchitectureā program will support architect firm efforts through STEM projects. More details to follow on this.
IHCDAās CreatINg Places program, established in 2016, provides up to $50,000 in matching funds for projects that hit their crowdfunding goals on Patronicity.
Aspire Higher Foundation will continue to receive donations for Bloom + Brew Community Marketplace even once the CreatINg Places matching grant timeline closes at 11:59 p.m. on February 7, 2025. To make a donation online or learn more about Aspire Higher Foundation, visit aspirehouse.org. For those who prefer to give offline by cash or check, please make/drop mail donations to Aspire Higher Foundation | 1002 Udell Street | Indianapolis IN 46208.