Runway Diva Boutique, a local Black-owned clothing store, first opened in 2012 with the goal of serving as a one-stop shop for Hoosier women.
The boutique offers an array of styles in the latest fashion, from clothing to accessories for every occasion. From jeans to cocktail dresses or glitzy evening wear, Runway Diva Boutique strives to match every woman with her ideal look, according to the official website.
Both an online and brick-and-mortar shop in Downtown Indianapolis, customers can shop in-store or call ahead to schedule a personal fitting with one of the stylists, as everyone on staff is trained and highly knowledgeable of the fashion industry in order to best match clients with the right look.
“Runway Diva Boutique is your every woman boutique” and services women from a size small to a 6X.
The online store allows customers to browse a large selection of garments and accessories, as well as consult a sizing chart and call the store with any questions about items before purchasing.
Runway Diva Boutique has also pledged its support to the NAACP, GLAAD and Feeding America. “We believe that everyone deserves a life without limits and free of injustice,” its website states.
This minority business highlight was composed by CHLOE McGOWAN at the Indianapolis Recorder, who can be reached at 317-762-7848 or via email at chloegm@indyrecorder.com. If you would like your business highlighted in the Indianapolis Minority Business Magazine, click here!
INDIANAPOLIS – March 13, 2024 – DuJuan McCoy, Owner, President, and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting (parent company for WISH-TV and WNDY) has been awarded the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year for the state of Indiana by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced that the winners “embody the grit and determination that power the U.S. economy.”
One business owner from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam was selected for individual State Winner awards.
McCoy will be recognized in Washington, D.C during the National Small Business Week (NSBW) April 28th– May 4th where he will also be a contender to win the top honor of National Small Business Person of the Year
McCoy won the award for being not only a strong advocate for small businesses and underserved communities, but for creating new jobs, advancing the economy, and using his platforms to educate and inform all the communities that he serves.
“Having launched my entrepreneurial TV Station career back in 2008 (during the financial crisis) via an SBA-backed loan, I am truly honored to receive the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year award for the state of Indiana,” McCoy said. “Thank you to the U.S. Small Business Administration for this incredible honor and for recognizing the great work that we at Circle City Broadcasting continue to do every day!”
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s mission is to help Americans start, grow, and build resilient businesses. The SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns; preserve free competitive enterprise; and maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
In a world where access to aquatic activities remains somewhat of a privilege for many, a few Indianapolis aquatics organizations are working tirelessly to break down barriers and provide opportunities for Black and Brown youth to explore the many wonders of the underwater world.
According to recent studies, minority communities often face significant disparities in access to swimming lessons and aquatic activities, potentially leading to higher rates of drowning incidents. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that minority youth drown at a rate 7.5 times higher than their white counterparts. The YMCA also reports that 64% of Black children cannot swim, while only 40% of white children cannot swim.
Despite these alarming statistics, three organizations, Sea Scope, Inc., Friends of the White River, and Youth Empowered, Inc., are making waves in their communities by exposing minority children to aquatic activities and empowering them to become champions of the marine environment.
Sea Scope is on a mission to create a new generation of ocean explorers and activists. Led by founder and CEO Dr. Allyson Brown, Sea Scope aims to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and aquatics by providing comprehensive programs that not only teach essential water safety skills, but also foster a deep connection with the marine world. Through partnerships with local community centers, including Wheeler Dowe Boys and Girls Club and St. Florian Center, Sea Scope has served over 380 youth in Marion County over the last four years.
“Drowning is the second-leading cause of death among children,” Brown told the Indianapolis Recorder. “At Sea Scope, we are teaching children how to save themselves and so much more.”
One member of the program at Sea Scope Inc. getting a first-hand experience of underwater and marine life. (Photo provided/Sea Scope)
Friends of the White River
Participants not only gain the skills to be safe in and around water but also develop a passion for STEM, marine exploration and conservation.
Friends of the White River, or simply “Friends,” also focuses on aquatics and conservation in Indy. Since the 1980s, the organization has dedicated itself to preserving and protecting the White River in Indiana while also promoting environmental education and stewardship among youth. Today, through various programs and new initiatives, Friends provides opportunities for minority children to engage with their local waterways and learn about the importance of conservation.
“Friends wants to help people break down those barriers and create equitable access,” said Kay Hawthorne, environmental justice director of Friends of the White River.
From river clean-up events to educational workshops, Friends empowers youth to become advocates for their community and the environment. By instilling a sense of responsibility and pride in their natural surroundings, Friends of the White River is fostering a new generation of environmental leaders.
Like Friends, Youth Empowered, Inc. is cultivating a new era of environmental champions. The organization focuses on empowering minority youth, as the name implies, through education, mentorship and exposure to diverse experiences. Recognizing the importance of aquatics in building confidence and life skills, Youth Empowered partners with local swimming pools and community organizations to offer swimming lessons and water safety training to underserved communities.
More on Youth Empowered and other aquatics programs
Board of Directors President of Youth Empowered Lauren Warfield spoke about the importance of exposure to aquatics. “It is little things that have allowed our youth to come into bigger experiences that they don’t normally get on a regular basis,” Warfield said.
(Photo/Getty Images)
By breaking down cultural barriers and providing access to aquatic activities, Youth Empowered is not only saving lives but also opening doors to new opportunities for minority children. Through success stories and testimonials, the organization showcases the transformative impact of learning to swim and the confidence it instills in young individuals.
Despite their impactful work, these organizations face challenges such as funding constraints, cultural barriers and low participation among youth from minority communities. However, they remain resilient in their mission and continue to seek support from individuals and organizations alike.
“A lot of changing the narrative begins with changing mindsets,” Hawthorne said. “By providing students with take-home material and collaborating with organizations like Sea Scope, it helps make sure we are providing a more in-depth education and experience for the youth.”
Organizations like Sea Scope, Friends and Youth Empowered are shaping the future of Black and Brown youth across Indianapolis, helping them develop a love for the environment and empowering them to become champions in their communities.
“When they join this program, they are electing to challenge literally everything they know about themselves because they are exposing themselves to an opportunity they hadn’t had before,” Warfield said.
Contact multimedia staff writer Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral.For more news courtesy of the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.
The third round of funding comes after the two distribution of awards to organizations that have created and implemented programs designed to address the most critical issues impacting the quality of life for African Americans within Indianapolis/Marion County. The funding will continue to help non-profit organizations implement IAAQLI’s goal to support effective programs, policies, and ventures that will make measurable improvements in the daily lives of African Americans in the local community. As with the previous funding rounds, the National Urban League is awarding grants to organizations whose programs, services, and advocacy will address historic inequities within Indianapolis’ Black communities. “Indianapolis continues to shed new light on identifying solutions for addressing the needs of its Black communities. The work being done is game-changing, and the country is watching,” said Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League.
Grants in the second round of funding will be awarded to the following organizations:
Category: Employment
Boys and Girls Club of Central Indianapolis $390,317
Brightwood Community Center $393,946
BUILD (Believers United in Local Development) $385,800
Children’s Bureau, Inc. $400,000
Christamore House $400,000
Englewood Community Development Corporation $399,850
Fathers and Families Center $400,000
Judah Ministries $400,000
Keys2Work, Inc. $400,000
Martin Luther King Multi-Service Center Indianapolis $319,770
Neighborhood Link Indianapolis Foundation $301,280
Thomas Ridley’s 1 Like Me $100,000
University of Indianapolis (UIndy) $395,813
Category: Health and Wellness
Allegiant Prep Academy $220,000
Centers of Wellness for Urban Women $300,000
Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center $372,000
Flanner House of Indianapolis $185,000
Flanner House of Indianapolis $160,000
Hoosier Families, Inc. $400,000
Indiana Black Expo $250,000
Indiana Youth Group $200,000
Indianapolis Recorder Charities $400,000
International Marketplace Coalition $250,000
Local Initiatives Support Corporation Indianapolis $300,000
Mozell Sanders Foundation, Inc. $300,000
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church $210,272
Murphy Mentoring Group $385,200
PEACE Learning Center, Inc. $250,000
Reach For Youth, Inc. $200,000
Soul Food Project $268,840
The Riley Center, Inc., $365,411
University of Indianapolis (UIndy) $394,331
Leadership and Civic Engagement
Broadway United Methodist Church $250,000
Central Indiana Community Foundation $250,000
Education United Indy, Inc. $250,000
Indiana Black Expo $250,000
The Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation $249,700
Indy Black Chamber of Commerce $250,000
Madam Walker Legacy Center $250,000
Martin Luther King Multi-Service Center Indianapolis $249,539
The Ross Foundation $250,000
“With this third round of funding, we have the opportunity to continue our support for organizations that have implemented programs that will continue to elevate the mission of the IAAQLI,” said Indianapolis Urban League President and CEO Tony Mason. “We also have the opportunity to engage new organizations who are committed to supporting our Black community. As more organizations receive funding and our grantees from our previous rounds of funding begin reporting their outcomes, we will continue to understand further the depth of the issues the community has identified and work together to explore what additional resources are needed.”
“Eliminating disparities caused by decades of systemic racism will require continuous involvement from our entire community,” added African American Coalition of Indianapolis Chair Willis Bright. While this is our third round of funding, these organizations will need the support of our entire community to be successful. I encourage us to learn more about the implemented programs and engage with the organizations committed to this effort. This is how we can ensure the entire community benefits, and we have sustainable programming that will withstand the test of time.”
Visit www.iaaqli.org to learn more about the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative and review a complete project listing with descriptions
The Center for Leadership Development (CLD) announced Indianapolis Recorder President & CEO, Robert Shegog as one of their nominees for this year’s recognition for Black excellence.
The center said Shegogs leads with passion and dedication at Indianapolis Recorder and he embodies the spirit of excellence that enriches our community. His remarkable contributions have not only elevated the success of the company but have also left an indelible mark on Indiana.
The annual Minority Achievers Awards & Scholarship Gala (MAAG) is a noteworthy evening of recognition where CLD, education, business, corporate, and community leaders gather to celebrate the achievements of minority professionals, community leaders, and CLD scholars.
The Gala acknowledges CLD students who have received scholarships from educational institutions for attaining their intellectual and academic potential.
In 2023, over $5.4 million in full and partial scholarship funds were awarded to CLD Alumni, and since 2004, CLD students have been awarded over $39 million in scholarships.
Local corporations, organizations, and educational institutions celebrate the chance to honor exceptional minority individuals who demonstrate excellence in their profession or community.
“I am thrilled and honored to be nominated at the 44th Annual Minority Achievers Awards & Scholarship Gala by the Center for Leadership Development. This recognition underscores my dedication to life, service, and career excellence,” said Shegog.
“Your encouragement means the world to me, and together, we can inspire and empower the community and the youth that CLD serves. Let’s make a positive impact on our community and celebrate the achievements that shape our future. Thank you for your ongoing support.”
The gala will be Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center with doors opening at 5:45 p.m. and the dinner and program starting at 6:00 p.m.
Communities struggle when jobs and wealth leave the neighborhood. When the big employer leaves, joblessness, drug use, poor housing stock, food scarcity, and infrastructure woes begin to plague once successful areas of the city.
There is a way up through business ownership and succession.
Many communities are already taking advantage of small business growth as an essential economic development tool. Social programs, grocery stores, and crime prevention are all necessary tools of neighborhood revitalization. However, communities need sustainable long-term fixes that create cash for generations. Even though a large corporation could come (back) to the neighborhood, we cannot count on it. Small business training, ownership, and succession are the fix.
There are challenges associated with using small business development as an economic development tool. Education, access to capital, funding, and more create roadblocks that can be overcome with strategic planning and execution.
Education: We Need More Incubators
Business incubators are starting to show up in economically challenged communities. We need more of them and we need professionals to donate their time and educate new business owners on the tools of success. CPAs need to show up to teach tax mitigation and payment strategies. Attorneys need to be on-hand to discuss business formation, risk management, and contracting. We need wealth managers on deck to teach entrepreneurs how to save, invest, and leverage their business as a wealth creation tool.
Be a Buyer, Not a Founder
Many see the only path to entrepreneurship in starting a business. Starting a business is expensive, time consuming, resource demanding, and has a high rate of failure. Purchasing a business is the best path to ownership. Cash flow/profit is already baked into the deal. Employees, clients, systems, vendors, and suppliers come with the company. Acquiring a company gives entrepreneurs a running start.
Gain Access to Capital
Getting money to start or buy a business, when you have few assets to lend against, can be challenging. Entrepreneurs want to start a business to produce cash and build assets, however it is tough to get a loan without cash flow or assets. Savings, investment partners, grants, and special bank loans can be the answer. Some financial institutions have 0% and 5% down payment loans available for acquisitions by minorities. Consider buying your employer’s company. This can be done slowly through payroll deducted equity contributions, or all at once with a bank loan specifically suited for acquisitions by employees. It would also behoove communities to pool financial resources together, start an investment fund, and pour money into acquisitions in specific neighborhoods.
Select Profitable Industries
Cupcakes and ribs are delicious, but food or retail as the foundation of a business are an unlikely source of long-term wealth for a community. The best companies to start or acquire produce 10-30% annual profit, are able to run without the owner, have a service or product that produces automatic recurring revenue, and are not dependent on a handful of clients. Manufacturing, software, business services, and building trades are excellent industries to do business in.
Know the Business’ Financials
Gross sales are simple to calculate. However, the numbers that make the biggest impact on wealth creation are costs of goods sold (COGS), operating expenses, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), and net income. Get a FreshBooks or QuickBooks account, connect it to your bank account, and begin tracking income and expenses. This practice will help with business management, future valuation and sale, and having the right documentation to get a bank loan.
Hire Within the Community
Now that we have a well-funded business run by an educated owner, the owner should place a priority on hiring within the community. Some residents may need to skill-up. This is where the community college, trade schools, and community development centers come in. Business owners should also financially invest in skills training, language instruction for non-English speakers, family support services for their employees as employment benefits. Then, teach the best employees how to run the business, and allow those employees to run, and have equity in, your next acquisition. As entrepreneurs hire more and more of the neighborhood, the tide of success will raise all boats.
Leverage the Benefits of Business Ownership
Business ownership comes with benefits. Entrepreneurs can reduce their tax burden through write-offs. The business owner can deduct charitable contributions to neighborhood organizations. Investors can put their money into tax-credit subsidized real estate developments within their community to shelter profits from capital gains taxes. Owners need to be trained by professional advisors on how to take advantage of tools the wealthy use to maintain and grow their assets.
Create Generational Wealth
Finally, business ownership over job creation creates generational wealth. If someone has a job, once they retire, the money stops. Hopefully, that individual saved and invested well so their retirement is fully funded and they have assets to pass to the next generation upon death. Unfortunately, many are not in the position to fully retire, and even fewer are financially able to provide generations with perpetual wealth.
On the other hand, business ownership can provide generations with jobs and wealth that does not end. Owners can keep jobs in the neighborhood by gifting or selling their business to family or community members. Entrepreneurs can also sell their business, invest the sale proceeds, and have hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars that produce dividends forever.
Good jobs are a path to the middle class. Well-run businesses are the path to individual wealth, generational wealth, and neighborhood transformation.
Jamar Cobb-Dennard is a M&A attorney and business broker. To learn more about how to buy or sell a business, email Jamar at jamar@jamarcobbdennard.com.
A.G. Maas Supply Company, a certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE) in Indianapolis, has been named Vendor of the Month for March. The award was presented to Maas’ Cindy Schum by Councilor Keith L. Graves and Director at the Office of Minority and Women Business Development (OMWBD) David Fredricks on Mar. 1, marking the start of Women’s History Month.
Founded in 1915, A.G. Maas is one of the oldest women-owned businesses in Indianapolis. The facility and janitorial supply and Division 10 and 12 subcontractor became women-owned in 1983 and is currently under the leadership of Schum. The company prioritizes community involvement through sponsorships, volunteer programs and partnerships.
A.G. Maas’ commitment to personal attention and individualized solutions sets them apart from other supply companies. A.G. Maas works exclusively with manufacturers that provide reliable customer service and quality products and buys products from companies that share their environmental concerns.
The company is committed to providing world-class service, unique solutions for specific needs, national distribution, supply management and procurement. A.G. Maas serves a variety of industries, including schools, government facilities and large office buildings, with quality cleaning supplies, office supplies, site furnishings and more.
“At A.G. Maas, we are dedicated to providing the best service and products to the wonderful community of Indianapolis. This award serves as a reminder of our commitment to continue serving the residents and businesses in this city with excellence and dedication,” said Schum in a statement.
The company has been 100% women-owned since 1983 and is Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certified with the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certified with the Indiana Department of Transportation, and certified with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
The company is also a certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) with the Small Business Administration and certified by the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE).
“As one of the first women-owned businesses in Indianapolis, A.G. Maas Company has been a trailblazer in our community, inspiring many with their dedication, innovation, and commitment to excellence,” said Councilor Graves. “Their success serves as a beacon of empowerment for all aspiring entrepreneurs, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements this month.”
Contact multimedia staff writer Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral.
Stephanie Franklin decided to leave her corporate job in tech and turn her passion for wine into a business. Now, she has created Fly Wines, a wholesale and distribution company providing unique wines.
Franklin partners with independent wineries from underrepresented countries, for example Turkey, to give wine lovers in the U.S. a one-of-a-kind experience. Franklin says her wines offer a peek into the culture of these countries while allowing wineries to reach customers in the U.S.
For Franklin, Fly Wines combines passion and work, and her decision to start the company comes from turning tragedy into triumph.
After the passing of her mother and a close friend in a short period, Franklin decided to use the lessons her mother gave her and how she lived her life as examples for her own life.
Franklin was working in marketing and advertising for the tech industry but was not enjoying it. Shortly after her mother’s passing, she reevaluated her life, realized there needed to be a change, and decided to go full force into the wine industry.
“I always enjoyed wines, understanding wines, so it seemed like a perfect marriage between how I really wanted to live my current authentic life. I can keep doing the same ol’ same ol’, and I can make good money, but am I really fulfilled?” Franklin said.
She then started the research and work necessary to make Fly Wines a profitable business. Franklin has always been curious and loved learning, so when it came to wine – something she enjoys – she used that curiosity for wine to help propel her through the logistics of starting a wine business.
She had to learn how to create a distribution company and work with the Alcohol Bureau Control, the FDA and other agencies to obtain licenses to start Fly Wines. Through all this work, Franklin says she focused on one step at a time, always staying present in the moment instead of looking toward the finish line.
“I always tell people, if I had seen from the beginning how much it would take to get here, I probably would have been overwhelmed.”
Now, her work is coming to fruition through Fly Wines. Her business is unique because she sources the wineries herself with her sommelier, Giuliano Manno. Together, they focus on finding independent wineries, which Franklin says adds exclusivity to Fly Wines.
According to Franklin, many wines consumers drink are made in the same regions, so wine will start to take on similar tastes. She explained that cabernets grown in similar regions and climates will begin to give the consumer a “linear” idea of what a cabernet should taste like.
By finding and creating relationships with wineries from lesser-known regions, she can offer wines with deeper flavors, unique smells and characteristics consumers would not usually see.
In countries commonly known for wine, like Italy, focusing on lesser-known regions produces wine with a different drinking experience.
“Yes, Italian wines are well known, but then you’ll understand, once you dig into it, that Italian wines mostly come from one particular region, so the other regions don’t get much visibility. So, that focus on independent wineries helps to create exclusivity and a reach beyond the norm and allows us to enhance the palettes of the American consumers of wine.”
By traveling to these wineries in different countries and working with independent wineries, Franklin can provide products only available through Fly Wines.
“We work with independent wineries from around the world and we bring them to the US exclusively, so all of these wines that you experience through us can only be found through us because we have exclusive partnerships and relationships,” Franklin said.
You can purchase a wine-tasting kit that samples different wines through her website. She also provides a wine subscription program for consumers to try full bottles of wine from the independent wineries she works with. Through the subscription program, members get bottles of wine shipped to them monthly, with shipping and handling already included in the price. Go to Flywines.club to expand your palette and try one-of-a-kind wines today.
“This minority business highlight was composed by Garrett Simms at the Indianapolis Recorder, who can be reached at [317-762-7847] or via email at garretts@indyrecorder.com. If you would like your business highlighted in the Indianapolis Minority Business Magazine, click here!”
A buff-brick building sits on a busy one-way street near Downtown Indianapolis. It is swallowed by a host of maple trees, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and Ivy Tech Community College.
Residents might miss the unassuming “Fathers and Families” sign outside, but inside, Larry Smith and his small army are doing the work many don’t want to miss. They are empowering men and families to put an end to the absent fatherhood crisis.
Smith is president and CEO of Fathers and Families, a small nonprofit that has served more than 20,000 men during the past 30 years. The organization’s legacy now sits on his shoulders, and he said it hasn’t been an easy task.
According to a U.S. Census Bureau 2021 report, 64% of Black children live in a single-parent home. But Smith said statistics alone do not tell a full story. The men who walk through his doors have a desire for fatherhood. He said systemic circumstances deserve more of the blame.
The George Floyd protests in 2020 advanced federal efforts, such as the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (CSSBMB), to research these issues more in-depth. Cosponsored by Rep. Frederica Wilson and Sen. Marco Rubio, the bipartisan 19-member taskforce was established to study and identify Black males’ lived experience and disparities.
CSSBMB’s Executive Director Mark Spencer’s role requires him to be a liaison. The commission features prominent political figures such as Rev. Al Sharpton and notes educational inequity to be a point of emphasis for this suffering demographic.
“We are in this moment, particularly after the pandemic, where educational attainment is under serious pressure and we have to intervene to improve, particularly for Black boys,” he said.
But the conversation that surrounds Black men and boys for Spencer requires historical context. He said it starts with slavery and race massacres during Jim Crow, and he embraces the “controversial” conversations.
“It has always been a challenge fighting against a social and legal structure that has always undermined the dignity of Black boys who become fathers,” Spencer said.
The former deputy chief prosecutor acknowledged the 1994 Crime Bill’s contribution to the mass incarceration of Black and brown males. Spencer said it ultimately augmented the current fatherhood crisis that Father and Families seeks to mitigate today.
“We highlight brave and conscientious people and organizations like Fathers and Families who are not waiting for government, but who are shuffled to the ground with their own initiatives and working to improve the lives of all Black people,” Spencer said. “We are saying to the White House, Congress and other decision makers, look at what’s happening in Indianapolis. [Fathers and Families] should be a program that if you invest in it can have great returns.”
A father with no father
The Fathers and Families center’s basement has an array of ties, shirts, pants, and shoes. The organization offers free wardrobe assistance to help men in need of men of professional clothing for the Strong Fathers graduation ceremony, job interviews and other events alike. (Photo/Mesgana Waiss)
For Smith, this line of work is personal. He grew up without his father, after his parents divorced when he was four. His mother and grandparents raised him, and although his grandfather served as a male role model, the absence of his father had a profound impact on his life.
“My goal was to be the opposite of my father,” Smith said. “I look to him as a teacher, he taught me how not to be a father.”
When Smith became a father at 16, he was determined to be present. And now at 53 it rings true for the father of three and grandfather of two. His two youngest children, a son who is a high school junior and class president, and a daughter who attends Howard University, are some of his proudest achievements.
“I’ve learned a great deal on how to become a better father since I’ve been here,” he said. “Shortly before taking my daughter to college, she was my intern. She has a better appreciation for what I do now.”
Smith was able to be involved with his family and graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts with a degree in Afro-American studies and earned an MBA from Stanford University. His other achievements include Indy’s Best and Brightest winner, an Indiana University Tobias fellow and being listed in the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Forty Under 40. Prior to his role at Fathers and Families, he served as director of development for the Hamilton County Community Foundation.
“I take community work as a badge of honor,” he said. “I sit on five community improvement boards and still find time to write my own column for the Indianapolis Recorder.”
As president and CEO of Fathers and Families, Smith has three main goals for the organization:
Expand the organization’s name recognition
Build more partnerships for their clientele
And raise money.
What does it mean to be a father in the 21st Century?
Father and Families offers two main programs. Strong Fathers is a free, three-week program offered year-round. From 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, participants attend sex education, financial literacy, conflict resolution and professional development classes.
“Most of the men like me grew up without a father.” Smith said. “We focus on the four P’s. The person, partner, protector and provider.”
Participants also have an opportunity to earn money weekly based strictly on their attendance and punctuality. Smith said this builds a culture that prepares the men for the workforce.
The other program works directly with men in correctional facilities who plan to be released within 30-90 days. Men at the jail voluntarily attend the Fathers and Families courses that mimic the Strong Fathers’ program sessions.
Smith said these classes prepare them to successfully integrate back into society. Fathers and Families also offers the men free STD testing and formal business attire.
Martin’s testimony
At the end of each Strong Fathers program, the organization holds a graduation ceremony to honor the hard work of the men. In 2001, Jeffery Martin sat in one of those chairs awaiting his name to be called.
The year prior, the Broad Ripple High School alumnus welcomed a daughter into the world. Life was difficult, and he struggled to pay child support. He saw a Fathers and Families commercial and knew someone who benefitted from the program. When he learned there was a financial incentive, he knew he had to give it a try.
Jeff Martin, an independent filmmaker and former Fathers and Families client, proudly holds the Heart of the Father award at the Faces of Fathers Luncheon. He was recognized for his community service and modeling fatherhood with the organization’s support. (Photo provided/Jeff Martin)
“Seeing a lot of the positive male figures who genuinely were trying to help, that always stuck with me,” Martin said. “That absolutely was what I needed at the time. I was fortunate to grow up with male role models but being an adult it’s easy for people to give up on you. They look at you as having missed your chance. But this organization still focused on me.”
Martin said nothing changed substantially in his life immediately after the Strong Fathers program. He was homeless and in a desperate search for a job. He went back to Fathers and Families to speak with former president and CEO Wallace McLaughlin.
He planned to attend an audio engineering school in Chillicothe, Ohio. McLaughlin insisted on helping Martin find a place to live first.
“I was like I can be homeless for a little bit longer if I can go to this school,” Martin said. “I knew that was my way.”
Fathers and Families agreed and provided Martin with more than half of the money to attend the 10-week certification course. He said that opportunity was the movement toward a sustainable life.
“The assistance didn’t stop at graduation,” he said. “I still had resources and tons of people behind me which made it easier for me to get out of homelessness.”
Martin said the organization taught him patience, which still accompanies him during difficult moments. He said being in the Fathers and Families’ setting he realized the importance of other people’s perspectives. This led him to put aside his differences with his oldest child’s mother to adhere to his responsibility as a father.
“I just remember having a talk with her and we put it all on the table,” Martin said. “It was then we built a bridge that we could get across.”
It is more than 22 years later, and Martin is an independent filmmaker. And he still manages to provide for his four children who range in age from 3-23.
“I would recommend Fathers and Families to anyone, fathers and couples,” he said. “It’s just a huge resource to the community.”
Fathers, families and the future
This year Fathers and Families developed a close partnership with Eastern Star Church. The center will begin construction training at the church’s main location on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis.
“This is a very important opportunity for our men to gain new skills,” Smith said.
Smith celebrates his first full year in this role replacing McLaughlin’s rather intimidating 29-year term. And he is not interested in following in his predecessor’s footsteps. He has a different idea for his next 28 years.
“My grand aspiration would be to eliminate the need for Fathers and Families to exist,” he said.
Why might you ask? It is not harmful optimism. He adds there will come a time when Fathers and Families will fulfill its need in the community.
“The ultimate goal of almost any nonprofit organization is to put itself out of business,” Smith said.
He said he hopes this happens soon so organizations like his can embark on challenging other issues related to the human condition. To learn more about Fathers and Families, visit fathersandfamiliescenter.org.
Recognizing its greater focus on the AES Indiana projects to modernize the grid, enhance customer experience, and community leadership, today, the AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) announced the appointment of Brandi Davis-Handy as President of AES Indiana. Davis-Handy most recently served as Chief Customer Officer and has spent eight years of her career with AES in Indiana.
“Brandi is a trusted business and community leader,” said Ken Zagzebski. “Brandi has demonstrated herself to have a strong grasp of our entire business and has a deep passion for our customers. Her capacity to effectively balance the business, customer and people sides of our work, and to operate at both the global and local level, will remain a significant asset for AES Indiana and our community.”
Ken Zagzebski will remain SVP of AES, President Utilities and CEO of AES Indiana. Davis-Handy will be accountable for the utility’s budget, advancing the utility customer experience, growth, regulatory, government affairs and community impact priorities.
“I look forward to working alongside our team to better meet our customers’ and communities’ needs and expectations as we accelerate the energy transition happening here in Central Indiana and across our state,” said Davis-Handy.
Born and raised in Indianapolis, Davis-Handy is a graduate of Lawrence Central High School and of Hampton University in Virginia. Davis-Handy returned to Indianapolis in 2005 after working as a journalist in North Carolina. Brandi previously held leadership positions at OneAmerica and Project Lead The Way. Her community involvement is deep and includes serving as chair of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana and GangGang, as well as serving on the boards of the Indiana Energy Association, Indy Chamber, Indiana Sports Corporation, 500 Festival and the Urban League of Indianapolis.
Along with the AES Indiana announcement, AES Ohio names Tom Raga President of AES Ohio.
