CHRISTEL HOUSE DORS RECEIVES 16 TECH GRANT
Friday, May 29, 2020
$500,000 in First Round of Grants Support Projects in Neighborhoods Near the 16 Tech Innovation District
INDIANAPOLIS – 16 Tech Community Corporation announced $500,000 in grant awards to 15 projects and resident-led initiatives that support the neighborhoods closest to the 16 Tech Innovation District. DORS, the adult high school that operates at Christel House Academy West received a grant to support the school’s job certification program.
The grants are the first awards of the 16 Tech Community Investment Fund, a community-focused fund launched in 2019 to ensure access, opportunity and revitalization of the neighborhoods in and around the 16 Tech Innovation District.
“The announcement of grant awards is the culmination of more than a year-long process to develop fund priorities and guidelines in partnership with the 16 Tech Investment Fund Advisory Committee, neighborhood associations and the City of Indianapolis. Grants will support new neighborhood-based projects and expand existing programs, helping residents start and grow small businesses, preserve and celebrate neighborhood culture and history, and deliver skills training for tomorrow’s workforce,” said Bob Coy, 16 Tech Community Corporation president and CEO. “As part of our grant process, neighborhood residents endorsed projects as having meaningful impacts on their communities, and we’re excited to support these initiatives.”
“We are so appreciative to have received the 16 Tech grant,” says Emily Masengale, Director and Founding Principal, Christel House DORS. “This grant gives us the opportunity to match students up with career certifications that can help them obtain jobs as trained professionals after graduation.” A survey from Strada Public Viewpoint on the COVID-19 Impact on Work and Education finds that “three out of five adults thinking about enrolling say they plan to pursue nondegree training, such as a certificate or select courses that would help them reskill or upskill.”
The 16 Tech Community Investment Fund is guided by an advisory committee of residents, city officials and organizational representatives with assistance from the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). The committee helps to ensure the fund and its grants align with projects identified as most impactful to residents in the Near West, Near Northwest and surrounding neighborhoods, including a focus on workforce training, business growth, education, community organizing, and infrastructure and beautification.
About Christel House Indianapolis
Established as a public charter school in 2002, Christel House Indianapolis (CHINDY) today operates multiple charter schools in Indianapolis—Christel House Academy South, serving at-risk students in grades K-12; Christel House Academy West currently serving grades K-7, and an adult high school - Christel House DORS, with locations at South, West and at Ivy Tech. CHINDY provides a holistic human development approach that focuses on building strong character to complement each student’s rigorous academic foundation. Through its College & Careers program, CHINDY continues to support its graduates through post-secondary education and job placement so they become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. Christel House Academy South was Indiana’s first charter school to receive the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform’s “School to Watch” designation. Additional recognition includes the Indiana Achievement and Breakthrough Schools Awards. It has also been named a 2018 National School of Character by Character.org. For more information, please visit www.chacademy.org.
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