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Rev. Charles Williams' Legacy Park Advances
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The development of the Reverend. Charles Williams Park is a labor of love celebrating a man who transformed the Indiana Black Expo into one of Indianapolis' premier summer events and created the Circle City Classic, among other endeavors. This memorial park located at 3242 Sutherland Avenue along Fall Creek in the Crosstown Neighborhood, has advanced steadily since a public input process created the Master Plan in 2015, and the community created the Charles Williams Park Advisory Council (CWPAC) in 2019 to build community leverage in sharing the needs, dreams, and desires of the community in honoring Rev. Charles Williams.
Over the past three years, the CWPAC has banded together to steward the creation of high-quality, recreational programs and services for the park development. and acts as an advocate for the community to Indy Parks and Recreation. While the project has been met with delays due to COVID-19 pandemic, the CPWAC has remained undeterred in their mission to celebrate and honor Rev. Charles Williams. Once complete, the park should include youth and adult play areas, a performance area, and a connection to the Monon Trail. You can see the Concept Plan here.
This month, the CWPAC held elections to continue their mission of advocating for a park that meets the community's vision and elected Doug Day (President), Austin Taylor (Vice President), Glenna Smith (Treasurer), and Matzine Sanchez-Gutierrez (Secretary).
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Kheprw Institute Empowers Youth Leadership
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In 2021, Kheprw Institute (KI) became one of the newest members of ROW's Steering Committee. However, KI has been supporting entrepreneurs of color and building community wealth since 2003. What began as a single after-school initiative has grown to an organization that serves over 200 individuals through economy, education, environment, and empowerment, with a focus on youth through mentorship, leadership, and critical thinking.
KI engages the community in different program areas, developing programs that support local farmers, like the community controlled food initiative, and social enterprise, like the  Express Yourself Rain Barrels, which ROW and Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District (MCSWCD) collaborated with last year along Pogue's Run to host a workshop during The City League basketball tournament.
One ongoing KI program that has had tremendous community impact are their 'Mumbo Jumbo' dialogues. These weekly conversations are meant to capture the spirit of connection and give individuals a chance to build social bonds end explore conversations candidly. Another way KI continues to engage the Indy community is through their bi-weekly virtual book club. This year, KI is leading a discussion on Isabel Wilkerson's 'Caste'. The next conversation is tonight, February 23 from 6-7:30 PM.
KI is an important force in Indianapolis for advancing Black youth empowerment and community wealth for Black small business. ROW is seeking more collective opportunities to collaborate with KI along our waterways.
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2022 ROW Grants Available
to ROW Committees for Events and Projects.
Learn more here.
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