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ROW convenes community partners to enhance the quality of life through innovation, analysis, cultural advancement and investment along Indy waterways and in neighborhoods.

Andrea Drygas Joins ROW as Waterway Coordinator

ROW is thrilled to announce our new Waterway Coordinator who began her duties on October 22. Please join us in welcoming Andrea Drygas.

Andrea is a born and raised Hoosier who calls Indianapolis her home for the past year. A graduate of Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Andrea is passionate about community development, outdoor advocacy, and social justice. Prior to joining ROW, Andrea worked with Volunteers in Medicine of Monroe County (VIM), the Center of Excellence for Women & Technology (CEW&T), and most recently completed a term of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Ascend Indiana.

Andrea says: "Growing up in Northwest Indiana along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, I've always felt a deep connection to the water. Since calling Indianapolis home, I've felt the same connection to the waterways that define our city and am so excited to be in a position working with all the passionate folks committed to protecting and celebrating our natural community."

After more than two months of having this critical ROW contracted position vacant, we are so pleased that Andrea has joined Kelly and Julie on the ROW Team.

ROW thanks those who participated in the interview committee -- Jerry Shephard (Pogue's Run), Lisa Laflin (White River), Coach Greg Harger (White River), along with Julie Rhodes and Kelly Brown (ROW). We are working to get Andrea up to speed and look forward to her having an opportunity to meet all the wonderful ROW collective members, especially the heart and soul of ROW, our Waterway Committee members.

Funder Spotlight:
Herbert Simon Family Foundation

ROW is pleased to announce the we have again secured funding from the Herbert Simon Family Foundation through a partnership with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB). This funding will allow ROW to increase available Seed Subgrant dollars to ROW Committees for projects. In addition, some funding is dedicated to providing community outreach in the Riverside neighborhood and removing invasive species in Riverside Park near Lake Indy, working with Groundwork Indy and ROW's Central Canal Committee.

ROW received funding in 2018 which allowed several beneficial projects, including the ROW-wide Educational and Wayfinding Signage, the All Things Water educational brochure and Clear Choices Clean Water materials, and contributed to the Youth River Guide program. This funding provided financial support to KIB for waterway improvement projects, such as the Urban Temple (Pogue's Run) and Prospect Falls (Pleasant Run).

We are grateful to the Herbert Simon Family Foundation for their continued support of these important programs and projects that benefit our waterway neighborhoods and improve water quality.

New Exploration Guide Launched at ROWPort2020

During ROW's annual celebration of waterways, ROWPort 2020: Exploration & Celebration, we highlighted the efforts of the collective over the past year, and launched a new exploration guide.

If you joined us, we thank you! If you didn't have a chance, you can watch the program. Presented from the shores of our six waterways, the event offers welcoming remarks from ROW's leadership, includes an annual review of measurable accomplishments, highlights current waterway and element committee projects, shares some partner programs, and provides inspiring insights from many waterway community members.

We launched an exciting new Exploration Guide that highlights the recently installed ROW educational and wayfinding signage, beautiful natural spaces and vistas, placemaking destinations and more. We invite you to take your own adventure and explore all that our waterways have to offer. In addition to the illustrated map, there is an interactive digital version accessible from the webpage so you can plot your route and hit the trail today.

ROW's Collective Gets Creative in Annual Giving Events

The pandemic has challenged our entire ROW collective to get creative as organization seek to find new ways to engage our community and raise needed fund for programs and efforts. Here are a few ways collective members are creating fun, informative and beneficial efforts when annual fundraising events went virtual:

Arts Council of Indiana's (Re)Start With Art event offers poetry, music and more
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful's A Beautiful Evening UnGala provides inspiring stories of KIB's work around Indy
Southeast Neighborhood Development's SIX Days with SEND.

Indy's non-profit sector is facing challenges in their programming, priorities and funding due to COVID-19. We encourage you to support these and other local organizations if you are able.

Inclusive City 2020
Today - Wed, Oct 28
4 - 5:30 PM

In April 2019, Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) announced a new mission to mobilize people, ideas and investments to make Indy a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential -- no matter race, place or identify.

On Wednesday, Oct 28, CICF will provide an update on their commitment to dismantling systemic racism. Join CICF and community leaders joining together in this work, and learn how you can be a part of the plan of action for a more equitable Indianapolis.

There is still time to attend this virtual, interactive Inclusive City 2020 event broadcast live from the Madam Walker Legacy Center, RSVP here.

Events Calendar

*Most meetings are being held virtually for the foreseeable future.*

Sept 17: Fall Creek Meeting

Sept 28: Pleasant Run Meeting
Aug 26 & Sept 30 : White River Meeting
Sept 8 : Central Canal Meeting and Pogue's Run Meeting
Sept 9: Little Eagle Creek Meeting

One great way to get involved with ROW is to participate in a Waterway or Element Committee! Find details on the ROW events page or contact info@ourwaterways.org to get connected.

Make Your Voice Heard

Early voting is underway in Marion County with five new satellite locations now open in addition to the City-County Building. Learn about voting early through November 1 and on Election Day here. Wait time have been consistently long, and a new tool has been created to help estimate current wait times.

Communities Cleaning up Waterway Spaces

In many of ROW's waterway communities, neighbors stepped up and worked to keep beautiful the spaces that they value. Pleasant Run neighbors weed and pick up trash at Prospect Falls (top); Riverside neighborhood partners with Friends of the White River for a on-water and waterside clean up (2nd row left); SENSE Charter School and Pleasant Run neighbors picked up trash at Barth Bridge (2nd row right); Families cleaned up near the Emerichsville Dam (bottom left); Keep Indianapolis Beautiful helps the community maintain the Prospect Falls greenspace (bottom right).

Take Action to Improve Our Waterways

Residential Invasive Species Removal Guide

All Things Water: What a Homeowner Should Know

Clear Choices Clean Water Pledges

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Reconnecting to Our Waterways · 201 S. Capitol Ave · Suite 800 · Indianapolis, In 46225 · USA