FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 31, 2019
Herbert Mutumba Jr.
Circle Up Indy Staff Member
Phone: 317-350-3074
Email: Hmutumba2@gmail.com
Kelly Myint
PACE Director of Operations
Phone: 317-559-6140
Email: kmyint@paceindy.org
PACE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CIRCLE UP INDY PROUDLY HOSTS THE 4TH ANNUAL PEACE FESTIVAL
Living in poverty or living at a low socioeconomic status is one of the most significant social determinants of poor physical and mental health, intersecting with all other determinants including education, local social and community conditions, race/ethnicity, gender, immigration status, health and access to care, and neighborhood factors. Furthermore, the ramifications of untreated trauma, including untreated mental illness, untreated substance use disorders, the institutionalization experienced while incarcerated, and the absence felt by parents and children of loved ones who are incarcerated can be a determining factor for violence later in life.
In an effort to intentionally discuss and address trauma many families experience related to social and economic inequality, and to increase community accountability across the city, Circle Up Indy (CUI) and Public Advocates in Community re-Entry (PACE) are excited to partner for the first time to host the 4th annual Peace Festival from 1 PM to 6 PM on August 10, 2019 (formerly June 22, 2019) at Douglass Park. In addition to offering raffles with prizes (furniture, toys, tablets, gift cards, etc.) and a wide range of information and resources staffed by local organizations who will help us focus on addressing untreated trauma and community accountability through effective re-entry, the event will once again include the cornerstone of the event: a Community Hospital Healthcare Zone staffed by Community Hospital East nurses, physicians, and dozens of volunteers to provide attendees free mental and physical health screenings, free youth sports physicals, health and wellness information, as well as free gifts. Community Hospital East’s dedication to the Peace Festival has been unwavering since the inaugural event in 2014 and now, CUI is broadening the scope of the Peace Festival to include re-entry support issues by partnering with PACE.
This year, we are challenging everyone in our community to talk candidly about the issues that lead to violence and crime, and commit to action. We pose the question, “What can you do to help push back against the forces traumatizing Indianapolis communities?” Our effort is to specifically discuss and address the trauma many families experience related to social and economic inequality by increasing community accountability across the city. Personally taking community accountability can take many forms, including: donating time or money to any of the many organizations working to change the cycle of poverty and violence; staying informed and participating in community events; using the power of your vote to support elected officials who have demonstrated a concern for these issues; helping a neighbor in need; or, listening to those who are suffering and sharing your experience, knowledge, and compassion to help them find a positive way forward.
For the 2019 Peace Festival and throughout the year, CUI and PACE seeks to extend collective impact in Indianapolis by continuing active partnerships with Edna Martin Christian Center and One Voice to identify and resolve socioeconomic issues. Together, we will be promoting the following MB7 initiative, a seven-part list of priorities that mark the route to long-term change for the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood.
- 25th street corridor renaissance: focuses on utilizing identity projects, events, programs, and targeted development to enhance a four-mile stretch from the Monon Trail to Sherman Avenue
- Martindale-Brightwood food resource network: supports a network of local growing centers along with necessary infrastructure/delivery systems to ensure that fresh, healthy, affordable food is accessible to residents and connects with local and regional food-related entities for greater sustainability, outreach, education, and impact
- Martindale-Brightwood education zone and housing village: seeks to enable children to reach their maximum potential by providing well-coordinated, innovative, high-quality programs to help every student advance through school and provide critical supports for parents and caregivers in the Martindale-Brightwood community
- Leadership and legacy campus: a community linchpin and example of neighborhood renewal, the thirteen-acre campus is home to Edna Martin Christian Center’s inter-generational programming and is part of the 25th Street corridor renaissance project
- Community solutions and entrepreneurship center: seeks to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting new and existing entrepreneurs of all ages in small business and social capital development and provides a home for community-driven solution-oriented groups such as Martindale-Brightwood Quality of Life Plan committees
- Community voice news network: distributes publications such as a community calendar and e-newsletters as well as manages a YouTube channel and podcasts designed to inform, encourage, and mobilize the neighborhood
- PACE Recovery Resource Center: a collaborative initiative dedicated to providing a central point of information for substance use treatment and recovery for individuals re-entering the community following incarceration by utilizing professionals and volunteers who assist men, women, families, and communities in need of support after being affected by addiction
Through effective collaborations, this partnership hopes to connect Indianapolis residents to resources that will assist them in overcoming a wide variety of barriers. With the help of PACE, CUI will once again bring together nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, local businesses, decision makers, public safety officials, and community leaders to enrich the east side of Indianapolis with an abundance of diverse resources. This year however, we strive to ensure families who are impacted by incarceration also receive the services they need to be self-sufficient and live a life free of crime. Ultimately, the goal of the Peace Festival is to reduce violence in the community by building trust while increasing access to economic, education, health, and workforce development opportunities, but will also be an occasion to advocate and be the voice of those with criminal histories.
WHO: Free and open to everyone
WHEN: Saturday, August 10, 2019 from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
WHERE: Douglass Park, 1616 E.25th St., Indianapolis, IN 46218
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Founded in 1960, Public Advocates in Community re-Entry (PACE) is a nonprofit organization located in Indianapolis, Indiana and provides a variety of services to offenders, ex-offenders, and their families to lead productive and responsible lives in their community. Their vision is to ensure that people returning to the community from incarceration have the tools and resources to successfully re-enter; to promote public safety through effective re-entry; and to enhance community stabilization through reduced crime and increased productiveness. Learn more at www.paceindy.org.
Circle Up Indy’s mission is to rejuvenate and empower communities of Indianapolis by inspiring relationships, motivational mentoring, and encouraging education and connections. We hope to be a “concierge of resources” linking resources with those who need them. Learn more at www.circleupindy.com.