The Work of Words 

Honoring National Poetry Month 
There is a kind of power that doesn’t announce itself with volume. 

It doesn’t march first. 
It doesn’t legislate. 
It doesn’t even always organize. 
It whispers. 

And yet, that whisper has always been where liberation begins. 

April is National Poetry Month, but for many of us, poetry has never been confined to a month. It has been a method. A mirror. A map. Long before policy shifts and program models, there were stories—spoken, written, sung—that helped people make sense of the world as it was, and imagine it as it could be. 

At Flanner House, we understand that storytelling is not ornamental to the work. It is the work. 

Because before a community can change its conditions, it must reclaim its narrative. 

For too long, too many of our communities have been described by what they lack. Data has been used as a diagnosis without ever being paired with a vision. But storytelling—real storytelling—interrupts that. It allows people to name themselves, to locate their own strength, to remember that they are not problems to be solved, but possibilities to be realized.  

That is the beginning of healing. 

Many years before I stepped fully into this work, I was a language arts teacher and a speech & debate coach. And of everything I taught, poetry was always my favorite. 

Not just the written word—but the performance of it. 

There is something transformative that happens when a young person stands in their own voice for the first time. When they stop reading someone else’s truth and start speaking their own. I watched students who had been labeled, tracked, and underestimated step into clarity, into confidence—into themselves. You could see it happen in real time. Minds opening. Shoulders lifting. Language becoming liberation. 

It was life-changing—for them, and for me. 

I remember the first time I encountered Etheridge Knight. He was the first poet I ever met who disrupted my understanding of what a poet could be. There was nothing distant or delicate about his work. It was grounded. It was lived. It carried the weight of experience and still found a way to move. He showed me that poetry didn’t belong to the academy—it belonged to the people. 

Years later, I met Mari Evans, and she taught me something just as important, though far less romantic. She taught me that sustaining a movement is not built on moments of brilliance alone, but on the discipline of daily work. Writing. Thinking.  

Showing up. Again and again. Even when it feels mundane.  

Especially when it feels mundane. 

That lesson stays with me. 

Because today, in a climate that often feels increasingly loud, divided, and dismissive of nuance, creative expression matters more than ever. Not as escape, but as resistance. Not as performance, but as practice. 

Poetry slows us down enough to feel. 

It sharpens us enough to see. 

It connects us enough to act. 

In our Child Development Center, that looks like young children learning to name their world with confidence and joy. In our wellness work, it looks like people finding language for pain they were told to suppress. In our broader community, it looks like spaces where truth can be spoken without fear and imagination can take root without limitation. 

This is how culture is built. 

This is how community is strengthened. 

This is how liberation becomes more than a theory. 

It becomes something we can speak into existence. 

And then, together, something we can build. 

WELLNESS CORNER: 

A MOMENT FOR YOU 

Journaling Prompt: 
What is a part of your story that deserves to be heard? 

Write it freely, without judgment. 

Taking just 5-10 minutes to write can support clarity, emotional release, and personal growth. 

POETRY LIVES HERE 

We are the rhythm of resilience, 
the echo of those before. 
Writing futures into existence, 
opening every door. 

At Flanner House, poetry isn’t confined to a page—it lives in our classrooms, our conversations, and our community spaces. 

At Ujamaa Community Bookstore, spoken word and literary gatherings create space for dialogue and cultural expression. Within our youth programs, journaling and creative writing help children build confidence and articulate their experiences. And at the Morningstar Afrocentric Wellness Center, reflection and storytelling are powerful tools for healing and self-discovery. 

“Poetry gave me a way to express what I didn’t always have the words to say out loud.” 

These moments—small yet powerful—are how voices are strengthened and communities are built. 

From the desk of the Chief Wellness Officer 

There is little that is more powerful in determining our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors than what we hear and listen to daily. Music, poetry, and lyrics are not simply for entertainment, they shape us. They become theme songs that play in the background of our minds. They are the fuel to our emotions, and if we’re not careful, they can become the instruction manual we follow when life gets hard. 

Often, song lyrics perform like spoken affirmations. When we hear words on repeat about struggle without hope, pain without solutions, or anger without direction, it inches its way along with the rhythm into our spirit. Repeated often enough, long enough, those messages can influence who we see ourselves, our future, and others. The opposite can also be true. When we choose words that uplift, motivate, encourage, and speak life, we can create a positive shift internally. 

Think about the soundtrack of your life. Identify the songs that get you through hard times. What message did they send? What emotion did they evoke? Those are the songs, the lyrics, the poems that connected you to your inner grit and determination. That’s not magic – that’s mental health in motion! Words matter. They are the gateway into our spirit. What we feed our minds shows up in how we think, how we talk, how we cope, and how we show up in the world. 

I want to invite you to be intentional. I challenge you to pay attention to what you’re feeding your spirit through your ears. Balance the expression of “real” with restorative. Let your playlist include healing, not just hurt. Allow the poetry and lyrics remind you of your resilience, not just your struggle. 

My dad used to say, “Garbage in, garbage out.” Since what you hear the most often feeds your heart, mind, and emotion, feed yourself something good. 

–Bwana Clements, MSW, LCSW 

Meet the Staff of Ujamaa Community Bookstore 

Dr. Adam Henze, Ujamaa Community Bookstore 

We Celebrate Poetry at Ujamaa 

Sometimes, I sit and wonder about the history of poetry and Flanner House. We know that Booker T. Washington famously helped us found our charter over 120 years ago, but did he ever gather poets on the front steps of a Flanner Home? My colleague, Norm Minnick, even found a 1980s application from Indianapolis poet, Etheridge Knight, asking to stage a play here, though whether Flanner accepted remains unknown. Etheridge seemed to believe Flanner was at least adjacent to the Black Arts Movement. Surely, there’s a deeper poetry history here than our elders can recall. 

What we do know: our poetry program, Volta, is now four years old. It features a monthly open mic hosted by two talented teenage students (Aalihya Banks and Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri) free to attend, with free food provided. Each show opens the mic to local writers, with occasional competitions like poetry slams or haiku battles. Community organizers also host their own poetry events at Ujamaa Community Bookstore. 

Ujamaa Community Bookstore also hosts creative writing workshops, including Rashida Greene’s ARC (Artists Resisting Complacency) Workshop, a peer-led BIPOC monthly writing workshop, and Dr. Austin Ashford’s programming, which weaves hip hop and theatre arts into poetry practice. Poetry is alive and well here. Which is why we’re excited to announce the first annual Ujamaa Poetry Festival, taking place April 25th from 2:00 to 9:00 PM. The evening begins with family activities, moves into writing workshops for adults and teens, and culminates with a special edition of the Volta open mic at 7:00 PM. Hosts will be announced in late April on Instagram. 

We believe poetry helps people tap into their history, their emotions, their community, and the things words can’t yet describe. We hope to see you on April 25th! 

Keaun Michael Brown:  

Keaun Brown is a bookseller at Ujamaa Community Bookstore and currently in the process of completing his undergraduate degree at IU Indianapolis in May 2026. Keaun has a love of books and facilitates the “Paper Airplanes” book club. 

People often ask me where all my ideas come from, how I manage the community organizing I do, where the new inventions and art my creative brain produces stem from. I always tell them the same answer—I don’t sugarcoat it: it’s rage. 

I am a Black man in America; to hold that identity is a prescription for a lifetime of rage at the condition of my people. However, I have often said that this world has too many soldiers—it does not have enough healers. This is where my pen has saved me. I use poetry as a means of representation and storytelling. It’s a tool to remind myself, and my community, that their experiences are real—that their emotions are legitimate. Through this, I hope to heal the wounds of my people, to allow them to shed their armor and let hidden scars be caressed and shown love. I think it’s beautiful to repurpose a language forced upon my people to heal the very wounds it caused. 

This piece that I wrote was about the anger I felt seeing the plight of my people, and the moments where I feel distrust in God’s plan or his message- and the ultimate decision to restrengthen and recommit my faith in Him. 

BLACK PEARLS OF ACKEE  by Keanu Michael Brown 

I was often told; 

“The pen is always mightier than the sword.” 

But I do not wish for ink to stain my palms any longer, I have grown weary from the limitations of the page. 

When she comes to me, eyes barren where once innocence was held, I wish to arm her chest with munitions- make her flowers prickly with grenades.’’ 

I wish to look down and see my hands caked in dried blood, as the water rehydrates it to fall harmlessly into the sink- washing away perils of yesterday. I hope for the heat of the towel to be warmth of tomorrows sun. 

When he comes to me, begs me to explain why he is armed wit a paintbrush to a pistol, I am ashamed at how weak my words feel on the tip of my tongue.  

I wish to hold the power of God. 

To bless those who I deemed to have suffered, to smite those who only I have deemed to have oppressed. 

Perhaps, this is the very reason why they have armed me with a Pen. 

May my God guide me. 

LaVaja Moore: 

LaVaja Moore has been affiliated with Flanner House for over 3 years. She started as a participant in the F.E.E.D program to eventually being hired at Cleo’s Bodega. LaVaja currently serves as a bookseller in Ujamaa. You can often find her performing poetry during Open Mic events.  

For me, poetry is a reminder that the glass is always half full. Being a 23-year-old Black woman in this world can be heavy, and poetry is my safe space—a place where I can set the weight of the world down and simply be. There is no need for perfection—no rules or regulations, no stipulations or expectations. Sometimes the pages are a mess, filled with scattered thoughts and unfinished ideas. Other times, my fingers cramp from writing so much. At all times, it serves as a gentle reminder that, if nowhere else, it is between the lines and stanzas I create where I can exist unfiltered and unapologetically. 

“GRACE” by LaVaja Moore 

You peel back the layers, one by one 
& sometimes find a stranger in your own skin 
The mask you wore to keep the bad out 
Was never meant to let the good in 

You learn that healing isn’t clean 
Its ugly cries and silent nights Its cursing gods you used to trust 
And craving wrongs that once felt right. 
It’s sometimes making the same mistakes 
Like a constant loop of repeat or copy and paste 
It’s learning to love the parts of you that you once used to hate. 

You miss the version that always knew what to say, 
Even if she was lying through her smile or just trying to save face 
Now you just sit with the ache in your chest 
And hope that the truth feels worth it… in a while. 

You touch your scars like braille and pray 
They’ll one day tell you who you used to be 
But they only speak in riddles now, 
And beg you just to set them free. 

Getting to know yourself is pain and grace, 

It’s breaking mirrors just to find your face. 

It’s singing at the top of your lungs in the shower or 
dancing in the rain & giving yourself a twirl 

Or simply doing the things reminds you that you’re just a girl 
It’s unlearning silence you once thought was strong, 
Admitting had it messed up all along 
It’s choosing your softness, even when it’s abused 
And loving your gentle heart, even when it’s being used. 

Getting to know yourself is 
building a home where no else one claps, 
And loving the girl who’s still learning how to relax 

For me it’s 
It’s messy. It’s heavy. It’s starting again. 
No map, no script, just ink, paper and pen. 
And maybe I won’t know her name for a while… 
I gotta believe that when I do 

She’ll make me proud and make me smile 
She’ll make me know that it was all worthwhile.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT  

2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four and Indiana Sports Corp 

Not all gifts come in the form of dollars; some arrive through connection, generosity, and community.  

Thanks to Rachele Leininger, a parent in our Child Development Center, Flanner House received a special donation of NCAA Men’s Final Four basketballs through the Indiana Sports Corp. This thoughtful contribution created moments of joy and inspiration for our children, reminding us that impact comes in many forms. We are deeply grateful for partners who open doors and create meaningful experiences for our community. 

SAVE THE DATES – 2026 

Juneteenth Celebration: Friday, June 19^th 

Flanner House proudly invites the community to gather in celebration of freedom, culture, and legacy for its annual Juneteenth Celebration—an event that continues to grow as a vibrant expression of history, resilience, and collective joy. This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as it coincides with the 5th anniversary of Ujamaa Community Bookstore, a cornerstone of culture, literacy, and Black economic empowerment on the Near Westside. 

Golf Outing Monday, August 3^rd 

Spend a meaningful summer day on the greens while supporting community impact! 

Join Flanner House on Monday, August 3, 2026, for our annual Golf Outing at The Country Club of Indianapolis. Enjoy great company, friendly competition, and a beautiful course—all for a powerful cause. A portion of proceeds benefits the Joyce Johnson Memorial Scholarship, honoring a woman whose life’s work centered on education, service, and clearing pathways for others to succeed. 

Register Here

128th Anniversary Gala Friday, October 9^th 

Join Flanner House as we celebrate 128 years of impact, resilience, and community at our Anniversary Gala! This unforgettable evening will honor the individuals whose dedication and hard work drive lasting change across Indianapolis.  

Don’t miss a night of inspiration, connection, and celebration as we reflect on our shared legacy and invest together in the future we are building—one life at a time. 

COMMIT NOW FOR 2026 

We’re preparing for our 128th Anniversary celebration this year and invite you to confirm your early sponsorship commitment! Sponsors will be featured in our announcements and event marketing materials. If you’ve supported Flanner House in the past but were unable to join us in 2025, we’d love to welcome you back!  

Join us today and help us continue growing a brighter future together. 

Commit today by clicking here! 

Juneteenth Celebration: Friday, June 19^th 

Flanner House proudly invites the community to gather in celebration of freedom, culture, and legacy for its annual Juneteenth Celebration—an event that continues to grow as a vibrant expression of history, resilience, and collective joy. This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as it coincides with the 5th anniversary of Ujamaa Community Bookstore, a cornerstone of culture, literacy, and Black economic empowerment on the Near Westside. 

Golf Outing: Monday, August 3^rd 

Enjoy great company, friendly competition at The Country Club of Indianapolis—all for a powerful cause. A portion of proceeds benefits the Joyce Johnson Memorial Scholarship, honoring a woman whose life’s work centered on education, service, and clearing pathways for others to succeed. 

128th Anniversary Gala: Friday, October 9^th 

Flanner House proudly invites the community to gather in celebration of freedom, culture, and legacy for its annual Juneteenth Celebration—an event that continues to grow as a vibrant expression of history, resilience, and collective joy. This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as it coincides with the 5th anniversary of Ujamaa Community Bookstore, a cornerstone of culture, literacy, and Black economic empowerment on the Near Westside. 

COMMIT NOW FOR 2026 

We’re preparing for our 128th Anniversary celebration this year and invite you to confirm your early sponsorship commitment! 

Sponsors will be featured in our announcements and event marketing materials. 

If you’ve supported Flanner House in the past but were unable to join us in 2025, we’d love to welcome you back!  

Join us today and help us continue growing a brighter future together. 

Commit today by scanning the QR Code below! 

The post April Newsletter appeared first on Flanner House.

Stay Connected & Donate Today! 

Your donation enables Flanner House to provide educational, social, and economic resources that foster stabilization and self-sufficiency. Your tax-deductible gift directly impacts lives. Donate today!  

Letter from the Chief Executive Officer 

Dr. Brandon D. Cosby 

Women Who Build the Village 
Honoring Women’s History Month 

March is Women’s History Month — a time to recognize the countless ways women have shaped our families, our institutions, and the very fabric of our communities. Across generations, women have been builders of movements, guardians of culture, organizers of neighborhoods, and architects of the systems of care that allow communities to thrive. Their labor has not always been centered in the official telling of history, but the truth is that much of what holds society together has been sustained by the leadership, vision, and courage of women. 

This is especially true for women of Color, and particularly Black women, whose contributions have often been forged under the weight of both racial and gender injustice. From the abolitionist movement to the civil rights movement, from classrooms to courtrooms, from kitchens to boardrooms, Black women have consistently stood at the forefront of community building. Women like Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Mary McLeod Bethune, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, and Shirley Chisholm did more than challenge injustice — they built structures that expanded opportunity for generations that followed. Their work reminds us that leadership is not always loud or celebrated, but it is steady, courageous, and deeply rooted in a commitment to collective progress. 

Black women have also long been the backbone of community institutions across the country. Long before many organizations had formal funding or recognition, it was women who organized mutual aid networks, taught children, fed neighbors, cared for elders, and held communities together during times of crisis. Their work has always been about more than survival. It has been about dignity, possibility, and creating pathways forward when systems failed to provide them. 

At Flanner House, the legacy of women’s leadership runs deep. From its earliest days in 1898, women played a central role in shaping the organization’s mission and its presence in the Near Northwest community. Educators, organizers, and community leaders helped build the foundation that allowed Flanner House to become a place where Black families could access education, opportunity, and support. 

One remarkable example of this legacy is that Madam C.J. Walker, the pioneering entrepreneur and the first self-made female millionaire in America,  

once taught business classes at Flanner House. Long before entrepreneurship became a buzzword, Walker was sharing knowledge, encouraging economic independence, and demonstrating what was possible when Black women claimed ownership of their talents and their futures. 

That tradition of women shaping this institution continued through leaders like France Malone, who dedicated 42 years of service to Flanner House and  

retired as our Director of Education. Her steady leadership helped shape the philosophy and care that define our Child Development Center today. Generations of children and families benefited from her belief that  

every child deserves a nurturing environment where they can grow intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Even today, the work happening in our classrooms carries the imprint of her commitment. 

Across 128 years, women have helped make Flanner House more than an agency. They have made it an anchor for families and a builder of opportunity in our neighborhood. 

Women’s History Month is not simply about reflection; it is about recognition. It is about acknowledging that many of the strongest institutions in our society exist because women refused to accept the limitations placed before them. They built, organized, taught, cared, and led — often without the credit they deserved, but always with the determination to create something better for the next generation. 

At Flanner House, we are proud to carry forward a legacy shaped by women who believed deeply in the power of community. Their work reminds us that real change is rarely the result of a single moment or a single leader. It is built over time by people who show up, care deeply, and commit themselves to the long work of building something that will outlast them. 

This month, and every month, we honor the women who built the foundation — and the women who continue to build the future. 

Celebrating Women in Leadership 

Debra White, Chief Operations Officer 

As we celebrate women this month, I am honored to join in as a Black woman, especially alongside so many great women who open doors to leadership opportunities. Serving at the oldest Black agency in Indianapolis, Flanner House, is a joy. Flanner House has been making an impact for over 128 years, and I have spent over 14 years here. Currently, I serve as COO. It is a privilege to work alongside Dr. Brandon D. Cosby, CEO of Flanner House, who supports others in shining, rather than being intimidating or seeing himself as a threat.  

Often, Black women in leadership are seen as aggressive, weak, or threatened by men. I remember Brandon having a serious conversation with me about my leadership as a Black woman, encouraging me to be confident in myself, recognize my value, and know I belong not just at the table but in every space within the agency. It is rewarding to be part of this history and to work with an excellent team as we continue to support and lead individuals and families on the path to self-reliance. During this special month, I invite each of us to look for ways to amplify and support the voices of Black women in our community. 

Whether by mentoring, lifting up a peer’s accomplishments, or creating spaces for new leaders to shine, we can all play a part in extending both celebration and opportunity. Together, let’s make sure our appreciation leads to greater recognition, inclusion, and action throughout the year. 

Celebrating Women in Leadership 

Sarah Zike, Chief Financial & Program Officer 

Imagine living in a world where there is no domination, …but where a vision of mutuality is the ethos shaping our interaction. Imagine living in a world where we can all be who we are, a world of peace and possibility” … “it will make it possible for us to be fully self-actualized” … “able to create beloved community, to live together, realizing our dreams of freedom and justice, living the truth that we are all “created equal.” -bell hooks 

Public white culture—the things we learn in school, the things covered in media, the legal ‘protections’ that exist, the pictures we see in magazines and popular media—dresses things up to have us believe that we are living in mutuality, writ large. That white culture is benevolent, equal, collaborative and inclusive in all efforts. Therefore, the dominance and oppression minoritized communities have decried for centuries is illusory and radical. 

As a white woman, I, like many of my white counterparts, have been conditioned to believe that the mutualism hooks refers to is what we have been living since the Emancipation Proclamation and the feminism of the 1970’s. Stepping foot into Flanner House three years ago, I knew work for justice and mutuality was what I wanted to do, to preserve, or whatever the social/political/economic climate called for. What I found here was that I didn’t recognize how vast the gulf was between reality and perception.  

Flanner House is a different kind of place. In this place, I have seen a different reality that doesn’t match the perception of my own culture. The vast majority of staff members are Black women in all positions of leadership and responsibility—teaching babies in the CDC, building food ecosystems through the farm, the bodega, and the café, running operations, providing case management and counseling. Coming into this space, mutuality is what happens here, and it was the first time I had seen it in a workspace.  

What happens at Flanner House is what happens in environments when voices aren’t silenced; when cultural and gender representation isn’t something to guard against and homogenize; when our differences are strengths that are celebrated, embraced, and recognized. Our work, powered by openness, empathy and love, largely by the hands of women, is the beloved community, if even at this small scale, and has been for 128 years. 

MEET THE WOMEN ON THE FLANNER HOUSE BOARD 

Deb Lawrence, Board President: 
Deb Lawrence serves as Vice President for Administration and General Counsel at Marian University and leads Flanner House as Board President, guiding strategy, governance, impact. 

Gloria Crawford: 
Gloria Crawford serves as Vice President and Community Reinvestment Officer at Lake City Bank and brings financial expertise, community insight, and leadership to her role on the Flanner House Board. 

Dr. Paricia Payne: 
Dr. Patricia A. Payne, educator and IPS consultant, champions educational equity and social justice. A former teacher, she founded the Crispus Attucks Center advancing student excellence. 

Carolyn Watts: 
Carolyn Watts, retired Human Services Consultant for the State of Indiana, is a near Northwest Indianapolis resident and dedicated Flanner House board member committed to community service. 

Celebrating Women in Leadership  

Mercedes J. Guyse, MBA, Employer Relationship Manager 

Flanner House and Eskenazi Health Connect Community Members to Healthcare Careers Through Workforce Workshop 

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Flanner House Workforce Development partnered with Eskenazi Health to host an “Introduction to Healthcare Careers” workshop for community members interested in entering the healthcare field. The event, held at Flanner House, drew approximately 10 participants and was designed to connect local residents directly with healthcare career opportunities. 

The workshop was led by Natalie Weisenbach, Community Talent Partner at Eskenazi Health, who provided an overview of entry-level and advancement pathways across the organization. She highlighted opportunities in patient care, environmental services, hospitality, and other clinical and non-clinical roles, while also outlining Eskenazi Health’s hiring process, employee benefits, workplace culture, and opportunities for continued education and career growth. Emphasis was placed on the importance of certifications, strong soft skills, and a commitment to patient-centered care. 

Following the presentation, participants took part in a meet-and-greet session with Weisenbach, allowing for one-on-one conversations about career interests, application tips, and next steps. This interactive component gave attendees practical guidance and a direct connection to a hiring representative within one of Indianapolis’ largest healthcare systems. 

The session was the second installment of Flanner House’s “Careers, Conversations, and Connections” workshop series, which brings employers into the community to speak directly with potential candidates. Attendance was consistent with the first workshop in the series, which featured the Mosaic Center and IU Health. A future session is planned with Fastenal, with details to be announced on Flanner House social media channels one to two weeks in advance. 

DONOR SPOTLIGHT 

Moonchild Partners with Flanner House Highlighting Mental Health 

On Sunday, March 15, Los Angeles–based R&B and jazz trio Moonchild combined music with community engagement during their performance at Old National Centre. As part of their tour, the band highlights local organizations making meaningful contributions in the cities they visit. 

This year’s focus is mental health, and Flanner House was invited to share its work and impact. During the program, CEO, Dr. Brandon Cosby, and Chief Wellness Officer, Bwana Clements (Morningstar), participated in a brief onstage interview, engaged with attendees, and encouraged audience members to support community wellness initiatives. 

In a meaningful gesture of support, Moonchild also donated $1 from every ticket sold that evening to Flanner House, further advancing the organization’s efforts to expand access to mental health and wellness resources in the community. 

YOUR GIFT MATTERS! 

SAVE THE DATES – 2026 

Golf Outing Monday, August 3^rd 

Spend a meaningful summer day on the greens while supporting community impact! 

Join Flanner House on Monday, August 3, 2026, for our annual Golf Outing at The Country Club of Indianapolis. Enjoy great company, friendly competition, and a beautiful course—all for a powerful cause. A portion of proceeds benefits the Joyce Johnson Memorial Scholarship, honoring a woman whose life’s work centered on education, service, and clearing pathways for others to succeed. 

Register Here

128th Anniversary Gala Friday, October 9^th 

Join Flanner House as we celebrate 128 years of impact, resilience, and community at our Anniversary Gala! This unforgettable evening will honor the individuals whose dedication and hard work drive lasting change across Indianapolis.  

Don’t miss a night of inspiration, connection, and celebration as we reflect on our shared legacy and invest together in the future we are building—one life at a time. 

COMMIT NOW FOR 2026 

We’re preparing for our 128th Anniversary celebration this year and invite you to confirm your early sponsorship commitment! Sponsors will be featured in our announcements and event marketing materials. If you’ve supported Flanner House in the past but were unable to join us in 2025, we’d love to welcome you back!  

Join us today and help us continue growing a brighter future together. 

Commit today by clicking here! 

The post March Newsletter appeared first on Flanner House.

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Dr. Brandon D. Cosby

Black History Month at Flanner House: Celebration, Defiance, and the Work Ahead

This year, Black History Month arrives with uncommon weight—and uncommon clarity.

It marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, a tradition rooted in the radical insistence that Black life, Black brilliance, and Black contribution must be named, studied, and honored. It also coincides with the 250^th anniversary of the United States, a nation still deciding whether it will tell the full truth about itself.

The irony is not lost on us.

As the country prepares to celebrate its founding, there are active efforts underway to erase, restrict, or distort the history of Black people—through book bans, censored curricula, and the quiet removal of our stories from public memory. Yet Black history persists, because it has always had to. 

At Flanner House, we choose both celebration and defiance.  

For nearly 128 years, Flanner House of Indianapolis has stood in the current of American history.  We are younger than the country – but older than the holiday dedicated to remembering Black History.  As a result, we have seen some things. And we have learned a few things along the way.

We have learned that progress is never permanent without protection. That truth must be practiced, not just proclaimed. That Black communities do not need saving—but they do deserve investment, infrastructure, and the freedom  to define their own futures.

From our earliest days supporting Black families navigating migration, segregation, and exclusion, to our present-day work advancing food sovereignty, mental wellness, literacy, workforce development, early childhood education, and homeownership, Flanner House has always believed the same thing: Black communities deserve the tools to thrive on their own terms.  

Black history is not supplemental.

It is not optional.

Black history is American history—written into its economy, its culture, its resistance movements, and its unfinished promises.

As the United States turns 250, we remain clear-eyed and committed. We celebrate because we are still here.

We are defiant because the work is not done. 

How You Can Honor Black History Month with Us

• Donate to support dignity-centered, community-led work that strengthens Black families not just in moments of crisis, but for generations to come.
• Attend our programs, events, and community gatherings—because presence is a form of solidarity.
• Reflect on the histories you were taught, the ones you were not, and the responsibility we all share to tell the truth.
• Read and support our Black bookstore, Ujamaa Community Bookstore, a living archive of Black thought, culture, and imagination.
• Shop at Cleo’s Bodega & Café—whether you’re grabbing a meal at the café or groceries at the bodega—because food access, ownership, and joy are part of the history we are still building.

Black history lives here—at Flanner House, in our neighborhoods, in our families, and in the future we are building together.

As CEO of Flanner House, I walk daily in the tension between legacy and possibility. We are caretakers of a story older than the holiday that names us and younger than the country still learning to tell the truth about itself. Black History Month reminds me that our work is not about preserving the past in amber, but about carrying it forward with intention, courage, and love. Thank you for walking with us, investing in us, and believing that communities rooted in dignity can shape a future worthy of our ancestors and our children alike. We build because we remember. We remember because we believe. 

FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR OF FOOD JUSTICE

CANDACE BOYD-SIMMONS

The Flanner House Greenhouse is part of Flanner House’s long standing commitment to food justice, workforce development, and community care on the near-west side of Indianapolis. Opened in 2023, this state of the art greenhouse is growing thousands of pounds of culturally relevant vegetables, fruits and herbs in the middle of the what some would call “the hood.” But it is a part of a deeper legacy. 

The produce grown helps address food insecurity by increasing access to fresh, affordable food in neighborhoods historically impacted by disinvestment. 

The greenhouse supports year-round growing; seed starts, and specialty crops that feed into Flanner House’s urban farm and community distribution efforts.

FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 

EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

MERCEDES J. GUYSE, MBA

Skills to Success Sees Record Demand

Flanner House’s Skills to Success Workforce Development Program has surpassed 200 registrations for its upcoming cohort, signaling strong and growing demand for structured workforce pathways that lead to stable, family-sustaining employment.

While serving as a gateway to industry-recognized certification training, Skills to Success program equips participants with foundational workplace competencies:

• Communication
• Professionalism
• Time Management
• Financial Literacy, and 
• Goal Setting

Graduates are connected to credentialed career pathways in high-demand fields such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Early Childhood Education, Construction, Information Technology, and other sectors aligned with regional workforce needs. This integrated model reduces common barriers to employment by pairing readiness training with direct access to occupational credentials, maximizing participant outcomes and funder impact. Record enrollment demonstrates both the urgency of workforce disruption and the effectiveness of Flanner House’s approach in advancing economic mobility across Indianapolis.

FROM THE DESK OF UJAMAA COMMUNITY BOOKSTORE

IT’S BACK!:  THE INDY INDIE BOOK CRAWL 2026

Ujamaa Community Bookstore will join more than 30 locations across the city for the 3rd Annual Indy Indie Book Crawl, taking place March 19–22, 2026.

Visitors are invited to stop by Ujamaa to explore a curated selection of books, new plants, and unique merchandise from local Black-owned vendors. The weekend also includes a free variety show on Friday, March 20, beginning at 7:00 p.m.— an experience not to be missed. 

No purchase necessary. The more locations you visit, the more chances you have to win exciting prizes, including gift cards, merchandise, and other giveaways.

How to Participate:

Step 1: Pick up a bookmark and bingo card at any participating location beginning March 19.
Step 2: Visit as many locations as possible and collect stamps on your bookmark and bingo card.
Step 3: After completing your crawl, submit the entry form to be entered into the prize drawing.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

With Gratitude to Our Community Partner: Northside New Era Church

Northside New Era Church, located at 517 W. 30th St. Indianapolis, IN, 46208, has served the community with faith and purpose since 1939.

We are deeply grateful for their generous partnership and shared commitment to opportunity, dignity, and lasting impact.  Through their investment, families receive critical support; students are better prepared for success, and neighbors gain access to the resources they need to thrive.

SAVE THE DATES – 2026

Golf Outing – Monday, August 3^rd

Spend a meaningful summer day on the greens while supporting community impact!

Join Flanner House on Monday, August 3, 2026, for our annual Golf Outing at The Country Club of Indianapolis. Enjoy great company, friendly competition, and a beautiful course—all for a powerful cause. A portion of proceeds benefits the Joyce Johnson Memorial Scholarship, honoring a woman whose life’s work centered on education, service, and clearing pathways for others to succeed.

128th Anniversary Gala – Friday, October 9^th 

Join Flanner House as we celebrate 128 years of impact, resilience, and community at our Anniversary Gala. 

This unforgettable evening will honor the individuals whose dedication and hard work drive lasting change across Indianapolis. 

Don’t miss a night of inspiration, connection, and celebration as we reflect on our shared legacy and invest together in the future we are building—one life at a time.

COMMIT NOW FOR 2026

We’re preparing for our 128^th Anniversary celebration this year and invite you to confirm your early sponsorship commitment! Sponsors will be featured in our announcements and event marketing materials.

If you’ve supported Flanner Houe in the past but were unable to join us in 2025, we’d love to welcome you back! Join us today and help us continue growing a brighter future together. 

The post FEBRUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER:  DEEP ROOTS, BRIGHT FUTURE appeared first on Flanner House.

As we welcome the year ahead, we wish you continued health, renewed energy, and many moments of joy. Thank you for your partnership and the meaningful ways you support our shared work. Here’s to a bright, successful, and fulfilling year ahead.

Your donation enables Flanner House to provide educational, social, and economic resources that foster stabilization and self-sufficiency. Your tax-deductible gift directly impacts lives. Donate today!

Letter from the Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Brandon D. Cosby
Season of Strength: Reflecting on 2025, Stepping into 2026

As we welcome 2026, we pause to reflect on a year defined by resilience, progress, and community care. In 2025, Flanner House continued a 127-year tradition of standing alongside our neighbors—because of you.

Your generosity, trust, and partnership transformed lives. Behind every outcome is a story: a family finding stability, a young adult stepping into opportunity, a neighbor reminded they are not alone. This work has never been about charity; it has always been about partnership and shared responsibility.

We are especially grateful for the Efroymson Family Fund, whose early investment in Flanner Farms helped grow our Food Justice ecosystem, including Cleo’s Bodega, workforce pathways, and SNAP Relief. Their continued support in 2025 strengthened families through holiday and grocery assistance.

Because you walked beside us in 2025, together we:

• Supported more than 2,500 neighbors through food access, education, wellness, and senior services
• Expanded Skills to Success for young adults facing significant barriers
• Provided 5,000+ hours of clinical therapy and wraparound support
• Distributed over $50,000 in groceries during times of sudden need

As we step into 2026, we remain guided by a simple truth: strength is something we build together. Every act of generosity carries our community forward. Thank you for being part of Flanner House’s Season of Strength.

Save the Dates – 2026

Golf Outing

Monday, August 3, 2026

Spend a meaningful summer day on the greens while supporting community impact! Join Flanner House on Monday, August 3, 2026, for our annual Golf Outing at Country Club Hills Golf Course. Enjoy great company, friendly competition, and a beautiful course—all for a powerful cause.

A portion of proceeds benefits the Joyce Johnson Memorial Scholarship, honoring a woman whose life’s work centered on education, service, and clearing pathways for others to succeed.

128th Anniversary Gala

Friday, October 9

Join Flanner House as we celebrate 128 years of impact, resilience, and community at our Anniversary Gala. This unforgettable evening will honor the individuals whose dedication and hard work drive lasting change across Indianapolis.

Don’t miss a night of inspiration, connection, and celebration as we reflect on our shared legacy and invest together in the future we are building—one life at a time.

Commit Now for 2026

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors for helping make the Flanner House 127th Anniversary Gala – Deep Roots. Bright Future. – a tremendous success.

We’re already preparing for our 128th Anniversary celebration in 2026 and invite you to confirm your early sponsorship commitment.

Sponsors who complete the form by February 15, 2026 will be featured in our early Q1 announcements and event marketing materials.

If you’ve supported Flanner House in the past but were unable to join us in 2025, we’d love to welcome you back!

Join us today and help us continue growing a brighter future together.

Celebrating Dr. Cosby’s 10-Year Anniversary

Congratulations Dr. Cosby!

Dr. Brandon D. Cosby has led Flanner House through a period of bold growth, innovation, and renewed commitment to community-centered impact. His leadership has honored the organization’s legacy while courageously expanding what is possible for the families and neighborhoods we serve.

Under Dr. Cosby’s guidance, Flanner House launched its first urban farm—laying the foundation for a comprehensive food justice ecosystem. That vision came to life with the opening of Cleo’s Café & Bodega, increasing access to healthy food while creating workforce pathways and economic opportunity. His leadership also supported the growth of cultural and intellectual space through Ujamaa Community Bookstore, a hub for literacy, dialogue, and community connection.

Most recently, Dr. Cosby championed the opening of the Morningstar Wellness Center, advancing holistic health and wellness for families through integrated, compassionate care.

Dr. Cosby leads with integrity, strategy, and heart—bringing together staff, partners, and supporters around a shared vision rooted in dignity and possibility. His ability to translate mission into measurable impact continues to strengthen Flanner House as a trusted anchor institution.

We are deeply grateful for his leadership, vision, and unwavering belief in community power.

From the Desk of the Director of Food Justice

Candace Boyd-Simmons

Flanner House is proud to partner with the Diabetes Impact Project – Indianapolis Neighborhoods (DIP-IN), an initiative focused on improving quality of life for people living with diabetes through reduced complications, increased awareness and early screening, and strengthened community leadership.

Through civic engagement and supportive environments, DIP-IN advances healthier, more resilient neighborhoods. As our partnership comes to a close, we invite you to hear a message from our Community Health Worker, Marche Sherlock:

A Message from Marche Sherlock

My name is Marche Sherlock, and I am a Community Health Worker. I have been living with diabetes since I was nine years old.

The Diabetes Impact Project came into my life at the perfect time. About a year before joining DIP-IN, I had already begun taking better care of my diabetes, but becoming part of this organization changed everything. Over the past year and a half, I can honestly say I don’t know where my health would be today had I not been connected to the Diabetes Impact Project.

Through DIP-IN, I learned so much more about diabetes—not just clinically, but personally and communally. I was able to help others in my community by sharing my story and listening to theirs. I also began prioritizing my physical health and took full advantage of Brewster Boxing, one of DIP-IN’s partnerships serving the Near Northwest community. Through that opportunity, I lost a total of 25 pounds and gained confidence, discipline, and strength.

During this same period, I faced one of the most difficult challenges of my life. Despite my diabetes being well-managed, I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. My right retina detached, and I lost vision in my right eye. I underwent two surgeries and experienced a period of blindness that completely changed my world.

Through it all, the Diabetes Impact Project never left my side. They checked on me weekly, sent flowers during my recovery, made sure I was fed, and—most importantly—worked with me so I could keep my job during such an uncertain time. Living with a chronic illness at a young age in the workforce can be incredibly challenging, especially when so much is out of your control. DIP-IN’s support meant more to me than words can express.

The Diabetes Impact Project has had on the Near Northwest community—on individuals, families, and local businesses—is not talked about enough. While I am deeply saddened to see this program come to an end, I am forever grateful to have been part of such a life-changing organization. The Diabetes Impact Project didn’t just impact a community—it changed my life.

Thank you, DIP-IN, for everything.

With gratitude,
Marche Sherlock

Fund Development Update

With Gratitude to Our Community Partners

We are deeply grateful for the organizations whose generosity is driving real impact across our community:

• Vermeer Midwest — leading dealer of industrial equipment, proudly serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri.
• Witherspoon Presbyterian Church — an oasis of hope for countless generations of faithful seekers in need of refuge and community.
• Northside New Era Church — meeting the spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs of all GOD’s people.

Their partnership reflects a shared commitment to opportunity, dignity, and long-term change. Because of their investment, families are supported, students are better prepared, and neighbors have access to the resources they need to thrive.

The post January Newsletter: Deep Roots, Bright Future  appeared first on Flanner House.

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Deep Roots, Bright Future — Gratitude in Action

The 127th Anniversary Gala was more than a celebration — it was a reminder that community is alive. It grows when we invest in each other, when we build pathways to opportunity, and when we believe in the power of our own roots.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our major sponsors — Lake City Bank, CF Bank, Marian University, and LISC Indianapolis — for your partnership, trust, and belief in what Flanner House represents. Your support helps transform lives through housing, food access, education, workforce development, and the countless ways our families continue to thrive.

We are especially proud to celebrate two remarkable women as Employees of the Year — Sherry Holmes and Nia Morgan-Hayes. Both began their Flanner House journeys as clients in our Center for Working Families, became parents with children enrolled in our Child Development Center, and are now full-time teachers nurturing the next generation. Today, they also serve as coordinators of social activities across
the entire organization — embodying what it means to grow through every stage of community.

We also honor Indy Reads, our Service Partner of the Year, for standing with us in advancing literacy, empowerment, and lifelong learning across Indianapolis. Every name, every story, and every contribution proves that when we nurture people, we cultivate power.
Thank you to every donor, partner, and friend who helps our roots stay deep — and our future, bright.

-Brandon
CEO, Flanner House of Indianapolis

Flanner House Celebrates 127 Years of Legacy & Community

Flanner House marked its 127th Anniversary Gala with an unforgettable evening of elegance, joy, and reflection. The celebration brought together community leaders, supporters, and friends to honor more than a century of service, resilience, and excellence. Guests enjoyed an inspiring program filled with stories of impact, live entertainment, and heartfelt tributes to those who make our mission possible. The night beautifully captured Flanner House’s enduring commitment to empowerment— celebrating our history while inspiring hope for the next generation.

See the Moments That Made the Night Unforgettable

Guests at the 127th Anniversary Gala –Deep Roots. Bright Future. enjoyed moving stories, dynamic performances, and memorable moments that reflected gratitude and optimism for the future. The evening captured the spirit of Flanner House—honoring our past while nurturing hope for generations to come. See the highlights here.

COMMIT NOW FOR 2026

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors for helping make the Flanner House 127th Anniversary Gala – Deep Roots. Bright Future. a tremendous success. We’re already preparing for our 128th Anniversary celebration in 2026 and invite you to confirm your early sponsorship commitment. Sponsors who complete the form by December 31, 2025 will be featured in our early Q1 announcements and event marketing materials.

If you’ve supported Flanner House in the past but were unable to join us in 2025, we’d love to welcome you back. Join us today and help us continue growing a brighter future together.

SERVICE PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Flanner House proudly honors Indy Reads as our Service Partner of the Year for their unwavering commitment to literacy, education, and empowerment. Through innovative programs and compassionate collaboration, Indy Reads has helped strengthen the foundation of lifelong learning within our community. Their partnership exemplifies how shared purpose can transform lives—equipping
individuals with the skills, confidence, and opportunity to succeed. Together, we are building a more informed, resilient, and connected Indianapolis.

EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

Flanner House proudly celebrates Sherry Holmes and Nia Morgan-Hayes, whose journeys embody the spirit of community transformation. Both began as clients in our Center for Working Families, later became parents with children enrolled in our Child Development Center, and today serve as full-
time teachers nurturing the next generation.

Beyond the classroom, they lead social activities that strengthen connection and joy across the organization. Sherry and Nia exemplify growth, resilience, and the power of opportunity—proof that when community invests in people, those people give back tenfold.

CELEBRATING THE POWER OF GENEROSITY: A $25,000 GIFT FROM SALLY & ALAN MILLS

Flanner House proudly extends heartfelt gratitude to Sally and Alan Mills for their generous $25,000 donation supporting educational scholarships for students. In today’s challenging political climate—where policy changes can abruptly shift the landscape of financial aid—this act of giving is more than philanthropy; it’s a lifeline.

The Mills’ generosity directly empowers students navigating uncertain times, when opportunities for advancement can vanish overnight. As debates over education funding and student aid intensify, their gift ensures that talented young people can continue their education and build futures rooted in stability and hope. One scholarship recipient, who shall remain anonymous, shared a deeply moving testimony:

“Well, it sure is a blessing I got that scholarship. New laws made it where they cancelled my Pell Grant after I already received it, and I have to pay back the money or I can’t graduate. It’s nearly $4,000. That scholarship is such a blessing.”

He explained that, without the scholarship, his only option would have been taking
out high-interest loans to repay the unexpected debt.

“I was eligible for FAFSA two weeks ago,” he added, “and now I’m ineligible.”

Thanks to the Mills family, this student—and others like him—can continue their education without crippling financial strain. Their generosity transforms despair into possibility, offering stability in a moment when policy, health, and hardship collide. At Flanner House, we believe that community investment is the truest form of resistance and resilience. Sally and Alan Mills exemplify that truth—proving that one gift can change the course of a life.

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR GALA COMMITTEE

To our Gala Committee — Sydney Bayless, Candace Boyd-Simmons, Sandra Green, Dr. Harrison-Jones, Nia Morgan Hayes, Brent Lyle, and Dr. Pat Payne:

As we reflect on this year’s Gala, the entire Flanner House family is deeply grateful for the time, energy, and heart you poured into making it a success. From the earliest planning conversations to the final details, your leadership and dedication shaped an evening that reflected the very best of our community.

This Gala was more than an event — it was a celebration of 127 years of resilience, service, and impact. Because of your vision, creativity, and persistence, we are brought together partners, sponsors, and friends in a way that uplifted our mission and spearhead our future.

Please know how much we value your commitment, not only for the work you are doing, but for the passion and spirit you bring. Your efforts are strengthening the 46208 community, and we are honored to share this journey with you.

With gratitude,
The Fund Development Team

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