Category: History
Allies Against Racism
Last year we worked to defend African-American students who had been bullied, unjustly disciplined, and retaliated against, and we were able to help convince the school administration to develop a plan to end the continued bullying and assist a student in academic success. The impact of NEO’s programs can be told in our data such as 2,300 high school graduates, but it is best told by our students and their families.
NEO: 11 Years Strong
Eleven years ago, Project Neighbors (PN) helped establish Neighbors’ Educational Opportunities (NEO) as a non-profit organization. PN Board Members Sharon Mortensen and Al Trost joined me as NEO’s founding Board members and PN supported NEO with a short-term line of credit until NEO’s funding sources kicked in.
The impact of NEO’s programs can be told in our data such as 2,300 high school graduates, but it is best told by our students and their families.
WVLP 103.1 FM – Your Community Radio Station
WVLP.LP is your community radio station at 103.1 FM and streaming live at WVLP.org. WVLP, like Hilltop Neighborhood House, HealthLinc, Neighbors’ Educational Opportunities (NEO), Neighbors Place, and dozens of homes throughout the community is a creation of Project Neighbors. WVLP has been on the air for over 20 years and has provided an alternative to most other media that is dominated and controlled by large corporations who are in the media business primarily to make money. For example, locally the ultimate owner of the Post Tribune is Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund, which also owns 6% of Lee Enterprises, a large corporation which owns the Northwest Indiana Times. The absence of external ownership and control allows WVLP to respond to the needs of the community and offer a wide range of creative programming that other venues are unable to provide.
Life At Neighbors Place
Originally built to house what was to become HealthLinc, Neighbors Place is an apartment building housing 18 low-income women. Very affordable, the women are provided with all utilities, free TV, free WiFi, two laundry areas, and a 3000 square foot, grade level common room. Their individual apartments on two upper floors are under 300 square feet with a full bath and kitchenette.
Why I Am Committed to Financially Supporting the Freedom Recovery Fund
Over the past few years, I found myself searching for ways that I could respond to the issues of racial inequity. We have been bombarded with news stories that invariably end with the words, “disproportionately impacting Black Americans.” Blacks are three times more likely to die of COVID and have experienced a decrease of three years in life expectancy compared to one year for whites. Blacks have an unemployment rate twice as high as that of whites. Police violence is now the leading cause of death for young Black men. Black men are six times more likely to be arrested, convicted and given long sentences than whites. Black women are three times more likely than whites to die in childbirth. Estimates of the unrecompensed financial value of Black work to build this county range from $14 to $95 trillion and, despite the vast magnitude of this contribution, Black wealth today is one tenth the wealth of whites.
1st Source Bank Partners with the Freedom Recovery Fund
A critical component of the FRF’s Individual Development Account (IDA) initiative was to secure a strong bank partnership. Matt Vessely, the Regional President of 1st Source Bank, immediately saw the benefit of such a relationship as the initiative brought a unique and focused path for the bank to meet their mission of “helping people achieve security, build wealth and realize their dreams.”
Freedom Recovery Fund: Emergency Loan Program (Thank You)
The FRF committee would like to thank all the donors to this needs-based program for residents of color in our community. Together we can make a difference.
Freedom Recovery Fund Profile: Clarence
This program is more than just financial, but also being my own boss. Through this program, I will have the opportunity to have complete creative control of my career.
Freedom Recovery Fund Profile: Essence
Essence Roberson is a young African American from the Southside of Chicago. Her passion for mental health has pushed her to start Essence Mia Luxx (EML). EML was established in 2020 and has strived to help provide the opportunity for people to embrace themselves as they are. Essence believes that mental health and self-care are important for all, and she focuses on creating self-care products that are catered to people of color.
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About Project Neighbors
Project Neighbors is a project of Neighbors Corp., an Indiana not-for-profit corporation, which is recognized as a tax exempt public charity pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to public charities are tax deductible to the extent provided for in law.