In previous updates, we featured activities completed in 2025 through a Milestones into Meaning program™ donation to the DIP-IN project. A Milestones subcommittee made up of DIP-IN steering committee members decided how the funds would be used in the three communities. The funds were distributed in two ways:
- Neighborhood association support: Funds were provided to neighborhood associations to support activities that bring residents together, strengthen social connections, and encourage greater community involvement.
- Community Resource Guides: Funds were used to create printed and digital resource guides for each community. These guides provide information about local resources for food access, transportation, housing, and other essential services.
Neighborhood association activities took place in 2025, and several successes were highlighted in our August 2025 update. One especially successful project from the Northwest Landings Neighborhood Association was later highlighted in our February 2026 update.
This past quarter, the Community Resource Guides were printed, and the DIP-IN team began distributing 5,000 copies to each community. So far, more than 1,500 guides have been distributed to each area, with more copies still available.
Residents can find copies at local community centers (Hawthorne Community Center, Christamore House, Flanner House); businesses (Fonseca Theatre, Mansion Society Café, 16Tech); community gathering places (Avondale YMCA, Haughville Library, Ujamaa Bookstore); neighborhood association meetings; and many more places in the Near Northwest, Near West, and Northeast communities.
Residents have shared very positive feedback about the guides. Many have said that the guides are helpful and easy to use. One community member especially appreciated that community resources are listed first, followed by resources available throughout Indianapolis. The guides have also gathered interest from other Indianapolis neighborhoods that are interested in doing something similar for their own areas.
Electronic versions of the Community Resource Guides can be found on our website: Community Resource Guides. If your organization, business, or community would like printed copies of the guides, please contact us at dipin@iu.edu.
Finally, in May, DIP-IN was honored to learn that it had once again been selected to receive a Milestones into Meaning™ donation! We are grateful for this continued investment in our communities and excited about the opportunities that these additional funds will create. Members of the Milestones subcommittee have already begun meeting to identify priorities and decide how the funds can best support the three DIP-IN communities.
We thank Eli Lilly and Company for their continued support of DIP-IN and commitment to improving health and well-being in Indianapolis communities. We also thank the resident leaders whose thoughtful leadership is making sure these funds are used in ways to create lasting benefits to their communities.