As the DIP-IN grant approaches its end in Fall 2027, both the overall project team and community teams have been working hard to sustain key programs and services. One important area of focus is our Neighborhood Community Health Worker (nCHW) program.
DIP-IN’s two nCHWs are employed by the Avondale Meadows YMCA and Hawthorne Community Center and serve residents in the Northeast and Near West communities. Over the past few years, these community health workers have helped identify individuals who may be at risk for or living with undiagnosed diabetes. They have also connected residents to resources, helped address social needs, built relationships with local organizations, and served as trusted sources of support within their communities.
As the DIP-IN project winds down, both host organizations have begun seeking and securing additional funding to continue this important work. Their efforts will ensure that residents can continue to access the support, resources, and connections that the nCHWs provide long after the grant has ended.
Below, Jama Bennett, Near West nCHW at Hawthorne Community Center, talks briefly about her new role with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) as a Community Food Builder, and how this role will integrate with and enhance her current role as part of DIP-IN.
“My new role with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis is being part of the project Harvesting Power. It is a resident-led food justice initiative, focused on high-need neighborhoods in Indianapolis. I will be maintaining my role as the Near West Neighborhood Community Health Worker, addressing health issues and overall community needs, while working with LISC as a Community Food Builder. Hawthorne Community Center will continue to be the convener for both roles in Near West Indianapolis.
“The Community Food Builder role is similar in many ways to my role with DIP-IN as an nCHW. In this new role, I will continue to be a community connector, organizer, and implementer. I will lead food access initiatives, engage and mobilize residents, support leadership development, and be a connection to broader systems in the community. I am happy to be a long-time resident of Hawthorne Neighborhood in the Near West and excited to be part of this resident led project, enriching community.”