Our 2024-2025 IEPZ VISTA team members are nearing the end of their terms. They are the 9th and final cohort of AmeriCorps VISTA members to serve in the Promise Zone initiative as it reaches the end of its federal designation period (2015-2025). The IndyEast Economic Mobility District (IEMD) initiative will continue the Promise Zone’s legacy, work, and mission, and plans to begin recruiting new VISTA members in 2026. Read reflections, memories, and lessons learned from our five team members’ service terms below!
Joseph Julian
Bringing a community visioning process event to life for the former Indiana Women’s Prison site was a highlight of my term. It was truly an all-hands-on-deck experience; I enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with the dedicated team at the City of Indianapolis’ Department of Metropolitan Development, as well as with neighbors, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, and our Promise Zone team. I’m eager to see this space revitalized and transformed into something that meets neighbors’ needs, while also honoring the history of the space. In that way, the project was really a microcosm of the Promise Zone’s mission. I’ve also been honored to work on the Coordinating Committee for the IEMD, where I most enjoyed helping draft and revise governance and policy documents. This group has been inspiring to work for, because they’re thoughtful and visionary planners and leaders who have a great sense of where the neighborhood has been, as well as how to imagine its flourishing future.
A great lesson I’ll carry with me from serving here is how resilience and hope are grown over time. So much of what the Promise Zone has been able to achieve over its 10-year federal designation has come from the groundwork of neighborhood activism, civic engagement, and deep collaboration between local partner organizations that’s been laid for decades. That’s also one thing I wish more people knew about AmeriCorps VISTA, actually: it gives you a chance to be part of a movement to end poverty in America that stretches back to the 1960’s, with thousands of volunteers each playing their part through the years. You get to be part of that legacy, and you get placed with organizations that help to build a better future. It’s really the kind of work that I feel lucky and proud to have been a part of. I hope to return to graduate school in the near future, and I’ll have a lot to reflect on as I remember the strength and persistence of the IndyEast Promise Zone residents, team members, and leaders.
Simrat Oberoi
One of my favorite projects at JBNC was creating the internal Grants Snapshot Dashboard. I enjoyed compiling all the old grants information and visualizing it for everyone; I had a lot of fun playing around with historical data and finding new ways to make it useful. I’ve learned a lot during my time here, and I’m so grateful to JBNC and AmeriCorps for this opportunity. As the Evaluation & Research Coordinator VISTA, I didn’t have as many opportunities to interact with residents directly, but I’ve found that there is a lot of unseen operational work that keeps things running smoothly. Data might not be the most visible part of community development, but I got to see firsthand how strong systems can empower staff to focus more on impact and less on logistics. I’ve learned so much during my service year and gained skills that I know will stay with me, no matter where I go next. I’m so excited to see how I can continue building on this experience in my next chapter.
Abigael Mullens
My favorite projects were with the Near East Merchants Association, working with Martha Latta and Hilary Powers on all the planning for our annual events: Raiders of the Lost Antiques, Small Business Saturday, and Fall in Love with the Near Eastside. I also loved working in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration on hosting a small business lending fair. I feel like I have learned a lot about event planning, budget management, grant management, and engaging with community groups. I feel that this has set me up for success in a future role. More people should know about all the amazing things that JBNC does and offers! The IEMD will offer lots of opportunities in the future and I’m excited to be a part of that journey. The District will include all the amazing community partners we work with and the programs they offer, like MBCDC’s programs, LISC’s microenterprise navigator program, and so on.
Liz Sheldon
I have loved working on the restoration of the historic Rivoli Theater by helping manage grant compliance. So many people in the Near Eastside have such strong memories and emotions connected to that building. I love learning the lore and being a small part of that lore. I can’t wait to see what it turns into and the historical restoration that will take place on the building exterior over the next few years. I have also loved working on the Feast of Lanterns festival. When I first started helping with the festival, I was providing basic capacity building support, by creating the Standard Operating Procedures for the festival. Now, I am a full-time board member, in charge of permits, food vendors and alcohol vendors. The festival is a great showcase for what the Near Eastside represents. Also, this project introduced me to some of my closest friends, my favorite local small businesses and what it means to be a Near Eastsider.
While serving, I have learned how well interconnected and supportive the Near Eastside is. Living and working in this community has taught me that major community efforts have the most impact when they are built on partnerships between community organizations, neighborhoods, schools, and small businesses. Every day, the Near Eastside comes together to offer anything from community festivals to neighborhood cleanups to crucial supportive services. This lesson has driven me to prioritize relationship building and seeking community partnerships.
JBNC has so much to offer, from school-based services, housing, career coaching, energy assistance, and more. The success of our services is due in great measure to the staff, who really care about the people they serve. They are welcoming, kind, and, more than anything, really want to help our neighbors. I plan to continue working in community development on the Near Eastside. JBNC, partner organizations and the community in general, has really welcomed me with open arms over the last two years. I want to be a part in the next phase of progress and do what I can to support the Near Eastside.
Caleb Smith
Note: Abigael Mullens and Liz Sheldon each served two full terms with the Promise Zone. We are thankful for each of our VISTA members’ service over the entire decade of the IndyEast Promise Zone (2015-2025), and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors!