Neighborhood CHWs work to connect, improve quality of life for residents
We asked one of our DIP-IN neighborhood CHWs, Jama Bennett, to describe her background and what kinds of activities she does that are essential to her role as a neighborhood CHW.
DIP-IN, iHEART partner on 2025 CHW quarterly collaborative meetings
DIP-IN and IU Health’s Indianapolis Health Equity, Access, outReach and Treatment (iHEART) Collaborative, brought together community health workers from both projects for our first CHW quarterly collaborative meeting.
Near West’s Stringtown a welcoming home for all residents
Get to know Stringtown Neighborhood Association leadership and learn more about Stringtown’s history and its newly elected leaders.
DIP-IN team members were present at the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting to share findings with the public health community.
Walking trail and labyrinth groundbreaking at future Evolve Education Center
We celebrated the walking trail and labyrinth groundbreaking at the future Evolve Education Center, a project funded by the Northeast DIP-IN Steering Committee.
DIP-IN a recipient of Lilly’s Milestones into Meaning program
DIP-IN is one of 24 local and national organizations that will receive a Milestones into Meaning donation, a program that works to improve health and health equity in U.S. communities.
DIP-IN All Steering Committee meeting celebrates progress and promotes community partners
The DIP-IN All Steering Committees came together to share a meal, network, reflect on previous months’ work, and plan for the future.
Belmont Beach history and DIP-IN-sponsored programming
Belmont Beach serves as a vital gathering place for our community by offering a welcoming environment where people can come together to connect, celebrate, and support one another.
Elephant Gardens Farm Fit and Juneteenth event
Elephant Gardens was the 2024 recipient of Heath Outdoors’ Juneteenth Day of Service, providing free design and construction services to a local community organization.
DIP-IN featured as part of IU Indianapolis launch
Indiana University featured DIP-IN partners and programs via an in-depth written story and video that put DIP-IN before local and state-level audiences.
Near Northwest Project Manager Ron Rice describes how Pam Hardy and Adelle Stokes, founders of the Riverside Riders, have transformed not only the lives of their fellow neighbors but his as well.
Partner feature: Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore
Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore, Indy's first bookstore on wheels, has partnered with DIP-IN to provide free books to community members in the Near West neighborhoods.
This is your friendly reminder that with warmer weather here, DIP-IN sponsored activities and events and other community happenings are being posted regularly on the DIP-IN calendar.
Meet the neighborhood community health worker team
Meet our DIP-IN neighborhood community health worker team and see what they have to say about being a CHW in their community.
The impact of DIP-IN community health workers
The DIP-IN evaluation team is excited to share more about our recent paper, “Impact of community health workers on diabetes management in an urban United States community with high diabetes burden through the COVID pandemic,” which was published in the March 2024 issue of Preventive Medicine Reports.
Spring 2024 DIP-IN all steering committee meeting
DIP-IN steering committees convened for their first all steering committee meeting of 2024. These meetings—held twice per year—give the steering committees a chance to come together, learn from each other in real time, and brainstorm what’s next for their communities.
Meet the DIP-IN Eskenazi Community Health Worker team
The DIP-IN Eskenazi CHW team is fully staffed once more, and we thought this would be a great time for our community members and stakeholders to meet and hear from the Eskenazi CHWs serving their communities.
Feature: Walking trail and labyrinth funded by Northeast steering committee
The Northeast steering committee approved an exciting proposal to build a walking trail and labyrinth on the property of former IPS School 11.
See the latest news articles about DIP-IN and our partners.
In this quarterly update, we want to feature a team member from our Evaluation Team, Celeste Nicholas, and spotlight the work she and others are doing to highlight the impact of DIP-IN on our communities.
Connecting Hearts Abroad and Lilly Global Day of Service
Read a special thank you to our communities from the Eli Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad program and a report out on the impact of Lilly Global Day of Service.
Partner feature: Marion County Public Health Department Nutrition Services
Since 2022, the Near West, Near Northwest, and Northeast Steering Committees have partnered with Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) Nutrition Services to provide free nutrition education at local parks and libraries in the DIP-IN communities.
All steering committee meeting
In October, Connecting Hearts Abroad (CHA) ambassadors presented their communications content and plan to the steering committees and larger project team.
Learn about the DIP-IN project activities coming up in September and October.
DIP-IN project updates from the Near West, Near Northwest, and Northeast communities.
Let’s give a big virtual round of applause to Teddrick (Tedd) Hardy. Tedd leads No Days Off 317 (NDO) and is president of Belmont Beach & Friends.
It is with very mixed feelings that we announce Dr. Cindy Stone is retiring. Cindy has been part of DIP-IN since the beginning and has contributed in countless ways.
DIP-IN publications, presentations, and videos
Along with a number of presentations in community and academic settings, we had two particularly exciting opportunities to share about DIP-IN in this quarter.
New calendar feature on DIP-IN website
We are excited to bring a community calendar of activities to our community residents and organizational partners.
Natalie Freehan was recently hired as a DIP-IN project manager for the Northeast community. Natalie joins Near West project manager, Ariez Christmon, and Near Northwest project manager, Ron Rice. to round out the project management team.
DIP-IN community updates from our project managers
Learn about the great work our project managers have been doing in the Near West, Northeast, and Near Northwest communities.
Recently, our team has grown to include more individuals working at the community-level as well as some behind-the-scenes staff who work to make the evaluation, finance (and more) run on a day-to-day basis.
“Breathing Through It” videos on YouTube
Using a data informed approach, the resident Near West DIP-IN Steering Committee chose an initial focus of addressing life stressors that affect their community. One of the initiatives resulting from this focus is "Breathing Through It."
Connecting Hearts Abroad ambassadors coming to Indy in fall 2023
We are excited that another Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad team is traveling to Indianapolis to work with the DIP-IN communities September 30–October 14 of this year.
Community project managers join DIP-IN team
Project managers for the Near Northwest, Near West, and Northeast communities have all joined the DIP-IN team as of the end of February.
Ron Rice recognized with Mayor’s Community Service Award
In early December, DIP-IN Neighborhood Community Health Worker, Ron Rice, was recognized with the 2022 Mayor’s Community Service Award.
Ariez Christmon was recently hired as a DIP-IN project manager for the Near West community. Assisting the Near West steering committee and creating connections with partners in the Near West community will be her primary roles.
While those who are involved in DIP-IN know we are so much more than our outcomes on paper, we do look at measures of the project to assess how well we are working to accomplish our aims, and further the wellbeing of the DIP-IN communities.
Another successful season of Sunday Suppers came to a celebratory close on October 15 with the final DIP-IN sponsored supper.
Renowned researcher, Dr. David Williams, gives lecture at Madam Walker Legacy Center
Indiana University Indianapolis Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hosted Harvard faculty member, David R. Williams, one of the leading researchers and experts on the social determinants of health.
Our online presence and resources are continuing to grow, and while we have featured them in previous updates, this is your friendly reminder to check out what we have to offer.
All steering committee meeting
The Diabetes Impact Project steering committees convened for an energizing in-person group meeting.
DIP-IN engages in summer activities and outreach opportunities
Throughout the past couple months, DIP-IN sponsored initiatives like Sunday Suppers or MCPHD nutrition education classes have been in full swing, and DIP-IN team members have been able to engage in unique community events.
Meet DIP-IN Near West Eskenazi CHW & supervisor, Shay Zapata
Shay Zapata has been a longtime DIP-IN team member serving the Near West community and now assisting with supervising the Eskenazi DIP-IN CHWs.
DIP-IN at Neighborhood USA Conference
A team of DIP-IN Steering Committee members attended the Neighborhood USA (NUSA) Conference, May 4-7, in Little Rock, Ark.
Through DIP-IN support, Soul Food Indy spent the spring revamping their garden site on Temple Ave. through greenhouse construction, updated fencing, and planting, as well as adding picnic tables.
Student selected for Patrice-Graham Adams Award for Community Engagement
Congratulations to 2022 MPH graduate, Mariam Sylla, on receiving the Patrice-Graham Adams Award for Community Engagement.
It’s here! Over the past handful of months, the DIP-IN and communications teams at The Fairbanks School of Public Health have developed a standalone website for the Diabetes Impact Project.
The Near Northwest Steering Committee has assisted with funding "Inferno Step with Crys," a business owned by certified personal trainer and nutritionist Crystal Williams.
Project to improve health equity in Indianapolis expands with funding from Lilly
The Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health has received a five-year, $5 million grant from Eli Lilly and Co. to expand the Diabetes Impact Project.
