About GINI

The Great Indy Neighborhoods Initiatives (GINI) traces its roots to 2004, when city and community development leaders convened the first-ever Indianapolis Community Development Summit. More than 400 neighborhood leaders attended to discuss strategies for creating healthy neighborhoods, current neighborhood issues, and a vision for the future. It was clear that the participants wanted a comprehensive approach to community development that addressed not only housing, but also education, safety, health, and many other issues. As a result of the summit, the GINI Steering Committee, a diverse group of civic leaders, explored key community development concepts in the interest of formulating strategies to bring a coordinated, comprehensive community development effort to Indianapolis.

With this research and strategic thinking in place, the next step was to put a plan into action. GINI was developed and introduced to Indianapolis neighborhood leaders in October of 2005. Its goal is to help support Indianapolis neighborhoods by encouraging neighbors to work together across traditional boundaries. The program helps neighborhood residents, businesses, and community organizations get organized and involved in the neighborhood, decide on neighborhood priorities, and act on their plans to drive meaningful change.

Moving Ahead – Together!

The GINI planning process provided West Indianapolis with the language for future communication by establishing a common set of goals within which we could define our individual and community efforts. Our early action projects provided the “practice ground” – setting the mindset for future implementation and partnerships. Through planning and working together we have been reminded of our numerous neighborhood assets and the breadth of our community leadership.

We have become able to identify the core values that will guide our future efforts to move ahead – together.

• A community is defined by people who share a common commitment, belief, or experience;we share a commitment to improving the quality of life in West Indianapolis
• A healthy community values all of its members – the young, the old; the affluent, the struggling; the resident, the employer/employee; and the native, the transplant
• Community is a dynamic, sometimes messy process
• Community thrives when information is abundant, available, accessible, and visible
• Community resources are fragile and sometimes unhealthy
• Mistakes and missteps are rarely intentional and always an opportunity to learn and improve
• True partnerships require trust, honesty, and the conviction that we all are working toward the same goal – even if we disagree
  on how to get there.