Good Works Tour Stop #46: Edna Martin Christian Center by Isaac Randolph Faith Based Initiative Director for the State of Indiana
If you grew up in Indy and worked in the not-for-profit sector the Edna Martin Christian Center is a symbol of grassroots neighborhood support. I stopped by one morning to take a peek at their program and was not disappointed. I was met by my old friend Deputy Director of the Center Barato Britt who took me on a tour.
EMCC was established as the East Side Christian Center by Ms. Edna Martin in 1941. She began working with low-income children after school in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. In 1946 the Center became a home mission of the American Baptist Churches, USA.
Until 1964 she operated the Center in a two-story house on Arsenal Ave. In 1965 a new building was built at 1970 Caroline Avenue, which is the current location of the Center. Programs were expanded to include day care, senior citizens, classes, and sports. Ms. Martin passed away in 1974 and shortly afterwards the Center was renamed the Edna Martin Christian Center.
Since the organization’s founding, EMCC has been a hub for empowerment in the Martindale Brightwood community. Today, the organization’s services include social services, senior supports and direct supports for youth including after school tutoring and our annual summer camp.
Currently, the neighborhood suffers from a high unemployment rate, low graduation rates and high crime rates. EMCC holds that the only way to reverse these negative trends is to provide services that not only supports families with immediate needs, but also moves them toward self sufficiency. The STEPS program provides individuals who have the desire to better their lives the opportunity to access training, resources and information to begin them on the process toward that goal.
In the spring of 2009 EMCC applied for the OFBCI Strengthening Families grant to support their Strategies To Empower and Promote Success (STEPS) program, a job training and readiness program geared toward individuals lacking resources and skills necessary to gain and maintain stable, living wage employment. To attract their clientele to the program, they incorporated a summer camp scholarship provision for families who participate. The scholarships include free and reduced tuition for their children to participate in this year’s summer camp, but on the condition of social service integration and participation to required initiatives designed to stimulate movement toward self sufficiency. This year a total of 20 families and 38 youth benefited from this year’s activities.
Another program running concurrently is the Leadership and Legacy Summer Program, was created to provide youth ages 5-16 an enriching summer experience that combines community responsibility and service with academic rigor and summer learning. This nine-week summer camp works with over 100 youth and families, providing a positive leadership-based outlet in a safe, caring and faith-based environment. One of the strengths of the EMCC is its ability to leverage funds within the community. In addition to OFBCI other funders include Central Indianapolis Community Foundation, United Way of Central Indiana and the American Baptist Churches USA.
EMCC provides a very comprehensive strategy for their clients. The Leadership and Legacy Summer Program provides a wealth of activities over the course of a nine-week period (June 8-August 6) . Camp days and hours are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Program participants experience a cross-case management system, monitored and tracked using Social Solutions case management software. Each participant will be assessed in seven key elements (employment training, coping skills, retention/advancement assistance, extensive case management strategies, life skills training, job search assistance and barrier reduction strategies). A service plan will be implemented to help move them on a continuum from “In-Crisis” to “Thriving” in each of the areas assessed.
The STEPS program works because it identifies needs of the whole families and creates a customized plan based on those needs. This research-based barrier reduction strategy enables EMCC the ability to change a pervasive culture of negativity that is too often apparent in our targeted community. Most importantly, this approach allows EMCC to provide these supports in an accountable and measurable manner.
When I asked Barato what where their challenges he mentioned that many of his clients has centered around the lack of transportation, adequate childcare. Additionally, EMMC are primarily single parent households living below the federal poverty level.
“With the introduction of the STEPS Program for our Leadership and Legacy Summer Program scholarship recipients, we have successfully begun the establishment of full service and program integration. Importantly, we begin this effort having carefully selected individuals with greater likelihoods for program completion. We will continue this effort with each of our youth related programs throughout the school year, further incentivize our parents to gain full access to agency services and supports. As a result, we further foster a level of parental accountability that has rarely been apparent.”
This year, the EMCC summer program has grown beyond its capacity to be held at our primary site. As a result of partnership with Making Connections Indianapolis and IPS School 51, this year they EMCC leadership added a satellite site for approximately 40 second and third graders.
In addition to their Leadership and Legacy curriculum, this group will take part in a Summer Literacy program, prepared and designed by School 51 educators, many of whom will work directly with the students in our program over the academic year.
I asked Barato what advice would you give other program managers and clients?
“For program managers of organizations serving similar populations, we would advise utilizing incorporating similar opportunities that foster accountability and can produce tangible, measurable results.” he replied. “With regard to youth programming, ensure a year-round approach that challenges students and provides outlets that are not only safe, but help them to prepare to compete in a global marketplace. Our coordinated approach helps to instill and emphasize a sense of accomplishment, self respect and self work from each of the individuals we serve, young and old.
For clients,” he continued “our advice would be to focus on long term strategies while you are searching for immediate supports. We estimate that, in the most extreme situations, movement from In-Crisis to Thriving via our program will take at least 3 years, with the assumption that those individuals diligently adhere to STEPS strategies. The path to full self sufficiency will be a tremendous challenge for some, however the rewards will last a lifetime.”
After my tour that day I couldn’t help but remember my days as the founder and executive director of the St. Florian Center. There’s a unique joy you get as an adult when you see kids learning in a nurturing and safe environment. Congrats to Baroto and executive director Tysha A. Hardy-Sellers. You run a great program and please keep up the good work.
EMCC was established as the East Side Christian Center by Ms. Edna Martin in 1941. She began working with low-income children after school in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. In 1946 the Center became a home mission of the American Baptist Churches, USA.
Until 1964 she operated the Center in a two-story house on Arsenal Ave. In 1965 a new building was built at 1970 Caroline Avenue, which is the current location of the Center. Programs were expanded to include day care, senior citizens, classes, and sports. Ms. Martin passed away in 1974 and shortly afterwards the Center was renamed the Edna Martin Christian Center.
Since the organization’s founding, EMCC has been a hub for empowerment in the Martindale Brightwood community. Today, the organization’s services include social services, senior supports and direct supports for youth including after school tutoring and our annual summer camp.
Currently, the neighborhood suffers from a high unemployment rate, low graduation rates and high crime rates. EMCC holds that the only way to reverse these negative trends is to provide services that not only supports families with immediate needs, but also moves them toward self sufficiency. The STEPS program provides individuals who have the desire to better their lives the opportunity to access training, resources and information to begin them on the process toward that goal.
In the spring of 2009 EMCC applied for the OFBCI Strengthening Families grant to support their Strategies To Empower and Promote Success (STEPS) program, a job training and readiness program geared toward individuals lacking resources and skills necessary to gain and maintain stable, living wage employment. To attract their clientele to the program, they incorporated a summer camp scholarship provision for families who participate. The scholarships include free and reduced tuition for their children to participate in this year’s summer camp, but on the condition of social service integration and participation to required initiatives designed to stimulate movement toward self sufficiency. This year a total of 20 families and 38 youth benefited from this year’s activities.
Another program running concurrently is the Leadership and Legacy Summer Program, was created to provide youth ages 5-16 an enriching summer experience that combines community responsibility and service with academic rigor and summer learning. This nine-week summer camp works with over 100 youth and families, providing a positive leadership-based outlet in a safe, caring and faith-based environment. One of the strengths of the EMCC is its ability to leverage funds within the community. In addition to OFBCI other funders include Central Indianapolis Community Foundation, United Way of Central Indiana and the American Baptist Churches USA.
EMCC provides a very comprehensive strategy for their clients. The Leadership and Legacy Summer Program provides a wealth of activities over the course of a nine-week period (June 8-August 6) . Camp days and hours are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Program participants experience a cross-case management system, monitored and tracked using Social Solutions case management software. Each participant will be assessed in seven key elements (employment training, coping skills, retention/advancement assistance, extensive case management strategies, life skills training, job search assistance and barrier reduction strategies). A service plan will be implemented to help move them on a continuum from “In-Crisis” to “Thriving” in each of the areas assessed.
The STEPS program works because it identifies needs of the whole families and creates a customized plan based on those needs. This research-based barrier reduction strategy enables EMCC the ability to change a pervasive culture of negativity that is too often apparent in our targeted community. Most importantly, this approach allows EMCC to provide these supports in an accountable and measurable manner.
When I asked Barato what where their challenges he mentioned that many of his clients has centered around the lack of transportation, adequate childcare. Additionally, EMMC are primarily single parent households living below the federal poverty level.
“With the introduction of the STEPS Program for our Leadership and Legacy Summer Program scholarship recipients, we have successfully begun the establishment of full service and program integration. Importantly, we begin this effort having carefully selected individuals with greater likelihoods for program completion. We will continue this effort with each of our youth related programs throughout the school year, further incentivize our parents to gain full access to agency services and supports. As a result, we further foster a level of parental accountability that has rarely been apparent.”
This year, the EMCC summer program has grown beyond its capacity to be held at our primary site. As a result of partnership with Making Connections Indianapolis and IPS School 51, this year they EMCC leadership added a satellite site for approximately 40 second and third graders.
In addition to their Leadership and Legacy curriculum, this group will take part in a Summer Literacy program, prepared and designed by School 51 educators, many of whom will work directly with the students in our program over the academic year.
I asked Barato what advice would you give other program managers and clients?
“For program managers of organizations serving similar populations, we would advise utilizing incorporating similar opportunities that foster accountability and can produce tangible, measurable results.” he replied. “With regard to youth programming, ensure a year-round approach that challenges students and provides outlets that are not only safe, but help them to prepare to compete in a global marketplace. Our coordinated approach helps to instill and emphasize a sense of accomplishment, self respect and self work from each of the individuals we serve, young and old.
For clients,” he continued “our advice would be to focus on long term strategies while you are searching for immediate supports. We estimate that, in the most extreme situations, movement from In-Crisis to Thriving via our program will take at least 3 years, with the assumption that those individuals diligently adhere to STEPS strategies. The path to full self sufficiency will be a tremendous challenge for some, however the rewards will last a lifetime.”
After my tour that day I couldn’t help but remember my days as the founder and executive director of the St. Florian Center. There’s a unique joy you get as an adult when you see kids learning in a nurturing and safe environment. Congrats to Baroto and executive director Tysha A. Hardy-Sellers. You run a great program and please keep up the good work.
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