PROGRESS FED BY DATA AND INNOVATION (Winter 2020). For nearly 120 years, the Flanner House of Indianapolis has sought to support, advocate for and empower individuals, children and families on the northwest side and beyond by applying educational, social and economic resources that move members of the community towards stabilization, and self-sufficiency.

Such a worthy and robust mission has prompted Flanner House to flex and innovate, especially in recent years, to help neighbors move in the right direction. Prime examples are Cleo’s Bodega and Café and F.E.E.D. (Farming, Education, Employment, Distribution), two (of many) Flanner House responses in part to a recent study, which indicated that more than 200K Marion County residents reside in food deserts. A June 2019 EmployIndy blog highlighted the story of Cleo’s and the fact that local youth were paid to assist in the construction and the expediency of completion—five days! The blog stated, “The fresh food at Cleo’s Bodega and Café is all locally grown and sourced from farmers markets throughout Indianapolis, another way that Flanner House is bridging the low income/low food gap in their community.” Flanner House paired Cleo’s with the F.E.E.D. program to provide vulnerable youth with basic job training, stronger skillsets and experience growing, preparing, processing, distributing and selling food. The Clowes Fund grant is an investment in F.E.E.D. and, according to Executive Director Brandon Cosby, Fund support was perceived as a seal of approval that opened doors to additional resources and opportunities, such as partner EmployIndy.

In the image, finishing touches are applied to Cleo’s Bodega and Café in summer 2019.

Clowes Fund Field(s) of Interest: Workforce (Youth) Development

Grantees