When we consider our health during annual check-ups, the conversation often revolves around numbers—weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other standard metrics. Yet, there’s one crucial number that often goes unmentioned but is perhaps the most influential on our health: our street address. The neighborhood we call home has a profound impact on our health and well-being, influencing how well—and how long—we live.

On October 21st, we proudly stood alongside leaders from IU Health, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College, and Citizen’s Energy Group to unveil the Indy Health District (IHD). This initiative marks a new chapter in our city’s history—a chapter defined by strong collaboration between anchor institutions and residents from the Crown Hill, Historic Flanner House Homes, Highland Vicinity, Meridian Highland, and Ransom Place neighborhoods. This is not just another urban revitalization project. The IHD is a bold commitment to transform our neighborhoods by addressing health inequity through holistic, community-centered solutions.

The establishment of the Indy Health District is the result of years of dialogue, planning, and intentional partnership between these anchors and our communities. Together, we have developed a shared vision for a 1,500-acre health district that stretches from the north end of downtown to Crown Hill Cemetery. This district recognizes the health and well-being of our residents, environment, and institutions as interdependent. Our collective aim is to redefine success, ensuring that hospitals, museums, and universities flourish in harmony with the vibrant communities surrounding them, where access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity is seamless and equitable for all.

Our neighborhoods are not just part of the landscape—they are the heart of this initiative. Our communities have been vital to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of Indianapolis for generations. From Ransom Place’s roots as one of the oldest African-American neighborhoods in the city to the Historic Flanner House Homes, built as a testament to self-sufficiency and pride, our neighborhoods reflect the rich, diverse stories that have shaped the city. Their history is inseparable from the IHD’s future, and their vitality is essential to its success.

Requests and recommendations to address the District’s social determinants have been well documented over the years. What sets the Indy Health District apart is its commitment to execution and being guided by the voices of residents. Our neighborhoods were not merely invited to the table; we were integral to shaping the district’s guiding principles. These principles include:

1. Equitable Socioeconomic Impact: Ensuring that development and programs generatelong-term, positive opportunities and impact for residents, especially in employment andwealth-building.
2. Smart Land Use and Transportation: Creating a dense, walkable community thatconnects neighborhoods through diverse housing options, transit, and amenities.
3. Health-Promoting Infrastructure: Encouraging a built environment that fosters activeand healthy lifestyles.
4. Access to High-Quality Healthcare: Providing residents with convenient, affordable access to the district’s world-class healthcare resources.
5. Community-Centric Education and Research: Leveraging institutional research andeducation to directly benefit our communities and address health disparities.
6. Establishing Physical and Programmatic connections: Prioritizing collaborationamongst the community and our surrounding anchors, creating sustainable practices thatcontribute to a healthier environment.

The vision of the Indy Health District is transformative because it recognizes that health is not confined to our front doors. True health extends to our blocks, our streets, our workplaces, and our schools. It requires that everyone—residents, employers, healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers—share in the responsibility of building a healthier, more vibrant community. This is not easy work. It demands persistence, dedication, and, above all, partnership.

The intentional collaboration between our neighborhoods and the leading institutions in the Indy Health District is incredibly rare. It’s a model that many cities aspire to but few achieve. We, the presidents of the five neighborhood associations, wholeheartedly endorse and support the work of the Indy Health District. We believe that this unique collaboration between residents and anchor institutions will reshape – in action and not just words – the future of our neighborhoods and set a national precedent for community-driven health initiatives.

Health is strongest when shared—when it becomes a common goal that unites neighbors, institutions, and the broader community. We are proud to be partners in leading the Indy Health District and are confident that the positive changes we cultivate today will be felt for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Bob Hall
President, Meridian Highland Neighborhood Association

Danita Hoskin
President, Crown Hill Neighborhood Association

Candyce Offett
President, Ransom Place Neighborhood Association

Disa Watson-Summers
President, Historic Flanner House Homes Neighborhood Association

James Whitfield
President, Highland Vicinity Neighborhood Association