Celebrating One Year of Impact
Indy Health District Hosts Final Community Meeting of 2025
Community is built through shared purpose, trust and sustained collaboration. For the Indy Health District, these principles guide ongoing work to ensure that residents who live, work and play across its five neighborhoods are the focal point as investment and development continue to shape the near north side of Indianapolis.
On Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, the Indy Health District hosted the fourth Community Meeting in its ongoing series at the Mosaic Center. The gathering brought together residents, neighborhood leaders, anchor institution partners and stakeholders for an evening to reflect on the first year of progress, unveil the District’s strategic plan and engage directly with the community to shape priorities moving forward.
Reflecting on Progress and Setting Direction
The meeting opened with remarks from Jamal Smith, Executive Director of the Indy Health District, who reinforced the IHD’s mission to improve quality of life and address the stark life expectancy disparities that persist throughout the District’s boundaries. Residents living within the IHD footprint currently face life expectancy outcomes nearly two decades lower than neighboring areas, an inequity driven largely by long-standing socioeconomic and environmental factors.
Smith highlighted year one milestones, including the Floating Farmers Market, free health screenings, housing development progress near 22nd Street and expanded workforce pathways through the Mosaic Center. The development and implementation of these initiatives reflect the valuable feedback received by community members, including topics such as food access, affordable housing and job opportunities.
Introducing the Strategic Plan
A central purpose of the Dec. 2 meeting was to present and gather feedback on the Indy Health District’s new strategic plan, developed in partnership with Ascentra Strategies and shaped by extensive community input. The four-goal plan centers on:
- Strengthening authentic community partnerships and trust
- Advancing community-driven quality of life solutions
- Influencing economic opportunities and workforce pathways
- Creating organizational excellence and accountability measures
Residents were invited to rotate through small group discussions aligned to each goal, fostering open dialogue and ensuring community voices informed next steps.
Community Voices and Key Takeaways
The Dec. 2 community meeting created meaningful space for stakeholders to share ideas, celebrate progress and help shape the next chapter of the Indy Health District. Across all four discussion groups, participants engaged thoughtfully about how continued collaboration, transparency and shared ownership can strengthen the district and improve the quality of life for neighbors.
Group 1: Strengthening Authentic Community Partnerships and Trust
Group 1 discussions centered on what authentic partnership looks like in practice. Participants shared that trust is built when organizations consistently show up, listen and visibly reflect community input in their actions. Participants expressed appreciation for the Indy Health District’s presence at neighborhood meetings and emphasized the value of continued transparency, clear communication and accountability as projects move forward.
There was strong interest in creating more structured ways for neighborhoods to connect with one another, such as shared forums or coordinated leadership groups to help streamline communication, share resources and elevate collective voices across the district.
Group 2: Advancing Community-Driven Quality of Life Solutions
Group 2 conversations focused on enhancing everyday quality of life through inclusive planning and strong civic engagement. Residents discussed the importance of meeting people where they are, using clear and accessible communication and expanding outreach methods to ensure all neighbors including seniors, families and multilingual communities stay informed and involved.
Participants highlighted opportunities to strengthen face-to-face engagement, increase awareness of existing programs and encourage youth participation, noting that empowering residents with information and tools can help foster long-term community pride and leadership.
Group 3: Influencing Economic Opportunity and Workforce Pathways
Group 3 discussions generated strong enthusiasm around economic growth rooted in local talent. Residents shared ideas for expanding workforce training, connecting neighbors to higher-paying jobs and supporting entrepreneurship within the district. Excitement was expressed about opportunities to grow small businesses and increase the visibility of existing resources.
Participants also emphasized the importance of accessible transportation, affordable childcare and youth mentorship programs as key components of a strong workforce ecosystem. These conversations reinforced the role of the Indy Health District as a connector, linking residents to opportunity and advancing local investment.
Group 4: Organizational Excellence and Accountability
Group 4 focused on strengthening systems that support long-term success. Residents discussed the value of having clear points of contact, consistent updates and shared metrics to track progress over time. Conversations highlighted a desire for coordinated communication, well-defined roles and regular opportunities to evaluate outcomes and adapt strategies as the district continues to evolve.
Participants expressed optimism about aligning partners, funding and neighborhood leadership to ensure initiatives remain responsive, measurable and community driven.
Shared Themes Across All Groups / What’s Next?
Across all four groups, residents demonstrated a strong commitment to collaboration and momentum. There was shared enthusiasm around continued investment in food access, affordable housing, workforce development and support for small businesses, alongside a clear desire to stay engaged as planning turns into action.
Above all, the dialogue reflected a collective vision for a district shaped alongside its residents where communication remains open, progress is visible and partnerships continue to grow beyond individual meetings. The insights gathered during this session will play a key role in guiding implementation of the Indy Health District’s strategic plan in the year ahead. Additional information about the 2026 Quality of Life survey, upcoming meetings and opportunities for involvement will be shared through IHD’s website and social channels.
