Thriving Families Initiative (TFI) launched this year in partnership with St. Luke's, Second Presbyterian Church, and Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana. TFI is built on a conviction that poverty will not be solved by individual handouts, but by communities who rebuild a social fabric that involves meaningful relationships across differences in class, race, and background. Through a model of individual coaching and intentional community, TFI is walking alongside neighbors out of poverty and toward stability, growth, and good lives. We are looking for participants, tutors, childcare volunteers, workshop leaders, financial supporters, and more.

When Keontae first joined TFI, he had transitioned from an unfulfilling career in accounting, and was working in food service. He had dreams of finding purpose as a teacher and football coach, and one of the first things he did was leverage existing relationships in the TFI network to connect at a local school. Keontae now works as a teachers' assistant, and continues to make meaningful strides toward his professional and personal goals. He is actively completing his FAFSA and college applications to finish his bachelor's degree. He was also excited to co-facilitate the September Thriving Families MeetUp — an experience he described as a valuable leadership opportunity aligned with his goal of becoming an educator. Building on his transition from part-time underemployment to full-time work at Tindley Schools, he is now working with his coach to finalize a sustainable plan for managing past education debt, completing his degree, and deepening his engagement by joining a committee to help plan future MeetUps.

Learn more at thrivingfamiliesindy.org, or contact Shelly Clasen for more information.

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