Legacy Allies

Honoring the past. Empowering the next.

Legacy Allies centers leadership development in historically Black neighborhoods, honoring the people, stories, and systems that have shaped these communities.

What is Legacy Allies?

Legacy Allies was created in response to the long history of disinvestment, exclusion, and overlooked leadership in historically Black neighborhoods. While these communities have always produced strong leaders, their wisdom and contributions are too often undervalued or disconnected from formal leadership pathways.

This program intentionally invests in intergenerational leadership within these neighborhoods, creating space for elders and emerging leaders to learn together, preserve community knowledge, and shape what comes next.

Participants gain:

  • Practical leadership and collaboration skills

  • Cross-generational relationships

  • Tools to navigate systems and mobilize neighbors

  • Resources to bring neighborhood ideas to life

Featured on WTHR

How the Program Works

Year One: Learning and Vision

  • 9 facilitated training modules over 3-4 months

  • Intergenerational mentorship over 3–4 months

  • Storytelling and neighborhood history capture

  • Neighborhood cohorts apply for mini-grants

Year Two: Action and Implementation

  • Mini-grant funded neighborhood projects

  • Coaching and technical assistance from INRC

  • Graduation ceremony and project showcase

Program Highlights

  • Facilitated learning experiences

  • Intergenerational mentorship

  • Neighborhood storytelling

  • Mini-grants and stipends

  • Dedicated INRC staff support

Neighborhoods

Legacy Allies is intentionally rooted in historically Black neighborhoods with deep cultural, civic, and organizing legacies. These communities have long been centers of leadership, resilience, and collective care.

  • Martindale-Brightwood

  • Northwest Landing

  • Norwood

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Legacy Allies is a two-year program, with different levels of engagement each year.

    In Year One, participants complete 9 training modules over 3–4 months, followed by 3–4 months of paired intergenerational mentorship activities.

    In Year Two, participants focus on implementing neighborhood projects supported by mini-grants, with continued coaching and technical assistance from INRC. Time commitments are structured but manageable, and participants receive stipends in recognition of their time and leadership.

  • INRC will review applications to build balanced, neighborhood-based cohorts that reflect diverse lived experiences and perspectives across generations.

  • No. Legacy Allies values lived experience, curiosity, and commitment to your neighborhood. You do not need a formal title or previous leadership training to apply.

  • Participants receive a $300 stipend for their engagement in the program. In addition, each neighborhood cohort will apply for a $5,000 at the end of Year One to support a resident-led project implemented during Year Two.

  • Projects must be resident-led and benefit the neighborhood. Examples could include community events, beautification efforts, storytelling initiatives, youth engagement activities, or other ideas that strengthen connection and belonging. INRC will provide guidance and technical assistance during the implementation phase.

Legacy Allies is funded by the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative (IAAQLI), supporting leadership development rooted in historically Black neighborhoods.

This investment reflects a shared commitment to strengthening intergenerational leadership, preserving neighborhood history, and advancing community-led change.