November 26, 2024

Gratitude & Growth: A Thanksgiving Message from Britt Redd

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m reminded of how grateful I am for each of you who support and believe in INRC’s mission. This past year has been one of transformation, and it’s clear that the heart of INRC—our community—has been essential in every step forward. Your trust, engagement, and insights have strengthened us as we work to build a resilient, inclusive organization ready to serve and support neighborhoods across Indianapolis more meaningfully.

Since transitioning from INRC Board President to stepping into my role as Interim Executive Director, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with many neighbors, community partners, and supporters. These conversations have been invaluable, providing me with insights to shape INRC’s priorities and reinforce our shared commitment to community-driven development. Your honesty and vision inspire us to do more.

A few years ago, INRC’s Board took an important step to gain an external perspective on our organization’s strengths and challenges by commissioning an audit. We wanted to understand how we could better serve our neighborhoods and identify areas for growth. This two-year process, which involved input from stakeholders, staff, board members, and community partners, provided valuable insights into our culture, leadership, and programs. With these findings in hand, we recognized the need for meaningful change to fully realize INRC’s potential.

Since then, our team has been working on several significant updates to how we work and serve. This year, we introduced a Deputy Director position to increase our capacity, collaboration, and responsiveness, and I’m delighted that longtime team member Sharon Logan stepped into this role. Although it’s only been a few months, Sharon’s leadership and vision are already making an impact.

Internally, our staff has been hard at work updating systems, revising policies, and embracing best practices that make INRC a stronger organization. Our amazing team has balanced these behind-the-scenes efforts with their dedication to community events and programs—including our 3rd Annual INRC Jubilee. This year’s Jubilee, thanks to the tireless commitment of our staff, was the most successful yet, a celebration of what INRC stands for: the power of communities coming together.

One of our most exciting shifts this year has been expanding INRC’s community-building training to nonprofits, local governments, and businesses, allowing larger institutions to understand and practice the principles of being asset-focused. This change helps generate revenue to support our programs, but also has the potential to make community-driven development the foundation of how our city grows.

Looking ahead, we are excited about new partnerships and initiatives we’ll announce in the coming year. As always, we are grounded in our community’s aspirations, and your input will continue to shape our path forward. Thank you for being the heart of INRC’s work and for believing in our shared mission. It is through the collective commitment of our neighbors, partners, and supporters that we can truly make a difference.

With deepest gratitude for your trust and support, I look forward to all that we’ll accomplish together.

Warmest regards,

Britt