Learn about Study Circles

Get Involved with Study Circles in 2009!

Since 2000, over 1,600 residents from neighborhoods across Indianapolis have participated in Study Circles. Study Circles are neighborhood-based, small group discussions aimed at connecting people and community resources to develop innovative strategies to strengthen neighborhoods. From their participation in Study Circles, neighbors and other stakeholders work together to create lasting change in their communities.

Study Circles engage residents in discussing and developing their own solutions for their neighborhood concerns. Participants discuss ideas for strengthening their neighborhoods and then develop and implement small-scale action plans.

Examples of action items implemented by neighborhood groups include:

> the development of a reading and tutoring room at IPS #43 in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood;
> a near eastside neighborhood worked with IndyGo to install community information boards in bus shelters in order to display their neighborhood's newsletter and increase engagement in the neighborhood association; and,
> a near Westside community created an annual, "Hootenanny Fiesta", designed to bring together and celebrate and honor the community's Appalachian past and welcome the growing Latino population.

The Study Circles program is open to neighborhood associations in Marion County, as well as other community-based organizations, including faith-based institutions, not-for-profit groups, and youth-serving agencies.

In collaboration with Making Connections, INRC will host a Study Circles information session on Tuesday, March 10, from at 6:30-8:00pm at INRC. Attendees will learn more about the goals and impact of Study Circles in Indianapolis, the responsibilities of hosting a Study Circle, and resources available to support neighborhood Study Circles.

To learn more about Study Circles and to RSVP for the information session, contact Amy Tompkins at INRC, (317) 920-0330 ext. 106 or atompkins@inrc.org.