4th Annual Collaborative Spirit Award

Nominate your neighborhood for its award-winning collaborative effort!

INRC's 4th annual "Collaborative Spirit Award" will recognize a project undertaken in Indianapolis neighborhoods between January 1, 2008 and June 1, 2009 that involves partnerships between neighborhood associations, organizations, schools, businesses, faith-based organizations, not-for-profits, etc. The project must embrace the spirit of cooperation and community involvement.

Nominate your neighborhood collaboration for this award! The 4th Annual Collaborative Spirit Award will celebrate unique partnerships across a neighborhood. These partners are working collaboratively to create an inclusive neighborhood in which all assets are valued and the result is a stronger, more connected community. Please click here for descriptions of previous awardees.

The award will be presented at INRC's 15th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 13, at the American Red Cross, 441 E. 10^th Street. The award will include a cash honorarium to be used to continue the award-winning neighborhood's good work and the winner's name will be engraved on a plaque that is displayed at INRC's office. In addition the winner will be nominated for a National Award.

Nominations are due by 5pm on Monday, August 24.

How to apply: check INRC's website at www.inrc.org; call us at 920-0330, ext. 100; or, stop by INRC's office at 1802 N. Illinois Street for an application.

The award winner of the INRC Collaborative Spirit award will also be honored at the Neighbor Power! Conference Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 16. This awards program will bring together new and existing awards sponsored by a number of community partners. This gathering will also feature five other awards including:

Connecting Community Award, sponsored by Neighbor Power! This award recognizes an institution, organization, or group of people that exemplify leadership, collaboration, and vision in their work to improve services, education, or cultural aspects of the quality of life of its neighborhood. This would include but not be limited to local mural project, job training program, neighborhood cultural event, etc. To nominate someone for this award, click here, or for more information contact LISC at sthomas@lisc.org.

Building Local Economy Award, sponsored by Neighbor Power! This award recognizes an institution, organization, or group of people that exemplify leadership, collaboration, and vision in their work to improve business diversity or economic aspects of the quality of life of its neighborhood. This would include but not be limited to farmer's market, hiring locally, eat/shop local, small business development, etc. To nominate someone for this award, click here, or for more information contact LISC at sthomas@lisc.org.

Inspiring Places Award, sponsored by Neighbor Power! This award recognizes an institution, organization, or group of people that exemplify leadership, collaboration, and vision in their work to improve safety, housing, or beautification aspects of the quality of life of its neighborhood. This would include but not be limited to crime watch programs, housing, neighborhood clean-up efforts, community/police partnerships, streetscape improvements, gateways, etc. To nominate someone for this award, click here, or for more information contact LISC at sthomas@lisc.org.

The Mayor's Neighborhood Award, sponsored by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB). This award will recognize achievements of residents engaged as volunteers in beautification and/or environmental improvement projects. To nominate someone for this award, click here, or for more information contact KIB at lfox@kibi.org.

The Carl J. Lile Partnership Award, sponsored by the Indianapolis Coalition for Neighborhood Development. This award recognizes the dedication and commitment of a community development leader in Indianapolis. The nomination process is internal and applications are not being accepted. Contact dfredericks@iaced.org for more information.

The awards will be presented as part of a week of neighborhood celebrations that will culminate with Neighbor Power! A Gathering To Inspire Greater Indy Neighborhoods. Neighbor Power! will bring together hundreds of people from around the city who are interested in neighborhood improvement and community development. LISC Indianapolis, the Great Indy Neighborhoods Initiatives, and many others have coordinated the free gathering, which will include discussions and workshops on neighborhood issues on October 17. ( Find out more here.)