Client Story

Urban education program challenges often stem from a lack of alignment, impact, integration, and long-term sustainability. While many initiatives exist, schools in low-performing districts frequently lack the robust programming needed to keep students engaged. Critical supports—such as on-site primary health care, mental health services, parent engagement opportunities, and access to social services—remain noticeably absent from many school campuses. Federal grant funding can help address these gaps by providing resources to implement comprehensive, school-based solutions.

Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) and its community partners contacted TCG to apply for a federal grant to implement the Full-Service Community Schools project with three schools near the Eastside neighborhood in Indianapolis. The proposed project would provide a comprehensive, high-quality school-community partnership with various services promoting parent involvement, academic achievement, health, and wellness.

IUPUI was uniquely situated to address the Full-Service Community Schools project’s goals and serve as an anchor institution in developing school-community partnerships. As an urban university focusing on civic engagement, IUPUI catalyzed collaboration and service among central Indiana’s educational institutions, including colleges and universities, area schools, non-profit organizations, and community-based learning organizations.

The project’s development followed a collective impact framework and included significant stakeholder engagement. TCG convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from IUPUI, neighborhood task forces, Indianapolis Public Schools administrators, and community partners to form an advisory committee and develop a competitive grant proposal to implement the Full-Service Community Schools project in the Martindale Brightwood neighborhood.