A creative, welcoming and diverse place for nonprofits in Indianapolis
Indiana Interchurch Center
About the Interchurch Center & Community
The Indiana Interchurch Center is much more than a building. It’s a community of nonprofit organizations working to solve the most urgent challenges we face at home and abroad. The Interchurch Center provides offices where denomination administrative headquarters and nonprofits develop strategies and implementation plans. More importantly, it offers a space where these the broader community can engage in learning and conversing, service and advocacy. We invite you to visit the Interchurch Center, and participate in events that interest you.
A passion for social change and justice
Who are some of the members of the Interchurch Community and what do they care about?
Denominations. The Interchurch Center houses the administrative headquarters of several denomination: The United Church of Christ, Indiana-Kentucky Conference; the Christian Church in Indiana (Disciples of Christ); the Synod of Lincoln Trails (Presbyterian Church USA in Indiana and Illinois), the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis; the Whitewater Valley Presbytery; and the American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis. Other religious groups call the Center home. The St. Mary of Magdala Catholic Community is one of the few Catholic churches in the world that celebrates mass with a Womanpriest.
Health and wellness. The Minority Health Coalition of Marion County and the Indiana Rural Health Association extend health services to the most marginalized populations. Even the health of animals are addressed: Spay and Neuter Services of Indiana helps low-income families afford to spay their pets.
Undocumented immigrants. The Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance is one of the state's best known groups protecting the rights of "Dreamers" and other undocumented Hoosiers.
Homeless people. The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Protection (CHIP) is Central Indiana's main organization analyzing homelessness and building a blueprint to end it.
Environmental protection. Three of Indiana's leading environmental organizations call the Interchurch Center home: the Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club, Earth Charter Indiana and Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light. The Hoosier Environmental Council offers monthly environmental advocate training at the IIC.
Opioid crisis. Overdose Lifeline has emerged as one of the country's most influential organizations fighting drug overdose.
Interfaith engagement. The Center for Interfaith Cooperation is one of the Midwest's primary groups promoting inter-religious education, dialogue and service. The Niagara Foundation organizes monthly interfaith conversations and several interfaith iftars at the Interchurch Center every Ramadan. The Jewish Community Relations Council and the Muslim Alliance of Indiana are the main groups promoting interfaith cooperation for the Jewish and Muslim communities.
Refugees in Indiana and around the world. OBAT Helpers is one of the only NGOs in the world working in the camps of the Rohingya in Bangladesh. The Peace Center for Forgiveness and Reconciliation helps Congolese refugees integrate into Hoosier society.
Civic renewal. Since January of 2016, Women4Change Indiana has become one of the state's main groups promoting greater engagement for women in politics, and helping Hoosiers more broadly become more active and effective citizens.
Human and civil rights. The Center for Interfaith Cooperation, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Muslim Alliance of Indiana defend the rights to worship of all Hoosiers. Gender Nexus advocates for the rights of trans-persons. The Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance promotes the rights of undocumented immigrants. The American Friends Service Committee passionately calls for the respect of human rights of Palestinians in Gaza.
Marginalized children. In addition to defending "Dreamers," the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance raises funds for economically disadvantaged immigrants to attend college. Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) works with the families of unsighted young children. Watch Club and the Center for Interfaith Cooperation organized an intercultural Summer Youth Camp at IIC. The Waza Alliance for Quality Education provides training for teachers in the Democratic of Congo.
Food insecurity. Faith Hope and Love supports and trains missional food pantries across the city.
24 Hr Access
Mail Service, UPS, FedEx On-Site
Fiber-Optic
Internet Connectivity
HD Projectors
An inclusive and welcoming culture
2 Large Meeting Rooms
4 more intimate conference rooms
Ample free parking
Easy Bus Access
Natural Habitat Certification
Energy management and solar panels
On-Site Management
Central Location close to the IMA, CTS & Butler
On-site Art Gallery
24-Hour Camera Surveillance
Fully Accessible to all
Come to the Interchurch Center and be inspired!
CHIP — “Merritt says collaboration will be key to solving the city’s biggest problems”
[Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention] has done a really good job of creating the opportunity for information, data, everything where homelessness pervades, but we haven’t activated it.
Covering Kids and Families — “Indiana Suspends Medicaid Work Requirements Amid Lawsuit”
Mark Fairchild is with Covering Kids and Families, which helps people navigate Medicaid and other state health care programs. So far, he says many people haven’t asked about the changing requirements.
Covering Kids and Families — “Report: Indiana’s Children Uninsured Rate Increases For Second Year”
Reasons for the increase may include changes in the Affordable Care Act and delays in funding for children’s health insurance programs. Covering Kids and Families of Indiana’s director of policy, Mark Fairchild says this can create communication challenges.
Sierra Club — “Major Coal Producer And Trump Booster Files For Bankruptcy”
“Frankly, this is just a scare tactic for those who want to try to take our country backwards into a 20th century energy economy,” says Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Beyond Coal campaign at the Sierra Club.
Epilepsy Foundation of Indiana — “Community Link: Epilepsy Foundation of Indiana”
Each week in Community Link Carolene Mays-Medley and Marco Dominguez take a look at an organization or business that is making a positive impact on the community.
VIPS — “IndyStar dedicates Season for Sharing campaign to Matthew L. Tully Memorial Fund
The Matthew L. Tully Memorial Fund was created to support educational opportunities for underprivileged youth, particularly in early childhood education.
Sierra Club — “Agency says steelmaker too slow to act on chemical spill”
“The report reveals a remarkable level of disrespect on ArcelorMittal’s part for public safety, wildlife impacts, and IDEM’s regulatory authority,” said Bowden Quinn, director of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter. “I hope the department comes down hard on the company for this flagrant disregard of proper operating procedures.”
Sierra Club — “New report: Northwest Indiana steelmaker knew of toxic cyanide spill, but failed to report”
“The report reveals a remarkable level of disrespect on ArcelorMittal’s part for public safety, wildlife impacts, and IDEM’s regulatory authority,” says Bowden Quinn, director of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter. “I hope the department comes down hard on the company for this flagrant disregard of proper operating procedures.”
Interchurch Community — “Powerful Storytelling, Films, and Interactive Events Part of 2019 Spirit & Place Festival Starting Nov. 2”
WIBW, October 25, 2019 Now in its 24th year, the Spirit & Place…
Sierra Club — Images from the Human/Nature art show
On Thursday, 10 October we enjoyed the opening evening of our Human/Nature art show. Approximately 150 people attended and were treated to live music, belly dancing, poetry readings, food, and of course, many many wonderful works of art. Here are some photos from the opening event.
Covering Kids and Families — “Pace helps with Federal Marketplace open enrollment”
Pace Community Action Agency, Inc. and Covering Kids and Families are partnered to help consumers navigate through the insurance enrollment process and with selecting a health insurance plan that best suits the individual or their family.
Covering Kids and Families — “K21 Increases Local Access To Healthcare”
CKF-IN promotes and facilitates healthcare coverage by building coalitions that enroll, educate, and support Hoosiers and by advocating for strong inclusive public policies.
CHIP — “Hackney: A mayoral election is fast approaching. What will uninformed voters do?”
They also participated in a moderated Q&A discussion on homelessness at the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention’s annual Celebration fundraiser.
Epilepsy Foundation of Indiana — “WALK TO END EPILEPSY HELD AT TAPAWINGO PARK”
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, one in ten people will have a seizure, and one in 26 will be diagnosed with epilepsy.
Overdose Lifeline — “Strengthening the Heartland program brings opioid misuse prevention resources to rural South Dakota”
Letcher said the program is in need of presenters and anyone interested may contact her to learn more. Presenters complete online trainings with support from Overdose Lifeline, Inc., and earn $100 per presentation.
Overdose Lifeline — “JCCT to host songwriter concert”
“So much happened so fast . . . . It took a few years to come to some healing, and part of that is in sharing our story when called upon,” Don Pedigo said.
Earth Charter — “Future floods dominate climate change conference”
The gathering, hosted by Earth Charter Indiana, was conducted at Goshen College, a Mennonite-based liberal arts school of 845 undergraduates that made a commitment in 2013 to purchase 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The move is expected to reduce the college’s carbon footprint by 45%.
Earth Charter — “Students learn to have voice on climate”
A discussion session was conducted for high school students attending the fourth annual Climate Leadership Summit hosted in September by Earth Charter Indiana. Students as well as city officials and planners attended the day-long seminar.
Center for Interfaith Cooperation — “Van Jones headlines CTS event ‘Uncomfortable Truths, Healing Impact’”
The discussion was led by moderator Don Knebel, founding board chair of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation and vice board chair of the Triangle Education Foundation.
OBAT Helpers — “When a refugee camp becomes a semi-permanent settlement”
“Nadyeli Quiroz and John David Wagner at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design are embarking on a year-long collaboration with OBAT Helpers, an Indianapolis-based community nonprofit, to explore how to create varied functional spaces within the camps, such as outdoor courtyards or provisional pop-up designs.”
IIC & CIC — Indianapolis Spiritual Trail
The spiritual trail begins at the Indiana Interchurch Center, where pilgrims have the chance to walk the outdoor, Chartres style labyrinth. It then continues on a series of paths along the Central Canal Towpath and the White River.
Come & visit
Indiana Interchurch Center
1100 W. 42nd Street
Indianapolis IN 46208
Phone:
(317) 923-3617
Email:
iic@indianainterchurch.org