25 Apr - Camp Catalyst Registration is Open!

In 2022, New Hope of Indiana debuted a new program called Camp Catalyst. Camp Catalyst is a unique summer camp experience for children ages 9-13 with and without disabilities. The goal of this camp is to encourage campers to be confident, independent, productive citizens who will help to promote an inclusive society. New Hope of Indiana seeks to empower campers to be catalysts for change in their communities who can redefine what it means to have a disability or to be a friend to someone with a disability. Throughout the week, campers will enjoy tie-dying, science experiments, crafts, jewelry making,...

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27 Mar - A Note from Allison: March 2023

I wrote my Heartbeat column before learning of the tragedy in Nashville yesterday. It is hard to imagine the grief felt by the families impacted there. We pray for them and everyone affected by yesterday's event and the  many other tragedies throughout our country and world. I hope by reading this edition of The Heartbeat you can tell what an amazing month we have had around New Hope! Our 45th Anniversary was a special and fun day as you can see! I think anniversaries are a wonderful time to pause and reflect on the people and history of New Hope. When I...

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27 Mar - Cheese and Thank You is Back!

We have some exciting news! New Hope’s Cheese and Thank You food truck is BACK and will be up and running later this spring. This New Hope program is the only mission-driven food truck in the Midwest in which food is prepared, served, and marketed by young adults with disabilities. Through this program, Cheese and Thank You participants learn skills in food preparation and serving, sales, customer service and business practices. The Cheese and Thank You food truck operates as a program of New Hope of Indiana and is, therefore, a non-for-profit program. All proceeds from food sales and donations...

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27 Mar - Favorite New Hope Memories

In honor of our 45th anniversary, we asked our associates and individuals served to complete a ‘Favorite New Hope Memory’ craft. These memories are attached to the walls at our Payne Road facility for all to see as they walk down our halls. Many great memories have been shared through this activity. Take a look at some of the wonderful times that have taken place over the last 45 years!  ...

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27 Mar - New Hope’s 45th Anniversary Celebration

On Monday, March 13th, New Hope celebrated its 45th anniversary of supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in the central Indiana community. March is also Disability Awareness Month, so there were lots of reasons to celebrate.  We kicked off this day of celebration with a ceremony recognizing 8 individuals we serve, our medical director, and our longest-term associate who have all been with New Hope since we opened our doors in 1978. To learn more about the 10 people recognized during this ceremony, click here.  During the ceremony, we also welcomed City-County Councilor Ali Brown. To say Councilor Brown is an advocate for individuals...

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27 Mar - Remembering Our Friends: March 2023

Kyle Eakin It is with sadness that New Hope announces the passing of Kyle Eakin.  Kyle passed on Wednesday, March 15th. Kyle was served by New Hope for 35 years! She moved into New Hope’s facility in 1988 where she received services and met her long-time boyfriend, James Howland, and friend, Mary Wagner Shields. Kyle moved to Naseau Group Home in 1993. In the past, Kyle worked at Noble’s workshop, attended both Payne Road and Castleton Day Services, and attended Janus Developmental Services. She loved country music, especially Kenny Chesney, reading the newspaper and magazines and going to the local Barnes...

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27 Mar - New Hope’s 45 Year Honorees

New Hope celebrated its 45th anniversary earlier this month, and during this celebration, we honored those who have been with us since we opened our doors in 1978. These 10 individuals have experienced a lot of changes during their time with New Hope, and we are grateful that they are a part of our New Hope family. Read below to learn a little bit more about the 10 individuals who have been with us all 45 years.  Geraldine KeelingGeraldine holds a special place at New Hope. She was the very first person admitted to New Hope’s facility! Her nickname is “Little Miss New...

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28 Feb - A Note from Allison: February 2023

Greetings all! I hope that you all are enjoying these spring-like temperatures we have been having! Throughout this month, New Hope has been celebrating Black History Month. To kick off our celebration, we had a Traditional African Dress Parade in Day Services to honor the many different cultures of our associates. We absolutely loved seeing all the beautiful vibrant clothing, music and dance of this parade. It was such a great time, we have now decided to make this an annual event! We also celebrated by having African American associates share their stories through our social media platforms. We asked associates to answer...

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28 Feb - Black History Month Spotlight: Trust Paunganwa

I remember like yesterday, while I was in form 3 (equivalent to 10th grade in the US), I read from the “Students’ Companion International Edition” a saying that stuck with me until now, “This would be a dull and monotonous world if we all thought alike”- and the same can be said if we all looked alike. Being Black is only a small part of who I am, but it is not the only and maybe not even the most important part. I was born in Honde Valley, Rhodesia under colonial rule (now called Zimbabwe after Independence). I immigrated to...

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27 Feb - March is Disability Awareness Month

March is National Disability Awareness Month, and New Hope will be celebrating this alongside our 45th anniversary. According to the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities (GCPD), “The goal of Disability Awareness Month is to increase awareness and promote positive attitudes and community inclusion of all people with disabilities.”  To help promote National Disability Awareness Month, we will be celebrating the individuals we support and the positive impact they make in our community. Watch our social media sites for pictures of those we support as they are out and about in our community sharing their positive attitudes and smiles with...

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27 Feb - NHI is Celebrating 45 Years of Hope

On Monday, March 13th, New Hope will celebrate 45 years of supporting and advocating for individuals with disabilities. There have been many changes since we first opened our doors in 1978 as a 200-person live-in facility. Today, New Hope provides resources for the individuals we serve to live as our neighbors in the community, work alongside us at our jobs and participate in community events. New Hope is proud to have played a part in helping individuals with disabilities live their best, most fulfilling lives.  On New Hope’s birthday, we will be hosting an internal celebration where we will honor the 8 individuals, 1 physician and...

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27 Feb - New Hope’s AIM Group is Expanding

New Hope of Indiana is excited to launch a third group in its AIM (Achieving Inclusion and Meaning) program. The program, which began in 2019, provides young adults with developmental disabilities who are exiting high school with the opportunity to be active and social in the community. AIM added a third group in 2020 just before the pandemic but had to pause that group after COVID-19 hit.   As COVID-19 restrictions have lessened and current AIM participants have been able to get back out into the community, there has been increased interest in the program. This has led to AIM once again...

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23 Feb - Black History Month: Mike Epps Feature

Feature Written By Chasatie Finley, New Hope of Indiana Team LeaderMike Epps is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is well-known for his role as Day-Day Jones in the hit film Next Friday and its sequel Friday After Next. Epp is from the inner city of Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up near the section of 21st and Carrollton Avenue. Mike Epps does interviews all the time and loves to talk about his hometown and his upbringing.  He says Indianapolis will always be his home. Epps has even done a sitcom on Netflix called  The UpShaws.  The show is about a working-class black family in Indiana...

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21 Feb - Black History Month Spotlight

In honor of Black History Month, we asked several of our associates to answer the question, "What does Black History Month mean to you?" When asked this question, Carolyn Short, DSP at New Hope of Indiana, said this: "It's about learning where I came from and my true identity. I now know who I am and who I belong too. I came from a line of greatness! My ancestors were a chosen and blessed nation! I welcome and embrace my heritage and culture." She also shared several quotes that help to highlight what Black History Month means to her. Check them out below! ...

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14 Feb - Remembering Our Friends: February 2023

Sadly, Jana Kay Alenduff passed on Wednesday, February 2nd. Jana was served by New Hope for 32 years since 1991 when New Hope (formerly St. Vincent New Hope) began serving individuals in Hamilton County. Jana resided in the Louise Group Home in Atlanta, Indiana until moving to the DeMarillac Group Home in February 2021. She attended Janus Developmental Services Day Service program and most recently attended New Hope Payne Road Day Services. Jana loved to travel to Florida, attend camps, Bible Studies and crafts.Our thoughts and prayers are with Jana’s family, caregivers, DeMarillac Group Home individuals, Day Services individuals and...

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14 Feb - February Culture Corner

Written By Moses AyotundeI was born and raised in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria of West Africa. Ogbomoso is known for her display of bravery. The city is dominated by Yoruba people, known to cherish the value of their culture. It is ruled by a king who is referred to as ‘The Soun of Ogbomoso’. In the past, cities and towns around Ogbomoso fought wars, which eventually led to slavery. Ogbomoso, however, has never been defeated nor enslaved. Therefore, this city is often referred to as a home of ‘rest and peace’. In the past, Ogbomoso’s main form of entertainment was Egungun, which...

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30 Jan - A Note from Allison: January 2023

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a good holiday season and are off to a great 2023 with lots of hope! In this new year, New Hope has kicked off its strategic planning for the next three years.  It is so exciting to think about the future- not our COVID past!  The New Hope board and our Operating Team has already held its first planning meeting.  We have received input from many sources. We have heard from individuals served and leaders in the disability community. Next week we will hear from associates. Our partners at Willow Marketing have talked to...

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27 Jan - New Hope’s Associate Financial Assistance (AFA) Program

New Hope of Indiana truly cares about our team. We do everything we can to ensure our associates thrive both personally and professionally. New Hope’s Associate Financial Assistance program (AFA) was started in order to accomplish this goal. The original purpose of this program was to assist associates with emergencies such as car repairs, utility bills, rent and more. Associates could apply for loans when facing emergency situations. Once approved, payments would be sent directly to the entity in which the loan was taken out for. In spring of 2020, the pandemic brought many hardships for all. As a result, New Hope expanded the...

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27 Jan - Black History Month Celebration

This year, New Hope of Indiana’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is leading several initiatives in honor of Black History Month.  New Hope will be kicking off the celebration on February 1st by hosting a parade in which associates will be invited to wear traditional African dress. The parade will be in our Day Services program where individuals and associates can celebrate and learn about the many different countries from which our staff originate.  In addition to the parade, New Hope will be launching a social media campaign for Black History Month featuring our associates. The DEI committee will be asking...

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27 Jan - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service to others was of utmost priority to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This idea was apparent in everything he did. At New Hope, service is one of our seven core values and on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we celebrated his legacy through a day of service.  Two service projects were offered at our Payne Rd. location for associates. The first was organizing our Day Services craft room. The second was conducting a deep clean of one of our kitchens. Both projects were much-needed...

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