WHO IS SHEPHERD
Shepherd Community Center is a faith-based, nonprofit organization established in 1985 with a simple but staggering mission: to break the cycle of poverty on the near Eastside of Indianapolis through a Continuum of Care that meets the physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs of our neighbors from cradle to career – and beyond. Located centrally within the community it serves, Shepherd offers programs for children, teens, adults, and families. Our primary tools? Education and love.
POVERTY 101
Meeting a complicated challenge
At Shepherd, we do life with our neighbors, and see their felt needs first-hand. Some causes of poverty are systemic, and others are situational, but all restrict people’s ability to navigate life. Breaking down our preconceived notions and cultural blind-spots is key to achieving real impact in the lives of neighbors living in generational poverty.
RESOURCES FOR A STABLE LIFE
Building assets for holistic change
As we grow in our understanding of generational poverty, we know that there is no quick fix. Throwing money at the complexity of cultural and systemic issues isn’t enough. That’s why our relationship-based model focuses on ten key assets that we’ve found are essential for breaking the cycle of generational poverty.
1. Faith in a personal God who provides purpose and guidance is foundational for hope.
2. Physical health and mobility are key to functioning at school, at work, and within social networks.
3. Relationships provide critical help in times of need, stress, and crisis.
4. Emotional control enables healthy responses to negative circumstances and challenge.
5. Mental acuity in academic skills and critical thinking supports good decision-making.
6. Identifying with stable adults that model stability, planning, and perseverance promotes growth.
7. Self-advocacy—the belief that you can question the status quo and pursue your dreams—empowers change.
8. Knowledge of dominant, mainstream culture helps people succeed and get things done in work and life.
9. Future-orientation supports long-term planning, life-long learning, and perseverance.
10. The money to provide for basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare is foundational for escaping generational poverty.
CULTURAL VALUES
The heart of what we do
At Shepherd, our team members and volunteers are deeply committed to a set of core values that define our attitude toward the families we serve.
