At the Kheprw Institute, building community wealth is harnessing the collective power that resides in under-resourced communities, especially Black communities, to create the opportunities and environment we want to live in. It is tapping into our vision of what it means to live and be in community with each other creating vibrant, resilient, sustainable places where we come together to support each other, raise our families, educate our children, start and run businesses and contribute to the health and well-being of the community as a whole.
Help us raise $500,000 and invest in our community's future. All proceeds directly support the growth of Black and Brown entrepreneurs and change-makers in Indianapolis.
why now?
- GROWING POVERTY:
In 2017, 1 in 5 people (20%) in Marion County lived in poverty, a rate that has nearly doubled since 2000 when it was 11% (SAVI). - EXPANDING RACIAL WEALTH GAPS:
In 2015 in Indianapolis: 10% of white people lived in poverty, compared to 26.3% of people of color; Unemployment was 5.3% for white people and 10% for people of color; the median hourly wage for white people was $22/hour and $16/hour for people of color (National Equity Atlas) - UNDER-RESOURCED ENTREPRENEURS:
In Indianapolis in 2016 there were 1,025 African American and 669 Hispanic-owned firms with employees compared to 27,128 white-owned firms (U.S. Census Bureau). In 2007 the average revenue of Black sole proprietors in Indianapolis was $23,000 (National Equity Atlas).
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WE'RE REDEFINING WEALTH
In the Kheprw space, wealth is more than money and assets.
There are 4 forms of capital that Kheprw uses to address the challenges of community.
CULTURAL CAPITAL
We must tap into the arts to tell our stories and inspire creative solutions.
INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL
Within each member of community is a deep well of knowledge and experience.
By sharing this knowledge with others, we're able to direct social momentum.
SOCIAL CAPITAL
They say it's not what you know, but who you know.
That idea is at the heart of community wealth building.
We create tomorrow through our bonds with friends, families, and neighbors.
FINANCIAL CAPITAL
Helping low-income entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and grow their businesses
by having proper start-up funding.
By building community wealth, we are helping to elevate community's vision, leadership, and voice. The rising tide lifts all ships, and creating shared prosperity in under-invested communities is the next wave.
THE ALKHEMY MODEL
In an effort to create a more just, equitable, human-centered environment for
entrepreneurs of color, we launched our ALKHEMY program in 2021.
LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
We nurture the next generation of social entrepreneurs through culturally relevant mentoring and training, creating spaces for deep storytelling, and expanding our cohort's social networks during their 9-week incubation.
TECHNICAL
SUPPORT
We connect entrepreneurs with technical support to direct and implement their ideas. Our network of business consulting, marketing, and legal experts are entrepreneurs of color leading Indianapolis by example.
CAPITAL
SUPPORT
We're equipping entrepreneurs with grants and flexible, low-to-no interest financing through the Kheprw Integrated Fund
INCLUSIVE WORKSPACE
If you've driven down 38th and Illinois in the last week or two, you may have noticed our beetle attached to the historic Concord building. In 2022 this will be the site for our Entrepreneurship Hub, a collective office and event space!
How can you help?
We are excited about the possibilities that exist to bring about real change in under-resourced communities by building community wealth. Join us in working to make Indianapolis a more equitable city. Help us to achieve this vision. Be an agent of change.
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Offline Contributions
To make a contribution via the mail, please make the checks payable to Kheprw Institute and send to P.O. Box 88856, Indianapolis IN 46208.
To make a contribution in person contact Pambana Uishi at puishi@kheprw.org or 317-329-4803 x 727.