Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited for the grand opening of the Artful Journey Studio, a space that bridges the worlds of creativity and wellness on the Aspire House Campus.
At the same time, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who gave and supported Aspire House in 2025. Your generosity, encouragement, and belief in our mission made a meaningful difference, and none of this progress would be possible without you. We’re deeply grateful as we continue this journey together.
A Chat with Dennis Murphy
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We had the opportunity to sit down with IU Health CEO Dennis Murphy and learn more about his commitment to the Northwest Landing community and the surrounding neighborhoods of the 16th Street hospital.
You can read what he had to say below.
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How do you ensure IU Health isn't reinforcing healthcare deserts in black and brown communities?
We've been the one who hasn't left downtown. I can think of a couple of systems that have left downtown, and even though they're up on 86th Street, they're still trying to move further north to get out a little further.
It's a little bit like marriage - in sickness and health, good times and bad times... We have that same commitment to those rural communities that we serve. The other thing that I think is important is being really honest and saying there are health inequities, and they impact Latino and Black people fundamentally differently.
So I think that this is good. It's good for us because that's something that we can really translate and help people understand. 16th Street is the single biggest investment anyone has ever made in the state of Indiana.
And that was explicitly to say this neighborhood's important to us. We could have chosen to put that somewhere else and do something different. But we have served this community for 100 years, and we want to serve it for 100 more.
Save the Date: Earth Day 2026
In 2026, we’re igniting a renewed spirit of unity, purpose, and action. This Earth Day, we celebrate the power of collective action—because when communities rise together, real, lasting change becomes unstoppable.
See below for more information and to claim your spot!
Funding the Future
Read more about our exciting projects made possible with generous support from the Arthur Dean Family Foundation, the Elevation Grant, Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation, and the Women's Fund of Central Indiana.
Grant Awarded by Arthur Dean Family Foundation for New After Hours Program
In Summer 2026, big things are coming to the Aspire House campus -- and it's all for teens and by teens. Like Carmel's Main Street, the Garage and Bottleworks district, or Fountain Square, the Near Northwest needs brightly lit, activated "third spaces" with food and aspirational programming for youth.
Imagine taste tests in the RyZe Kitchen, meeting DJs and entrepreneurs, and nighttime Fit Club bike rides. With support from the Arthur Dean Family Foundation, After Hours will foster welcoming environments for gathering, belonging, and learning.
We are excited to share more details with you in the coming months!
Transforming Blight to Light - A Continuous Investment
The City of Indianapolis has announced the Aspire Higher Foundation as a recipient of The Elevation Grant 2025. This funding will help us continue to build upon the Blight to Light project we started in 2023. Over the years, we have transformed the alleyways surrounding Aspire House and Frank Young Park into modes of transportation. Lined with vibrant art and lively plants, these alleyways are inviting and welcoming to our community. We are thankful to have unwavering support from The Indianapolis Foundation, Mayor Joe Hogsett, and the City-County Council.
Solar Energy to Power Aspire House
We are excited to share that we've been awarded funding by the Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation. The Solar Moonshot Program will help fund a 16.35 kW-DC solar power system. With solar energy, we will proudly reduce our carbon footprint while educating our community about solar power. The money we save on electric bills will be reinvested in our programs.
