Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative Grant

Our Founder, Jeanine Coleman, had the honor to attend an orientation for awardees of the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative. Project WILL, Inc was one of 52 not-for-profit organizations selected by the National Urban League to implement the initiative’s mission to support effective programs, policies, and ventures to make measurable improvements in the lives of African Americans.

Grants were provided for projects in business and entrepreneurship, education, employment, health and wellness, housing and homeownership, and leadership and engagement. 

Project WILL’s award in the amount of $247,248 will address Barriers to Employment for African American adults with disabilities. 

Disability and race have a complex and compounding impact on one’s well-being. The disability employment gap, combined with the racial employment disparity, leaves African Americans withdisabilities with the highest unemployment rate (75%) for any racial group (National Disability Institute 2019). High unemployment contributes to poverty and potential involvement with the justice system.

In a 2017 study, people with emotional, physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities were nearly 44% more likely to be arrested by age 28, while those without had a lower probability of arrest, at 30%. African Americans with disabilities are at the greatest risk of arrest – facing nearly double the 28% risk of white individuals with disabilities. The same study projected over 50% of Black individuals with disabilities in the U.S. will be arrested by the time they reach their late 20s (Cornell University, 2017). These statistics make a strong case for the significant and unique needs of adults with disabilities, which we aim to servewith this award.

Thank you, Tony Mason and your team at the Indianapolis Urban League, along with Willis Bright and the African American Coalition of Indianapolis (AACI) for your amazing leadership and of course the Lilly Endowment for prioritizing the most critical issues impacting the quality of life for African Americans living within Indianapolis/Marion County.