Indianapolis

In mid-2018 Forward Cities began engaging a diverse group of cross-sector leaders in Indianapolis to develop a set of data-informed, human-centered, community-led, and action-oriented strategies to foster collaboration with the goal of building a stronger and more equitable entrepreneurship ecosystem in Indianapolis.

Through the work of a local council comprised of community stakeholders, the neighborhoods of Near West, Near Northwest, and Northeast corridor were identified for launch of pilot projects to activate and provide direct support to neighborhood businesses through a neighborhood based co-working space, access to a low barrier business capital initiative, and marketing support to help black owned businesses thrive.

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Kaliah Ligon

Local Director, Indianapolis

(2018 - 2020)

Kaliah Ligon, the Indianapolis Inclusive Innovation Fellow, has served the Indianapolis community for the past ten years in several roles in grant-making, community building, outreach and organizing. Having worked for the city’s public transit system as the manager of outreach, Indiana’s largest non-profit hospital system as a community outreach project manager, and a capacity building director for a grassroots leadership development organization, Kaliah has touched the lives of thousands of Indianapolis residents. Kaliah studied at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs earning a master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Policy Analysis. Kaliah is married to her childhood sweetheart, Chris, and they have three children ages 20, 15, and 13. She enjoys traveling and meeting new people.

To learn more about our work in Indianapolis, IN, contact our Director of Community Innovation, Hassan Bazzi.

More About Our Work In Indianapolis