OUR VISION
Our vision is to be a catalyst and bring together the faith-based community, community leaders, businesses, law enforcement, and the court system to address critical issues in the community such as violence, chronic unemployment, and the lack of education.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Indianapolis TenPoint Coalition is to reduce violence and homicide through direct engagement, the promotion of education, and the fostering of employment opportunities.
OUR HISTORY
Since its inception in 1999, the Indianapolis TenPoint Coalition (ITPC) has been a significant partner with the city of Indianapolis in the fight against violent crime. In the mid-90s the city of Boston Massachusetts was struggling with gangs and violence. Led in large part by Rev. Eugene Rivers, Rev. Jeffery Brown, and other clergy, the Boston community came together and devised a comprehensive strategy to address their issues with violence. It was out of these strategy meetings that the Boston community developed 10 initiatives to combat violence in Boston. The implementation of this strategy reduced violence by two-thirds in one Boston community and the TenPoint Coalition was born.
In 1998, Rev. Rivers introduced this strategy, often called "Cease Fire,” or “Safe Streets", to the Indianapolis community. Rev. Charles Harrison and Rev. Clarence Moore along with other clergy embraced the program and the ITPC was formed. ITPC focused on three of the 10 initiatives of the Boston TenPoint Coalition. The areas of focus included direct engagement of "high risk" youth likely disconnected due to violence, chronic unemployment, and education. As a result of this approach, ITPC along with Westside ministries affected violence in a significant way on the Westside of Indianapolis.
OUR IMPACT
In ITPC's first year, three "high risk" neighborhoods were targeted: Unwa, Mapleton-Fall Creek, and Haughville. As a result of ITPC's strategy, among other efforts, homicides were reduced by 40% in these selected neighborhoods. In recent years, ITPC has also been successful in the fight against violent crime. In 2009, the homicide rate fell to a comparatively low of 100. In 2010, the homicide rate in Indianapolis fell to a 15 year low of 96. ITPC has been credited by the office of public safety, IMPD, and the Far Eastside Action Coalition as playing a significant role in preventing and reducing the number of homicides in the city of Indianapolis.
In 2016, ITPC helped reduce homicides by 85% in Butler-Tarkington, Crown-Hill and the United Northwest Area. This includes two urban neighborhoods going an entire year without a homicide.
Locally, ITPC is currently focusing on youths 14-24 in 46208 which includes Butler-Tarkington, United Northwest, Crown Hill and Highland Park neighborhoods.