FEBRUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER: DEEP ROOTS, BRIGHT FUTURE
Black History Month is a time to honor the legacy and contributions of Black communities that continue to shape our shared history and future. Celebrating Black history deepens understanding, builds equity, and reminds us that Black stories, leadership, and culture are essential to collective progress—for everyone, everywhere.
LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Dr. Brandon D. Cosby
Black History Month at Flanner House: Celebration, Defiance, and the Work Ahead
This year, Black History Month arrives with uncommon weight—and uncommon clarity.
It marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, a tradition rooted in the radical insistence that Black life, Black brilliance, and Black contribution must be named, studied, and honored. It also coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States, a nation still deciding whether it will tell the full truth about itself.
The irony is not lost on us.
As the country prepares to celebrate its founding, there are active efforts underway to erase, restrict, or distort the history of Black people—through book bans, censored curricula, and the quiet removal of our stories from public memory. Yet Black history persists, because it has always had to.
At Flanner House, we choose both celebration and defiance.
For nearly 128 years, Flanner House of Indianapolis has stood in the current of American history. We are younger than the country – but older than the holiday dedicated to remembering Black History. As a result, we have seen some things. And we have learned a few things along the way.
We have learned that progress is never permanent without protection. That truth must be practiced, not just proclaimed. That Black communities do not need saving—but they do deserve investment, infrastructure, and the freedom to define their own futures.
From our earliest days supporting Black families navigating migration, segregation, and exclusion, to our present-day work advancing food sovereignty, mental wellness, literacy, workforce development, early childhood education, and homeownership, Flanner House has always believed the same thing: Black communities deserve the tools to thrive on their own terms.
Black history is not supplemental.
It is not optional.
Black history is American history—written into its economy, its culture, its resistance movements, and its unfinished promises.
As the United States turns 250, we remain clear-eyed and committed. We celebrate because we are still here.
We are defiant because the work is not done.
How You Can Honor Black History Month with Us
- Donate to support dignity-centered, community-led work that strengthens Black families not just in moments of crisis, but for generations to come.
- Attend our programs, events, and community gatherings—because presence is a form of solidarity.
- Reflect on the histories you were taught, the ones you were not, and the responsibility we all share to tell the truth.
- Read and support our Black bookstore, Ujamaa Community Bookstore, a living archive of Black thought, culture, and imagination.
- Shop at Cleo’s Bodega & Café—whether you’re grabbing a meal at the café or groceries at the bodega—because food access, ownership, and joy are part of the history we are still building.
Black history lives here—at Flanner House, in our neighborhoods, in our families, and in the future we are building together.
As CEO of Flanner House, I walk daily in the tension between legacy and possibility. We are caretakers of a story older than the holiday that names us and younger than the country still learning to tell the truth about itself. Black History Month reminds me that our work is not about preserving the past in amber, but about carrying it forward with intention, courage, and love. Thank you for walking with us, investing in us, and believing that communities rooted in dignity can shape a future worthy of our ancestors and our children alike. We build because we remember. We remember because we believe.
FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR OF FOOD JUSTICE
CANDACE BOYD-SIMMONS
The Flanner House Greenhouse is part of Flanner House’s long standing commitment to food justice, workforce development, and community care on the near-west side of Indianapolis. Opened in 2023, this state of the art greenhouse is growing thousands of pounds of culturally relevant vegetables, fruits and herbs in the middle of the what some would call “the hood.” But it is a part of a deeper legacy.
The produce grown helps address food insecurity by increasing access to fresh, affordable food in neighborhoods historically impacted by disinvestment.
The greenhouse supports year-round growing; seed starts, and specialty crops that feed into Flanner House’s urban farm and community distribution efforts.
FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE
EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
MERCEDES J. GUYSE, MBA
Skills to Success Sees Record Demand
Flanner House’s Skills to Success Workforce Development Program has surpassed 200 registrations for its upcoming cohort, signaling strong and growing demand for structured workforce pathways that lead to stable, family-sustaining employment.
While serving as a gateway to industry-recognized certification training, Skills to Success program equips participants with foundational workplace competencies:
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Time Management
- Financial Literacy, and
- Goal Setting
Graduates are connected to credentialed career pathways in high-demand fields such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Early Childhood Education, Construction, Information Technology, and other sectors aligned with regional workforce needs. This integrated model reduces common barriers to employment by pairing readiness training with direct access to occupational credentials, maximizing participant outcomes and funder impact. Record enrollment demonstrates both the urgency of workforce disruption and the effectiveness of Flanner House’s approach in advancing economic mobility across Indianapolis.
FROM THE DESK OF UJAMAA COMMUNITY BOOKSTORE
IT’S BACK!: THE INDY INDIE BOOK CRAWL 2026
Ujamaa Community Bookstore will join more than 30 locations across the city for the 3rd Annual Indy Indie Book Crawl, taking place March 19–22, 2026.
Visitors are invited to stop by Ujamaa to explore a curated selection of books, new plants, and unique merchandise from local Black-owned vendors. The weekend also includes a free variety show on Friday, March 20, beginning at 7:00 p.m.— an experience not to be missed.
No purchase necessary. The more locations you visit, the more chances you have to win exciting prizes, including gift cards, merchandise, and other giveaways.
How to Participate:
Step 1: Pick up a bookmark and bingo card at any participating location beginning March 19.
Step 2: Visit as many locations as possible and collect stamps on your bookmark and bingo card.
Step 3: After completing your crawl, submit the entry form to be entered into the prize drawing.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
With Gratitude to Our Community Partner: Northside New Era Church
Northside New Era Church, located at 517 W. 30th St. Indianapolis, IN, 46208, has served the community with faith and purpose since 1939.
We are deeply grateful for their generous partnership and shared commitment to opportunity, dignity, and lasting impact. Through their investment, families receive critical support; students are better prepared for success, and neighbors gain access to the resources they need to thrive.
SAVE THE DATES – 2026
Golf Outing – Monday, August 3rd
Spend a meaningful summer day on the greens while supporting community impact!
Join Flanner House on Monday, August 3, 2026, for our annual Golf Outing at The Country Club of Indianapolis. Enjoy great company, friendly competition, and a beautiful course—all for a powerful cause. A portion of proceeds benefits the Joyce Johnson Memorial Scholarship, honoring a woman whose life’s work centered on education, service, and clearing pathways for others to succeed.
128th Anniversary Gala - Friday, October 9th 
Join Flanner House as we celebrate 128 years of impact, resilience, and community at our Anniversary Gala.
This unforgettable evening will honor the individuals whose dedication and hard work drive lasting change across Indianapolis.
Don’t miss a night of inspiration, connection, and celebration as we reflect on our shared legacy and invest together in the future we are building—one life at a time.
COMMIT NOW FOR 2026
We’re preparing for our 128th Anniversary celebration this year and invite you to confirm your early sponsorship commitment! Sponsors will be featured in our announcements and event marketing materials.
If you’ve supported Flanner Houe in the past but were unable to join us in 2025, we’d love to welcome you back! Join us today and help us continue growing a brighter future together.