Project Will is using a crime prevention grant to open a new location in downtown Indy

INDIANAPOLIS – Project Will, an organization that helps people with behavioral and intellectual disabilities, is expanding to help a new group of Hoosiers.

“In everything we do here, we try to imitate the work. From the moment they walk in the door they clock in and at the end of the day they clock out,” Project Will founder and executive director Jeanine Coleman-Miller said.

The organization used crime prevention grants from the city of Indianapolis to open LINKS in 1010. The new location will open soon at 10th Street and Central Avenue in Indianapolis.

LINKS at 1010 is an extension of the LINKS Initiative, a day program at Project Will on Graham Road on the North Side for adults ages 18 to 35.

Project Will

LINKS stands for leadership, independence, neighborliness, knowledge and skills.

In the classroom, participants learn social and communication skills. They also utilize these skills by volunteering for various organizations in our community.

Watch: How the LINKS Initiative is helping Hoosiers

How the LINKS initiative helps Hoosiers

“I really want to do some life-changing things and focus on my life skills,” Michael Lipsey said.

Lipsey works two jobs and is also involved in the LINKS initiative. The skills he learns at Project Will include teamwork, self-advocacy and communication. They help him when he works around the clock.

“Healthy relationships. Green flag and red flag because the green flag is healthy and the red flag is not healthy. The green flag means you trust each other and the red flag means you don’t respect each other,” Lipsey said.

Project Will

LINKS at 1010 is targeting a new target group. The new location will assist individuals with criminal backgrounds and also those at risk of legal involvement. The new extension will have a preventive approach but also an intervention.

“So we wanted to ask ourselves how we can help make an impact on our community. We know that some of these people don't make the best decisions, but we want to stand by them and help them, give them something to do when they leave school. “Give them a program where they can build community and feel like they belong,” Coleman-Miller said.

Watch: Why Project Will Open LINKS at 1010

Why open LINKS at 1010?

Project Will is funded through the Medicaid waiver. Coleman-Miller says many families don't know how to access this resource. LINKS on 1010 will help.

“So we're really trying to reach that demographic that may not know how to navigate the resources that are available to them once their young adult is out of school. So we're primarily looking for people of color, ages 18 to 35,” Coleman-Miller said.

An opening date for LINKS at 1010 has not yet been announced, but work is still underway to complete the new space.

Project Will

Participants do not need to be diagnosed with an intellectual disability to participate in LINKS at 1010. They have psychologists who accompany the families.

Project Will is also looking for employer partnerships looking for entry-level talent.

Project Will