Why This Indianapolis Neighborhood Is Changing Fast | Sharon Clark and Marvin Smith, Aspire Higher

On today's show I sat down with Sharon Clark, founder of the Aspire Higher Foundation, and board member Marvin Smith about revitalizing Indianapolis' Near Northwest neighborhoods.

After a 30-year collegiate volleyball coaching career at Butler, Clark transitioned into nonprofit leadership in 2023, building on years of grassroots community support. The effort centers on restoring an 1897 firehouse purchased at a Marion County tax sale in 2012 and reopened in February 2024 after a $1.6M renovation that now features community space, the RyZe Kitchen, and four apartments.

Aspire Higher's pillars include community development, health and wellness, and technology-focused youth programming, including Girls in Tech trips and career exposure. They address a major food desert, transportation barriers, housing density, and plans for a small-format marketplace with financial services while preserving local history impacted by I-65 and redlining.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about:
- Sharon Clark's Transition from Coaching Volleyball at Butler to Nonprofit Leadership
- The Founding and Mission of the Aspire Higher Foundation
- RyZe Kitchen Addressing Food Scarcities and the Future Marketplace

Thank you to our partners:
Elements Financial

Check out these great clips from the show:
01:39 Guest Introduction: Sharon Clark and Marvin Smith, Aspire Higher
03:05 From Coaching To Community
06:27 Near Northwest Explained
07:40 Finding The Firehouse
10:44 Tax Sale And Cleanup
15:17 From Art Hub To Mission
20:43 Four Pillars And Programs
27:51 Food Desert Reality
32:46 Marketplace And Housing Plan
34:34 Second Space Across Street
36:10 Neighborhood History Question
36:32 Highway And Redlining
37:37 Neighborhood History Discoveries
38:39 Saving Library And Landmarks
40:56 Elder Diggs Hidden Gem
43:41 Marketplace And Housing Vision
44:28 Community Needs And Amenities
46:32 Impact Over Numbers
48:28 Co Creating With Residents
52:04 After Hours Youth Spaces
53:46 Career Pathway Programs
55:49 Lightning Round Indiana
01:02:03 Make Local Impact
01:05:44 Hidden Gems And Hoosiers

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