Felege Hiywot Center

Showing you a sneak preview of the Future Innovator Pitches our students are working on with Wellcrafted Foundry for next Saturday. This will be an event where youth can share their ideas, solve real world problems, and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

R is for Resilience & Drive. We did not know “remove possum from property” was going to be on this week’s to-do list, but here we are. Jerry handled our surprise visitor like a pro, got the possum safely off the property, and somehow still made it look easy. Another day at FHC.

This past Saturday, Darye Henry helped students prepare for the Pitch Competition and build confidence in sharing their ideas. They talked community, elevator pitches, and self-advocacy. “If you don't care about the community, you don't care about yourself.”

I is for Inquiry & Ingenuity in the RISE framework. It starts with curiosity. Tap a beat. Try something different. Mess it up. Try again. Every adjustment and attempt is problem solving & learning. Inquiry & Ingenuity doesn't follow the exact same beat for everyone. 🥁

R is for Responsibility, part of RISE. Tahir came dressed for the day and still jumped right into the kitchen to grab what was needed. No hesitation. Just saw it and handled it. That’s what responsibility looks like here. Doing your part even when no one’s asking. #RISEatFHC

Skills that last a lifetime. Our youth build time management, attention to detail, independence, and professionalism through real responsibilities and clear expectations. They learn how to plan, stay organized, follow through, and take ownership of their work.

Nothing meaningful is built alone. At FHC, youth practice effective communication, collaboration, and integrity in everything they do. They learn how to work as a team, share ideas, and build connections that extend beyond the Center and into the community.

Curiosity drives the work. Our youth ask questions, take initiative, and apply critical and creative thinking to solve problems as they go. Whether they are adjusting a film scene or figuring something out in the garden, they are making decisions, testing ideas, and learning.

Growth is not always easy. That is where it starts. At FHC, youth build perseverance, self-discipline, and adaptability by showing up, pushing through challenges, and finishing what they start. Resilience is learned. Drive is practiced.

At the Felege Hiywot Center, everything we do is built on one framework: RISE. It stands for: Resilience & Drive Inquiry & Ingenuity Social Impact Economic Security These are not just ideas. They are the skills our youth practice every day.

A glimpse from The Sound of Love premiere. Our youth took the stage and the screen to tell stories that are real, honest, and powerful. When young people are given a platform, truth rises & healing begins. Thank you to everyone who stood with them & filled the room with support.

Look at this lunch. 🍔 Chef Dalles cooked up burgers & fries for the crew today. The ground beef was perfectly seasoned, and the fries were made from scratch. At FHC, our youth are not just learning in the garden. They are building real skills, confidence, & community every day.

Happening tomorrow. Join us for The Sound of Love 3:30 to 6:00 PM Kan-Kan Cinema Let’s show our youth their voices matter. Register now. luma.com/rap9rh5d

THIS SATURDAY Voices of the Youth: The Sound of Love is more than a film. Saturday, February 28 3:30 – 6:00 PM Kan-Kan Cinema & Bar | Indianapolis Come ready to listen. Reflect. Connect. Register today and be part of the conversation: luma.com/rap9rh5d

Join us for the premiere of The Sound of Love, a film created from honest conversations about violence, healing, and hope. 📅 Feb 28 | 3:30–6 PM 📍 Kan-Kan Cinema & Bar Come ready to listen, connect, and support youth. Register: luma.com/rap9rh5d

Community care starts with the small things. Team Lead Dalles making sure our space is ready for each activity and lesson. At FHC, respect for our spaces and the team is part of learning every day.

BlHM is a good time to remember how closely food and freedom are connected. Fannie Lou Hamer believed food was a civil right. She helped Black families grow their own food and gain independence. FHC is rooted in that same idea. Growing food builds dignity & community strength.

As #BlackHistoryMonth begins, we’re grounding this conversation in agriculture. Black farmers make up less than 2 percent of farmers in the U.S. Our youth are learning more than just agriculture. They are learning about systems and how knowledge can be a form of power.

Felege Hiywot means “Looking for Direction in Life.” That search has guided our work for over 21 years.

Winter outside. Summer on our minds 🌿 Your support helps keep our gardens, and our programs, growing. fhcenter.org/donate