INDY Alive celebrates 25 years of supporting youth, community

by Laura Bednar

The “25 & Alive” program and its youth participants have both made it through the turbulent times of childhood to reach the 25-year milestone. After a quarter century, the program has evolved into “INDY Alive,” broadening the focus from underage drinking and drug prevention to support for the community as a whole.

Angie Zidanic, coordinator for the program, said the organization began in 1999 when a handful of parents approached Mayor Greg Kurtz to share concerns about underage drinking. The group rallied to include parents, teenagers, schools, churches, community organizations, local government and businesses to develop informative programs, assemblies and activities to offer an alternative to underage drinking.

The name “25 & Alive” came from Kurtz, who said, “If we can get a child through the rocky years to age 25, they’ve got a good shot at making it through the rest of their lives.”

According to Youth.gov, a site created by the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs, comprised of representatives from 13 federal departments and 12 federal agencies that support youth programs and services, “Research indicates that young people who are surrounded by a variety of opportunities for positive encounters engage in less risky behavior and ultimately show evidence of higher rates of successful transitions into adulthood.”

In 2002, the city expanded the focus to provide primary school students and parents with support and education on bullying, internet safety and adolescent depression in addition to underage drinking and drug and sexual experimentation.

“A unique aspect of our partnership is the participation of the churches,” said Zidanic. “We knew at the start that it would take the entire community for us to succeed, and the churches have played an integral role in working with and providing support to the city, schools and especially the youth.”

She noted the community’s involvement as a key to the program’s success, as evidenced through recent programs like the “Cultural Celebration” this spring at the Civic Center, in which primary and middle school children gave presentations on other countries’ customs.

One major accomplishment has been a continuous partnership with the Independence Local Schools to split the cost of a prevention specialist, a licensed social worker to offer support for children and families in the district.

Other programs include Rachel’s Challenge, which aims to prevent bullying and violence in schools, and a Dale Carnegie program for high school students to learn life skills.

Additionally, students that live in Independence and plan to attend a post-secondary or technical school are eligible to apply for a $500 scholarship from INDY Alive.

Then in 2022, the 25 & Alive team decided to refresh and broaden the group’s mission.

“We sent out surveys and held meetings with various members representing different stakeholders,” said Zidanic. “The common theme that grew out of these sessions was that all wanted to be more inclusive of the entire community in addition to the youth and families already being served.”

It was then rebranded to INDY Alive with a new mission: “To care for, support and inspire our whole community through every stage of life.”

This has proven to be the biggest change for the program over the years, as it must keep pace with societal, generational and cultural changes that impact both the young and old.

“In recent years, the impact of technology, internet safety, drug and sexual experimentation, societal pressures, character development, etc., have evolved, as has the program and its mission to support teens and parents as they navigate and explore potential solutions to thrive in our ever-changing world,” said Zidanic.

Currently, program volunteers are surveying the community, including students, to gain feedback on applicable programs and activities. Zidanic said as INDY Alive advances through its next stage of development, the plan is to communicate the partnership and its mission to the community more effectively.

“We are hopeful that the rebranding and new mission will help the community take a fresh look at our new partnership,” she said. ∞

Photo: Students gather to hear a presentation from the nonprofit group Rachel’s Challenge, which aims to prevent bullying and violence in schools. Photo submitted.