OuR IMPacT

We build leaders who have won victories that have changed lives.

A Mental Health Crisis System Where No One Falls Through The Cracks - ST. JOE COUNTY

On Feb. 1, over 450 faith leaders and community members filled the hall at the Islamic Society of Michiana in South Bend to continue to build on our mental health crisis response system that is saving lives and saving money.

Speakers included teachers, providers, and frontline advocates who shared both data and deeply personal testimony about how crisis services are already helping families, yet gaps remain. Crisis calls, mobile responses, and center admissions in 2025 numbered in the thousands, showing this work saves lives when we fund it.

Most importantly: South Bend Mayor Mueller, St. Joe County Council president Bryan Tanner, and vice president Dan Schaetzle publicly backed funding the next phase of crisis infrastructure: a coordinated information platform linking EMS, health and mental health services, law enforcement, and social service providers.

The action marked a major step forward in ensuring that people experiencing a mental health crisis receive support and treatment instead of entering the criminal justice system.

Housing For All - PORTER COUNTY

In May 2025, more than 180 community members gathered in Valparaiso for a Housing Assembly to confront the growing housing crisis in Porter County.
Leaders from congregations across the region shared personal stories about the challenges families face in finding affordable homes and called on city officials to partner in creating solutions.
As a result of this organizing, the City of Valparaiso began the process of hiring a firm to reimagine its zoning laws. Our leaders are continuing to push for reforms that legalize multi-family housing, streamline development processes, and remove barriers that prevent the homes our communities need from being built.

Addressing the Third-Grade Reading Crisis - SOUTH BEND

When nearly 40% of South Bend third graders failed the state reading exam, faith leaders in our network stepped forward.
Working with TutorND and the South Bend Community School Corporation, We Make Indiana mobilized congregations and the broader community to recruit over 130 high-impact tutors for students at risk of falling behind. This effort was led by Black clergy and community leaders who challenged the city to “wrap our arms around our third graders” and ensure every child has the support they need to learn to read.
Our collaboration helped achieve a historic 17% increase in third grade reading proficiency in the last two years.

Creating a safer community for everyone

After Eric Logan, a black man, was killed by the police in South Bend in 2019, we organized alongside partners and worked with the Mayor of South Bend to adopt a police discipline matrix and a new use-of-force policy. We train people of faith to lead together with moral clarity.

Winning mental healthcare funding

When the county jail was full of people struggling with mental illnesses and substance abuse, we organized to win a mental health crisis response center, securing $2.7 million from the City of South Bend and $600K from St. Joe County for a mental health crisis center which opened March 2024.

We led the “Call for Care” campaign in 2023. We organized uncommon partners to execute an inside-outside strategy with an alliance of faith groups, the Indiana Sheriff’s Association, mental health providers, and other power-building organizations like Hoosier Action who amplified the same message: “fully fund SB 1.” In May 2023, our leaders helped pass transformative mental health care reform and move $100 million to build out a crisis care system across the state.

Ensuring access to housing for all

When people experiencing homelessness needed urgent shelter, we organized with partners to secure $1.5 million from the City of South Bend to invest in a low-barrier shelter.
We believe that when we organize, we can create a world that is more just, safer, and more caring for everyone, no matter the color of your skin, how you pray, or how much money is in your wallet.