Pillars of FAITH

Faith CDC has identified five essential community concerns, or ‘pillars’ of the Gary community: food security, safe housing, positive land usage, economic enrichment, and health equity. Our programs strive to help our community reach these goals.

Food Justice

Environmental Stewardship

Social Justice

Economic Development

Health Equity

Pillars of Faith

Food Justice

The Food Justice movement in Gary is driven by the mission to make fresh, local, and nutritious food available to all residents in and around Gary. The associated programs will make Gary the center of the food supply for the region. Food Justice initiatives will support local businesses, offer opportunities for individuals, and uplift the community.

Ground to grill refers to foods coming directly from local farms to your table, offering many benefits. One advantage is that many ingredients are grown or raised locally, meaning the food isn’t being shipped long distances. This has environmental benefits and the food you’re eating was likely harvested recently therefore is very fresh. This also results in more nutritious food. Another benefit of Ground to grill is that it involves natural foods that have been minimally processed. This keeps costs down and means less added fat and sugar. Ground to grill can be a great way to support local farmers, therefore supporting your local community.

Farm to table refers to foods coming directly from local farms to your table, offering many benefits. One advantage is that many ingredients are grown or raised locally, meaning the food isn’t being shipped long distances. This has environmental benefits and the food you’re eating was likely harvested recently therefore is very fresh. This also results in more nutritious food. Another benefit of Farm to Table is that it involves natural foods that have been minimally processed. This keeps costs down and means less added fat and sugar. Farm to table can be a great way to support local farmers, therefore supporting your local community.

Want to learn more? Click to download the 2024 Food is Medicine Health Issues and Challenges Program Report.

Upcoming Events

To learn more or volunteer for any of these programs, please fill out the form below and select ‘Food Justice’.

Food Hub

Frozen Produce Program

Produce Prescritpion Program

Next Urban AG Generate (NUAG)

Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA)

Faith Farms & Orchard

85%

Product Quality Index

92%

Energy Generation

Learn More About Produce

The Fresh-to-Frozen Produce Program includes educational resources related to the many produce items grown and harvested at FAITH Farms. These resources below share the benefits of eating each vegetable or fruit and how to incorporate them into your diet.

Click a poster to view it larger, or click the link below to read more.

Pillars of Faith

Environmental StewardShip

Environmental Justice is a sustainable development goal of each of our projects. This pillar is the foundation of the work that FAITH CDC does. Environmental Justice returns today’s brown fields and dilapidated lots into valuable growing spaces, housing, and community places.

FAITH CDC is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals focused on:

  • Clean Water & Sanitation

  • Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

  • Sustainable Cities & Communities

  • Climate Action

  • Partnership for the Goals

Environmental Stewardship requires us to plan with sustainability and longevity at the forefront. Housing development can create waste, inequity in access, and widen the disparities if strategies towards long-term ownership, resource conservation, and wealth creation aren’t defined upfront.

Environmental Stewardship requires FAITH CDC to think thoughtfully on project impact and be held accountable to the community.

Urban Environmental Learning Center
Healthy Soil
Clean Water & Air

Upcoming Events

To learn more or volunteer for any of these programs, please fill out the form below and select ‘Environmental Justice’.

Clean Water & Air

Healthy Soil

Urban Environmental Learning Center

Renewable Energy

85%

Product Quality Index

92%

Energy Generation

Pillars of Faith

Social Justice

Housing is a basic human right. FAITH CDC is aligned with the City of Gary’s Consolidated Plan and mirrors the same housing goals:

  • Provide direct assistance to expand homeownership

  • Support homeownership opportunities, education and financial literacy

  • Promote diversity of housing stock through new construction for homeowners and renters, including for those with special needs.

Housing is a basic human right. Home ownership supports generational wealth building. In a city with pristine national parks, sand dune vistas, and miles of Great Lake shoreline, Gary should be home to the highest real estate values in the State. Burdened by decades of poverty and continued systemic racism in the home lending market, Gary continues to focus on demolition and rehabilitation rather than real estate growth and expansive homeownership.

Senior Tiny Homes
Unhoused Tiny Homes
In-Field Housing

Upcoming Events

To participate in an upcoming housing build, please fill out the form below and select ‘Social Justice’.

Hope Tiny Homes

Infill Housing

Senior Tiny Homes

85%

Product Quality Index

92%

Energy Generation

Pillars of Faith

Economic Development

Economic Development – new markets, new revenues, new business is the driving change agent to reducing poverty and increasing generational wealth. Led by Pastor Whittaker, a career certified professional accountant, FAITH CDC aims to create an economic development plan focused on business owner development starting with workforce training in key markets – food systems, housing development, and energy.

FAITH CDC is aligned with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s framework of first identifying markets, developing industries, and creating space for new owners through subsidized training programs, tax credit incentives, and direct funding to businesses.

The current plight of Gary is due to multiple economic downturns eroding the tax base and cutting off vital services. Schools closed, roads are in disrepair, fire, police and other public safety resources are overwhelming understaffed – no tax revenues to support city infrastructure.

Economic Development – attracting and growing businesses creates better cities.

Business Owner Success School
Workforce Training
New Market Tax Credit
Community Development Financial Institution

Upcoming Events

To learn more or volunteer for any of these programs, please fill out the form below and select ‘Economic Development’.

Business Owner Success School

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT

Workforce Training

85%

Product Quality Index

92%

Energy Generation

Pillars of Faith

Health Equity

Health equity is ensuring that everyone has access to what they need to ensure that their health is a priority. Health equity is reaching the highest level of health for all people, with everyone having a fair and just opportunity to attain the optimal health. This includes access to affordable medical care within their community as well as fresh produce and culturally relevant meals and nutritional education that helps the community optimize its health.

Upcoming Events

To learn more about upcoming projects, please fill out the form below and select ‘Health Equity’.

85%

Product Quality Index

92%

Energy Generation