Resilient Pike
Resilient Pike is a group of volunteers committed to helping Pike face future challenges from a changing climate and a changing world. We are a diverse group and in our ranks are government officials, students, clergy, and business and civic leaders. We are an arm of Earth Charter Indiana.
Resilient Pike Supports Black Lives Matter
Resilient Pike is working toward a healthy and sustainable future. Such a future requires that there be equity and justice in our society. However, racism has placed a formidable stumbling block for that goal. Resilient Pike joins with people across the nation in lifting up a vision of equality and human dignity for all. Resilient Pike affirms loudly and clearly that “Black Lives Matter.”
We are working to create a stronger, more resilient and just future here in Pike Township. We affirm that an environmentally sustainable future must be just, equitable and free from systemic racism.
We believe Black Lives Matter.
The cost of environmental degradation does not fall evenly upon the people of our nation. Low income people and people of color bear the brunt of it. For example, high polluting power plants are more apt to be in black and minority neighborhoods. Fighting systemic racism is very much a part of working for a sustainable world for our children and grandchildren.
PIKE SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
To celebrate Earth Day 2019, students at each of Pike’s fourteen schools planted a tree on their campus. The students studied trees and their importance for the environment, named each tree, developed a tree planting ritual and helped plant and maintain the tree. It was a grand day for the Pike students who not only learned about trees but made an investment in their own future.
One Pike freshman, upon learning that the tree she was planting would live for 80 years or so, commented, “Cool! I’m going to bring my kids here and tell them I planted that tree.”
The Earth Day observance was initiated by Resilient Pike who provided resources for studying trees, arranged for the acquisition of the trees and their delivery and provided trained experts to guide the tree planting.
The Earth Day Tree Planting was one part of an official partnership with the Pike School District. In November of 2018, the partnership between MSD Pike and Resilient Pike was approved by Supt. Flora Reichanadter and the Pike School Board. It included the Earth Day Tree Planting along with other proposed steps including a youth summit and encouraging participation in Indianapolis’ Thriving Schools challenge.
Covid 19 caused cancellation of the 2020 Tree Planting but plans are in place for another Earth Day planting in 2021.
CREATION CARE AMBASSADOR
Churches in Pike are a major part of our community life and provide leadership to community residents. Increasingly, churches and other faith groups are realizing the importance of being faithful stewards of God’s creation. Adopting environmentally responsible practices as well as encouraging church members to do the same is an important ministry for many churches.
Resilient Pike’s newest initiative is the Creation Care Climate Ambassador. It is an effort to encourage faith communities to become more proactive in dealing with issues of climate change, to provide resources for this, and to celebrate the accomplishments of churches that are taking significant steps. It is focused on the four E’s: Education, Energy, Equity, and Ecology.
Resilient Pike Wins Tree Planting Grant
Drive along Rodebaugh Road in Pike Township and you’ll pass two New Augusta schools and a lot of grass but precious few trees. Snacks Crossing school on 56th St. once had a beautiful row of mature trees separating it from the highway but the emerald ash borer destroyed them all. Having trees line the streets would not only enhance the beauty of the road but would help purify and cool the air in summer. Additionally, studies have shown that students, particularly ADHD students, function better when they are around trees.
With approval from MSD Pike, Resilient Pike applied for and received a grant from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) to plant over a hundred trees along Rodebaugh Road and on 56th St. The original plan was to have a tree planting in April of 2020, involving students at each of the schools, plus neighborhood and community groups. The Covid 19 virus forced a postponement and currently, the target date is October of 2020. However, that date is tentative and subject to the progress of the virus.
KIB is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and is committed to involving the community in creating and maintaining a clean, healthy and beautiful environment
Resilient Pike plants tree at new Fire Dept HQ
With help from the Boy Scouts, Fire Chief Borel and Township Trustee Annette Johnson, Resilient Pike planted a tree as part of the opening ceremony for the new Pike Fire Dept. The redbud tree will not only add beauty and clean the air, it will hopefully serve as a reminder of our desire to work for a clean, equitable and sustainable Pike Township
Why I am Involved with Resilient Pike
As someone who works in the community as the Trustee, I am committed to environmental sustainability for Pike Township. Many people are wondering what they can do to have a positive impact on the environment. People are scared about the future of our public lands and climate change. Resilient Pike works to reach the community to drive change that requires not only doing environmental initiatives well, but protecting our natural resources and ensuring sustainability for future generations.
If we don’t drive awareness, we’re not driving change in the world we live in.
-Pike Township Trustee Annette Johnson – Resilient Pike Member.
So many factors are needed for quality of life in a community. Working with Resilient Pike brings value through engaged youth who are stewards of our township’s natural resources and faith institutes to address food insecurities. Together we can do so much and these connections enhance our quality of life and build on other initiatives locally, regionally and globally to address the Earth Charter mission.
-Carol Mullins - Community Advocate & Capacity Builder
Think globally, act locally. We work to educate ourselves and our neighbors to make very localized changes that have a positive impact globally.
-Katie Booth
To build in our small way a closer knit, more connected and stronger community for my two children and all the other children in the township.
-Ryan Mendenhall
Global warming and environmental degradation deeply threaten our future. Working with Resilient Pike allows me the opportunity to take meaningful and effective action to create a better world. I want my grandchildren to tell their grandchildren that I fought hard to bring them a healthy and sustainable world.
-Richard Clough
