Indianapolis, Indiana – A new partnership between Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis and the Edna Martin Christian Center is transforming how early childhood educators in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood access higher education and professional training. Together, the two institutions have launched a program that allows childcare professionals to earn credentials and college credits—without having to leave their own community.
Through this collaboration, Ivy Tech’s Early Childhood Education program is offering Child Development Associate (CDA) credential courses directly on-site at the Edna Martin Christian Center, a nonprofit deeply rooted in the Martindale-Brightwood area. The center, known for its long history of supporting families through education, job training, and community services, has become the local hub for this initiative. For many childcare providers who live and work in the 46218 ZIP code, this partnership means opportunity has finally come to their doorstep.
The first group of participants, made up of more than ten students, began classes this fall. Most of them are local childcare providers or early learning center employees who are already dedicated to serving children in the community. The program’s structure includes four courses that help participants prepare for the CDA exam while simultaneously earning college credit toward an associate degree in early childhood education.
“This partnership helps remove barriers for those already serving children and families,” said Rose Wilson, program chair for early childhood education at Ivy Tech Indianapolis. “By bringing our classes directly to where these professionals work and live, we’re making education more accessible and meaningful. They can apply what they learn in real time.”
The partnership was made possible through the Learn, Early, Achieve Project (LEAP), a privately funded initiative focused on improving childcare quality in the Martindale-Brightwood community. LEAP provides scholarships for childcare slots and supports professional development for local educators. By combining resources from Ivy Tech and Edna Martin Christian Center, the project aims to empower childcare providers to grow their skills, strengthen their businesses, and expand educational opportunities for neighborhood families.
The collaboration was sparked by Angielena Williams, the director of early childhood special initiatives at Edna Martin Christian Center—and a proud Ivy Tech graduate herself.
“I’m an Ivy Tech alumna and started my own journey in early childhood education here,” Williams said. “I got my CDA and my associate degree from Ivy Tech before going on to complete my bachelor’s, and Rose Wilson was actually one of my professors. She’s been my mentor ever since.”
Williams said that personal connection played a key role in choosing Ivy Tech as the ideal partner for this initiative. She knew firsthand the quality and accessibility of the college’s early childhood education program.
“I knew the quality of the program and the results it produces,” Williams said. “These are entrepreneurs already running family childcare homes that serve dozens of families in our neighborhood, and they want to be recognized as high-quality providers. Partnering with Ivy Tech gives them that opportunity to grow.”
The success of this partnership, Williams explained, has also depended on teamwork within the Edna Martin organization. She credited Ashley Burton, the center’s early childhood education specialist, for her leadership in connecting with local childcare providers and helping them join the first cohort.
“Ashley is the one boots on the ground with the providers,” Williams said. “She built those relationships and helped make this first cohort possible.”
Over the next several months, participants will take four courses taught by Ivy Tech instructors. The goal is for each student to earn their CDA credential by the spring semester. The program also acts as an entryway for those who want to continue their education and work toward an associate degree in early childhood education.
For Wilson, who has led community-based education initiatives throughout Indianapolis, the project represents what Ivy Tech strives to do across the state: make learning accessible and relevant.
“It’s about building pathways that start in the community and lead to lasting careers,” Wilson said. “When our students succeed, so do the families and children they care for.”
This localized approach is more than a matter of convenience. For many early childhood educators in Martindale-Brightwood, traveling long distances or rearranging work schedules to attend classes is a major obstacle. By hosting courses within the community, the program not only removes logistical barriers but also builds a sense of belonging and support among participants who share the same professional challenges and goals.
The initiative also carries larger implications for the neighborhood’s economic and educational future. Martindale-Brightwood has long been a community with deep resilience and strong neighborhood ties, yet it continues to face systemic challenges related to poverty and access to quality education. Empowering childcare providers with advanced skills and credentials has a ripple effect, improving not only their career prospects but also the quality of care and education available to local children.
Williams said the excitement for the program is already spreading. Even before the first cohort completes its coursework, dozens of additional providers have expressed interest in joining future sessions.
“Our goal is to continue offering these opportunities right here in Martindale-Brightwood,” she said. “When educators grow, the whole community thrives.”
Both Wilson and Williams see this pilot as the foundation for something much larger—a model that could be replicated across Indianapolis and beyond. As the need for qualified early childhood educators continues to grow statewide, partnerships like this could help fill critical workforce gaps while also uplifting local communities.
The collaboration underscores a shared belief: that quality education should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford to travel or take time away from work. By aligning resources, Ivy Tech and Edna Martin Christian Center are showing what’s possible when institutions truly meet people where they are.
You can learn more about Ivy Tech’s Early Childhood Education program, now based in the new Early Childhood Education Collaborative Community Center on the downtown Indianapolis campus, where the college continues to build innovative programs that connect students, families, and communities across the region.
