Introducing rooted: A Publication Grounded in Community
The inaugural issue from The Learning Tree, supported by the Indianapolis Foundation, explores the Community Ambassadors initiative
We’re excited to announce the release of the first issue of rooted, a new quarterly publication from The Learning Tree, produced with the support of the Indianapolis Foundation. This inaugural issue marks an important milestone in the growing partnership between the two organizations, and in the evolution of how community voice shapes philanthropy in Indianapolis.
Published by Le’Deana Brown, rooted is a 58-page magazine that offers a thoughtful, grounded look at how the Community Ambassadors initiative came to life and why it continues to matter. More than a retrospective, the publication documents a shared commitment to staying closely connected to neighborhoods, residents, and lived experience as a way to inform grantmaking, strategy, and long-term systems change.
View the magazine here
The magazine explores the origins of the partnership between The Learning Tree and the Indianapolis Foundation, tracing how early conversations about trust, proximity, and listening evolved into a formal Community Ambassadors model. Through this initiative, residents with deep ties to their neighborhoods help surface priorities, challenges, and opportunities that may not always be visible through traditional data alone.
rooted balances storytelling with substance. Alongside reflections on the partnership’s philosophy and approach, readers will find data that outlines the tangible impact of the work, demonstrating how community-informed strategies lead to more responsive and effective outcomes. The publication also features individual profiles of each Community Ambassador and the neighborhoods they serve, offering insight into local leadership, history, and the nuanced realities shaping daily life across Indianapolis.
At its core, rooted reinforces a central lesson for community foundations: Meaningful impact requires more than good intentions or financial resources. It requires sustained relationships, humility, and a willingness to listen.
By centering community voices and documenting the results of that approach, rooted provides both a record of progress and a roadmap for how philanthropy can remain accountable, relevant, and deeply connected to the people it aims to serve.
Read the full magazine here.