INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A youth program offers middle and high school students the opportunity to redesign Indiana Avenue while honoring its rich cultural legacy.

The initiative, led by Next Great Architects, is hosting its fourth annual summer design charrette, a weeklong design camp that empowers youth to blend creativity with community impact. The program focuses on the historical significance of Indiana Avenue, once a thriving hub of Black culture, and provides students with the tools to envision its future.

“Architecture impacts everyone’s lives. But not everyone understands that it’s an option for a career,” said Kionna Walker, architect educator and founder of Next Great Architects. “Most people who do pursue architecture are people already connected to the profession through family, friends, or people they’ve already known.”

Walker said students are developing essential skills throughout the process, including public speaking, confidence-building, critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity.

For students Bailey Johnson, a freshman at Ball State University, the experience offers a glimpse into a potential career in architecture. “Hopefully, we get to work more hands-on on creating our vision of Indiana Avenue while keeping its history behind it.”

This year’s charrette is supported by new partners, including Purdue University, which enhances the program’s reach and resources. Eunice Trotter, director of the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program, emphasized the importance of understanding the area’s history. “For these young people to learn about that history, they begin to embrace and see the foundation upon which our lives were built today.”

The student showcase will happen Friday, featuring a special presentation from a recent Ball State University graduate whose thesis project focuses on reviving Indiana Avenue.

For many young designers participating in the charrette, this week marks the beginning of their blueprint for the future, as they learn to merge historical appreciation with innovative design.

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