AES Indiana partners with Marian University for education initiative

INDIANAPOLIS — AES Indiana will partner with an Indianapolis university over the next five years to support an initiative focused on early childhood education and literacy.

According to a news release from AES Indiana, the company will invest $375,000 over the next five years to support Marian University’s Riverside Education Innovation District initiative. Officials said this program will help meet “urgent needs” on the near northwest side of Indianapolis, including:

• Increasing the number of affordable and high-quality early childhood education opportunities
• Improve literacy rates in area schools

Officials said the collaboration is aimed at helping “transform educational outcomes and strengthen the economic vitality of the community.”

“At AES Indiana, our commitment to our customers goes far beyond simply keeping the lights on,” Brandi Davis-Handy, the president of AES Indiana, said in the release. “We’re deeply invested in shaping a brighter future for Central Indiana through meaningful community partnerships. Riverside is a neighborhood where we’ve made intentional investments to enhance quality of life, and this new collaboration will expand access to high-quality early childhood education, which is foundational for a more resilient community.”

According to the release, part of the investment will help support the renovation of space for St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center at the historic former Larue Carter property. Officials said this is a “critical step in addressing the community’s shortage of high-quality early learning opportunities.”

“Near northwest area families don’t have access to enough early childhood learning seats to serve their preschool-aged children, and we are dedicated to closing this gap,” Michelle Radomsky, the executive director of St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center, said in the release.

The partnership also invests in the implementation of Science of Reading programming for schools on the near northwest side of Indianapolis, as well as programs that help train adults in the Science of Reading.

“The Riverside Education Innovation District exists to remove barriers to education from cradle through career,” Daniel Elsener, the president of Marian University, said in the release. “We are grateful to AES Indiana’s partnership, which will not only help prepare children for success in school, but will assist Marian University’s efforts to physically invest in the vibrancy of the near northwest area.”