By Design is a City of Indianapolis initiative focused on identifying practical, near-term actions the City can take to help expand economic opportunity and reduce barriers to wealth building.
Led by the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Equity Belonging and Inclusion, with support from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, By Design brings together historical research, community voice, and policy exploration to shape an Economic Empowerment Blueprint for Indianapolis.
Why By Design
Many of the patterns of wealth and opportunity in Indianapolis didn't emerge by chance; they were shaped by design, through thousands of decisions influencing regulations, investments, land use, public policy, infrastructure, and access to key resources. These systems have functioned as engines of advantage for some while creating barriers for others. By Design starts from the belief that if systems helped shape today’s inequities, the City also has a role to play in designing a more equitable and prosperous future.
By Design is focused on identifying practical, achievable actions within the City’s control, especially actions that can reduce friction in public systems and better support pathways to opportunity for communities that have faced historic barriers to wealth building.
How By Design Works
By Design brings together three kinds of learning to inform action.
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Historical research
To better understand how wealth and opportunity have been shaped over time in Indianapolis. -
Community engagement
To understand how residents define wealth, experience systems, and describe their goals for themselves and their communities. -
Policy and process review
To identify practical, near-term City actions that are achievable, meaningful, and within the City’s control.
What By Design Will Produce
The outcome of By Design will be an Economic Empowerment Blueprint: a set of near-term policy and procedural actions the City can take to help expand economic opportunity for communities that have faced historic barriers to wealth building.
The Blueprint is intended to move this work from learning to action by identifying practical steps the City can take and measure over time to better support opportunity and reduce barriers within its own systems.
Listening Before Acting
By Design begins by listening. The project is designed to ensure that future City action is informed by the goals, experiences, and realities of Indianapolis residents—not just institutional assumptions.
Through community conversations, stakeholder interviews, and resident input, By Design is working to ground the Blueprint in lived experience as well as research.
Explore the Work
Learn more about the project, the community engagement process, and the historical context informing this work.
