Greatriarchs

Every neighbor has a story that deserves to be heard.

The Greatriarchs are long-term neighbors who helped write the story of Martindale-Brightwood. More than that, they have invited new neighbors and leaders into their stories, leaving a lasting legacy.

Engage with the stories of long-term residents of Indianapolis at our weekly Storytelling Drawing Sessions. As community members tell their stories, artists are invited to listen and reflect as they practice their craft. Artists of all skill levels and mediums can participate in these free sessions on Thursday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:30.
Learn more and register to attend.
Watch Rasheeda's Freedom Day, an original short film from the Harrison Center and Dija Henry of The Blue House that tells the true story of longtime Indianapolis resident and Greatriarch Ms. JoAnna LeNoir. She spent her life learning that her story was worth sharing, and now she is sharing it with you.
Learn more and watch the short film.
The Harrison Center hosts a monthly Greatriarch Gathering to provide space and time for our senior neighbors in Martindale-Brightwood to connect, socialize, and learn.

For more information and to check availability, email us or call us at 317-396-3886.
Experience Polklore, a unique micro-museum, dedicated to celebrating the history of the Polk Dairy and its neighbors in Martindale-Brightwood. At the heart of Polklore are the stories chosen by neighbors—many of whom are Greatriarchs—along with the artifacts that represent them.
The museum invites the public to engage in discussions about the importance of cultural preservation.
Learn more and schedule a visit.

Harrison Center Artist Abi Ogle spent time with each Greatriarch on their porches, listening and sketching their portraits while they talked.

Over a period of three years, Abi painted eighteen 6x4-foot paintings with visual themes drawn from African American art history, which hang along the 16th Street corridor in the Hillside area of Martindale-Brightwood.

Abi was followed by artists Danielle Harrell, Cierra Johnson, and then Tashema Davis, the current Greatriarch artist. 47 have been completed. The paintings have been exhibited at the Mayor's Office, Edna Martin Christian Center, Black Expo, the Indiana State Fair, Polklore Micro-Museum, the Harrison Center, and other community gathering spots.

Visit the Polklore Micro-Museum in Martindale-Brightwood to see these paintings in person and learn more about the Greatriarchs.

As the Harrison Center has continued working in Martindale-Brightwood, the Greatriarchs have served as advisors for our work and connected us more deeply to the community.