The Faith & Action Fall Event feat. Jason Reynolds
The Power of Being Seen: How Relationships Create Opportunity for Young People
Jason Reynolds
A conversation about belonging, mentorship, and our shared responsibility to invest in young people.
Join us for The Power of Being Seen: How Relationships Create Opportunity for Young People, our 10th Anniversary Faith & Action Fall Event featuring #1 New York Times bestselling author and MacArthur Fellow Jason Reynolds.
Together, we’ll explore the role each of us can play in ensuring every young person is seen, known, supported, and connected to the people and opportunities they need to thrive.
Date:
October 27, 2026
Time:
7:00pm
Location:
St. Luke’s UMC
100 W. 86th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Organizer:
CTS: Faith & Action Project
Email: lr**********@*ts.edu
The future belongs to young people. How will we help them succeed?
As Christian Theological Seminary celebrates 10 years of the Faith & Action Project, we are looking toward the next decade and the role each of us can play in building a stronger, more connected Indianapolis.
At our 10th Anniversary Faith & Action Fall Event, Jason Reynolds will explore how belonging, mentorship, and meaningful relationships shape young lives—and how our community can help create pathways to opportunity for the next generation.
More Than a Conversation
This event is an invitation to consider the role each of us can play in helping young people thrive. You do not have to work directly with young people to make a difference in their future. Employers, faith communities, neighbors, mentors, volunteers, organizations, and caring adults all have opportunities to help young people feel seen, supported, and connected.
Following the conversation, join us for a community reception and 10th Anniversary celebration featuring local mentoring and youth-serving organizations. Meet people already investing in young people across Indianapolis and discover opportunities to engage, serve, mentor, and support the next generation.
What to Expect
In addition to the conversation with Jason Reynolds, attendees can:
- Connect with local youth-serving and mentoring organizations
- Discover opportunities to become more engaged in supporting young people
- Purchase books and attend a signing featuring All American Boys and Long Way Down
- Celebrate 10 years of the Faith & Action Project and its work in the Indianapolis community
The following organizations will be showcased at the fall event during the public reception:
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana
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DREAM Alive
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Elevate Indianapolis
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Central Indiana Youth for Christ
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Camptown
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100 Black Men of Indianapolis, Inc.
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IYG
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Outreach, Inc.
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Trinity Haven
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Crowne Mentorship
Jason Reynolds
Keynote Speaker
Jason Reynolds is known for writing honestly and powerfully about the lives of young people and for encouraging young people to recognize their own potential. His work provides a compelling starting point for a larger community conversation about what can happen when young people are truly seen, supported, and connected to opportunity.
Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of many award-winning books, including Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), Long Way Down, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi), Stuntboy, in the Meantime (illustrated by Raúl the Third), and Ain’t Burned All the Bright (with artwork by Jason Griffin). The recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors, Reynolds is also the 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. He has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, and various media outlets. He is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program and lives in Washington, DC.
Ahmed Young
Moderator
Ahmed Young is President and CEO of The Indianapolis Foundation, where he leads efforts to understand the city’s challenges, mobilize resources, and enhance quality of life across Indianapolis.
Ahmed began his career as a teacher before earning his law degree from IU McKinney School of Law. His career has included leadership roles in the Mayor’s Office of Education and as Chief of Staff and General Counsel for Indianapolis Public Schools, as well as corporate affairs leadership at Walmart.
Throughout his career, Ahmed has brought a service mindset and a heart for people to his work. At The Indianapolis Foundation, he leverages the Foundation’s assets, relationships, research, and influence to respond to the needs of Marion County and help move Indianapolis forward.
Manòn Voice
Spoken Word Artist
Manòn Voice is a poet, filmmaker, Hip Hop emcee, educator, and community builder whose work lives at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. She teaches Hip Hop Music, History, and Culture at Butler University, where she also directs the IT WAS ALL A DREAM Hip Hop Ensemble. She serves on the board of El Sistema Indianapolis and works with young people through Arts for Learning Indiana. Through poetry, film, music, education, and storytelling, her work explores memory, justice, identity, belonging, and the power of art to deepen human connection. She is the founder of MEMRA Creative House.
Be Part of What Comes Next
As we celebrate 10 years of Faith & Action, join us in imagining what is possible when our community comes together to ensure every young person is seen, known, supported, and connected.
Join us October 27. Be part of the conversation. Help shape what comes next.
Support CTS
CTS acts as a catalyst in the fight against poverty. The Faith & Action Project connects advocates, inspires actions, and empowers communities to make a difference. As we work to implement solutions to poverty in Central Indiana, the Faith & Action Project also seeks to provide lifelong learners like you with information, best practices, and inspiration—all with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of poverty and systemic injustice. To support the Faith & Action Project and similar work through CTS, click here.
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