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And How Are the Children Evansville reports expansion of NAPID, mental health events and network partnerships
Summary
Presenters from And How Are the Children Evansville told the commission the group expanded National African American Parent Involvement Day into the school district, continued its Mental Health Matters forums and seeks partners and nonfinancial support while retaining a fiscal sponsor rather than becoming a 501(c)(3).
Dr. Tranisha Brooks and Joanne Hunter presented an annual report to the commission on behalf of And How Are the Children Evansville, outlining events and partnerships from September 2023 through July 2025.
The presenters said National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAPID) expanded in February 2025 from a community evening into a school-based program held at Lincoln School in collaboration with the local school corporation. Dr. Brooks said that in previous years NAPID had been a single-night community event and that in 2025 it expanded to a week of activities to include reading sessions, mural workshops and youth-led programming.
The presenters also described Mental Health Matters, a forum that evolved from the network’s work; the group co-hosted the third annual forum in May 2024 at Memorial Baptist Church focused on mental health in new American communities and the fourth annual forum in May 2025 at the C. K. Newsome Center with QPR training, a maternal health focus and youth-led components.
Hunter and Dr. Brooks said And How Are the Children Evansville operates intentionally as a network, not a standalone nonprofit, and that the group does not accept donations directly but works with a fiscal sponsor to accept funds when donors want to support events such as NAPID. They said next year they plan a sixth annual NAPID with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) and hope to expand into additional schools while retaining a community-night option so families and community members can participate.
Commissioners offered marketing and partnership suggestions. Commissioner Melissa Moore suggested a hashtag and video/photo campaign to increase awareness before February, and Commissioner Calvert and others suggested using EVSC communication channels and community partners to reach families. A commissioner pointed to New Hope Baptist Church’s mental health ministry as a free community resource to share with those experiencing burnout. Dr. Brooks said EVSC focus groups on literacy, attendance, discipline and school culture are underway and that the group could follow up with the new superintendent, Dr. Darla Hoover, for data and town-hall plans.
Presenters emphasized youth voice in programming, noting events are planned based on children’s preferences, and that their network model leverages members’ roles in other organizations to reach schools and community sites.
Commissioners and presenters traded contact information and agreed to follow up on outreach, marketing, and potential collaboration, including donor routing through a fiscal sponsor for event support.
