What is Teacherville? Non-Profit Creates Affordable Path To Homeownership For Black Educators

Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty School districts throughout Indianapolis are struggling to retain Black educators due to low compensation. Still, one non-profit organization is doing the work to protect the financial well-being of those in need. In 2023, The Educate Me Foundation unveiled its Teacherville program offering support to Black educators by covering down payment and closing costs for home purchases. According to the foundation’s website, the initiative creates opportunities for Black teachers to overcome financial hurdles and achieve the milestone of homeownership while diversifying the workforce. During an interview with WRTV, Educate Me CEO, Blake Nathan, revealed that Black teachers in Indianapolis have been exiting the public school system due to low wages and their inability to make ends meet.  “The biggest reason teachers are leaving the classroom outside of culture is teacher pay. We can’t dictate what a teacher makes in a school district or charter school network, but we can try and lower the cost of living for an educator,” Nathan said.  To combat the issue, the foundation has built an affordable housing community, dubbed Teacherville, for educators in the Martindale-Brightwood area of the city. The historic neighborhood — which is located near the northeast side of...