About the Indigo Cultural Center

Our Vision

We envision socially and racially just communities that promote strong, nurturing families and healthy child development.

Our Mission

Indigo Cultural Center is committed to the study of culture, the enactment of culture, the celebration of culture, and using the strength in one’s culture to promote social justice and racial equity.

Since it’s founding in 2007, Dr. Eva Marie Shivers and our team at Indigo Cultural Center have integrated the following values into everything that we do:

• Strength in Relationships – whether we are investing in human capital through strengthening our internal relationships or client relationships, Indigo recognizes the need to have strong, flexible and mutually beneficial relationships in all aspects of our work in order for relationships to work as a catalyst for change.
• Sustainability through Co-Leadership – we truly benefit from using the strength of all of our team members, value individual growth and professional development, and strive to create a space that allows all voices to be heard.
• Innovation through Racial Equity and Organizational Introspection – this value speaks not only to our continuous efforts to “walk the talk” and value equity through out our own organization’s structure, it also recognizes where want to go as a leader in racial equity training and consultation.

The culture and thematic focus of our work is embedded in to communities through three distinct divisions:

• The Institute for Child Development Research and Social Change
  • Since 2007 we have built a strong reputation as a Community Based Participatory Researcher (CBPR) with Arizona clients and national clients. The work of our Institute has further shaped and advanced knowledge around issues of quality early care and education, equity, diversity and more. Learn more about “how we work.”
• Indigo Arts for Social Justice
  • We believe that leadership development and self-expression are strong components of sustainable community action, systemic change and social justice. Therefore, we strive to support and co-develop the growth of community leaders through collaboration, artistic expression, self-empowerment and deconstructing the role of power in our lives, communities and society.
• Racial Equity Training and Consultation
  • The natural evolution of our organization and its divisions has also positioned us as a trainer, facilitator and convener on the subject of racial equity and social justice at the organizational, systemic and public policy levels both locally and nationally.

Indigo’s values, and even logo, are continuously inspired by an Adinkra symbol that means “Boa Me Na Me Mmoa Wo.” This symbol has deep-seeded roots in Ghana and is traditionally seen in artwork; its meaning translates to “help me and let me help you.” As a symbol of cooperation and interdependence it is a visually appropriate representation of our organization and of our work.