In 2021, Women’s Fund of Central Indiana awarded $20,000 to the Madam Walker Legacy Center to support the MotivateHer grant contest. This program was inspired by the legacy of their namesake and nation’s first self-made woman millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker. The program was designed to empower budding Indiana-based, Black women business owners.
The top five finalists will receive cash grants in the amount of $1927 (the year in which the Madam Walker Legacy Center was established).
All ten finalists will receive complimentary business development training, valued at $5,000 provided by Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council’s Accelerate 100+ Program
The Walker building, once the headquarters and manufacturing plant of Madam CJ Walker Hair Care and Beauty Products, boasts much of its original 1927 architecture…but they are more than just a building.
An integral part of the Indianapolis community, the Madam Walker Legacy Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Madam CJ Walker by providing cultural education, promoting social justice, supporting entrepreneurship and empowering youth to become the next generation of entrepreneurs and civic leaders. They use our historic building as a venue for celebrating cultural diversity, rich heritage and cultural traditions, primarily through art from the African American perspective.
The Walker Center hosts a number of events to educate the community about historic Black men and women as well has providing volunteer opportunites. Learn more at https://madamwalkerlegacycenter.com/