Hendricks County Couple Launches Inspiring Nonprofit

Hendricks County couple Al and Tonya Geans suffered a loss no parent wants to endure. Their oldest son, D’Mile, passed away at the age of 32 in October 2020. In their grief, the couple committed to helping young people through a program they named The Miles We Walk.

“We felt it was necessary and our obligation to carry on his legacy,” Tonya said. “He persevered through it all.”

D’Mile survived two major car accidents, which led to depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and mental illness struggles. In the spring of 2020 he was diagnosed with cancer, but through it all he continued to fight.

Tonya said issues that plague families across the globe often keep them suffering in silence. They feel alone, they feel there’s a lack of resources, and they are desperate for someone to understand.

“When I was led to this ministry, I felt like this hasn’t really been talked about,” Tonya said. “Once we approached them, in the schools and in the community, we have parents and administrators and other leaders saying, ‘Yes, let’s offer programs for these serious issues.’”

The couple had not experienced mental illness until it was happening in their own home. It often goes unrecognized in social circles.

“It was a surprise to me that so much is happening in Hendricks County,” Al said. “We have an affluent community, yet we are being impacted. We have teen suicide, overdoses, homelessness, and so many are struggling with mental illness. It’s easy to take it for granted if it’s not happening to you, but it’s truly impacting our community as a whole.”

The Miles We Walk nonprofit has several different avenues to reach young people.

“Our main focus is to deliver programs and impact youth throughout Indiana and Ohio, and we’re driven by education, empowerment and advocacy,” Tonya said. “One of the ways we do this is through our hygiene initiative.”

Tonya said one of the first signs D’Mile was suffering from mental illness was unkept hygiene. It was the first initiative she wanted to tackle, and she immediately formed community comfort closets.

“All someone has to do is fill out the form online, and we’ll send them an Amazon link with a list of household items and supplies that will be sent to them,” Tonya said. “We don’t know who he or she is, and I want it to be like that because it’s a personal thing.”

They also work with Hendricks County school nurses to provide free hygiene kits to students, and are beginning to partner with Marion County school districts.

The second prong of the organization’s mission includes life-skill development programs.

“We want to give youth the ability to overcome different obstacles they may face in life,” Al said. “Our Just the Facts program challenges youth to research the effects and dangers of drugs. We also look at how to overcome, and seek advocacy and mentorship when you run into those obstacles.”

Just the Facts even includes a partnership with caregivers and parents. The program encourages participants to create public service announcement videos, informative posters, poetic compositions and puppet shows.

Monthly online chat groups create space to discuss the students’ submissions and help their voices to be heard.

Another program offered, 90 Miles Exit Right, involves preparing kids for their next chapter in life.

“We talk about self-assessment, goal setting and building community,” Tonya said. “There’s a portion of the program when they come up with their superpower. For example, if you say your superpower is problem solving, then you can help yourself and others with that skill. Another person’s skill will help themselves and you, and that’s how we build a community.”

In addition, they offer resources and supportive services including food and clothing banks, rent and utility assistance, and addiction services. They also support workforce readiness and entrepreneurship.

All workshops can be held in person or virtually. The goal is to help people in Hendricks County become successful, and to let those struggling with a challenge know that they aren’t alone. Tonya is sharing all of the factors she wished she had known when D’Mile went off to college.

“There’s a personal connection,” Tonya said. “We’re a two-parent household, college-educated, middle-class family. We missed the opportunity when our first born was going off to college to say, ‘These things may happen.’ He was in a foreign place, accepting risky behaviors and coming back home, and we were still thinking he was the same kid. We were disconnected.”

Today she’s hoping to help high school and college-aged kids, along with their parents, so others are able to recognize issues when they arise.

“Let’s give you coping skills – some street savvy, if you will,” Tonya said. “We want to talk about, ‘This might happen and this is something that can come up in the future.’”

From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on November 2, The Miles We Walk leaders will host their first fundraiser called Strokes for Love at X-Golf in Plainfield. The community can visit, learn more about the organization, hear from youth advisory leaders in the program and enjoy some family fun.

“We’ll have a wall of fame,” Tonya said. “Any organization who wants to have their information on our wall can put a QR code up there and share with people hands-on information about our community. We’ll have cornhole, golf of course, and a silent auction. We’re here for the long haul, and I want to invite people in to experience what we’re doing.”

Tonya said there are plenty of ways the community can support them. You can connect your Kroger shopping card to The Miles We Walk community rewards program. Every dollar spent sends funds to the organization.

“We don’t want to overlook someone because we didn’t know the need was there,” Tonya said. “I call it the butterfly method. If I’m standing here sharing with five people and those five people take it back to their neighborhood or organization and share it with five more people, they can help us serve the community in the ways you see our youth need it.”