Born and raised in Rusape Zimbabwe, Craig-Anesu Chigadza recently graduated from the University of Indianapolis, with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Psychology. Currently, Craig serves as the Mental Wellness Advocate at Exodus Refugee Immigration, a refugee resettlement agency on the near east side of Indianapolis. Craig is a passionate humanitarian, who strives to work towards building communities that are more resilient and self-sufficient. Influenced by his background growing up in Zimbabwe, Craig is an advocate for advancing democracy and human rights in developing communities and has contributed to various efforts to advance education, access to health care and reducing mental health stigma. Craig is an avid public speaker who has won various accolades for his advocacy work bringing attention to issues that are deeply affecting our communities. Most recently, Craig was honored as 2021 International Forensic Association Champion in Informative Speaking.
The 1828 Leadership Project, presented by Citizens Energy Group, is a civic leadership tract for Indy’s young leaders with the goal of fostering intentional relationships with a cross-sector of Indianapolis’ thought leaders and decision makers. Craig is a part of 1828’s Class XI . Learn more about him below.
How do you spend your days? For example, you can tell us about your career, side hustle or exercise routine whatever you want to share. We’re ready to listen.
My current role at Exodus is both client and community partners focused. If I am not advocating with a client for them to get better mental health services, I am building relationships and collaborating with other community partners and service providers, creating systems that increase access and offering trainings for our greater Indy providers for them to better understand refugee and immigrant barriers to accessing care. Outside of work, I spend my time buying and flipping furniture, this started as a side hustle to pay for my student loans but it has quickly turned into a hobby. I am also a sportscaster for a small sports media agency in Zimbabwe, focusing mainly on Zimbabwean athletes competing in the United States.
Great! Where are you from? What made you choose to move here?
I was born and raised in Zimbabwe. I moved to Indy in the fall of 2017 to begin college at the University of Indianapolis and have been an honorary Hoosier ever since.
You’re off the clock, there are no expectations. What are you doing?
Hitting the gym or the golf range with some friends, walking my dog by the canal downtown or exploring a new restaurant. If I am at home I am probably binging on some netflix show or just hanging out. If time permits I am probably exploring new places in Indy or even out of state.
When thinking about the future of Indianapolis, what are you most looking forward to in the next 5 years and why?
In the next 5 years, I hope to see the city of Indianapolis build even safer communities. With increased community safety, I hope to see increasing diversity, more equitibilty in resource distribution and an even more vibrant culture that continues to welcome people from all walks of life to the capital of the Hoosier state.
Are there any local causes that you support? What are they and how might others learn more or get involved?
I spend some of my time advocating for immigrant rights with Faith in Indiana. More information can be found here. I also volunteer with the American Red Cross as part of Disaster Action Team and on the Community Resiliency Team, more information can be found here.
You have a day off and you’re in Indianapolis. Share the agenda for your perfect Indy day.
Breakfast at Milktooth, then a trip to the farmers’ market at Garfield Park. Lunch at Cafe Patachou, grabbing a coffee at Provider, and then taking a walk along the canal. Then I’d get dinner at Yasso Jamaican grill and cap it off with a comedy show at Crackers comedy club.
Indianapolis is a sprawling county, what’s your favorite part about our city?
I absolutely love how accessible our city is, never too congested! One can walk, bike, cycle, run, scooter around and be able to get from place to place. My favorite of those places would be The Garage.
How do you define success?
Success is the fruit of leadership, servant leadership. Success is the ability to instill confidence despite struggle and as Winston Churchill put it, “Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
If you were a superhero what would be your special trait? Why?
Time Travel, I mean who doesn’t want a second shot at anything. It would give me the chance to make our city even more hospitable!
