Flourishing
COMMUNITIES COLLECTIVE
Flourishing
COMMUNITIES COLLECTIVE
Equipping Leaders
Building Partnerships
Transforming Communities
We partner with communities to foster sustainable development and urban resilience through strategic planning and social equity.
Our Collective Work
At Flourishing Communities Collective, we're dedicated to helping both non-profit organizations and mission-driven businesses thrive. Our consultants work alongside you to create lasting transformation at the intersection of faith, education, health and human services, and community development—grounded in reconciliation, justice, and the flourishing of all people.
Helping good ideas become lasting change that creates healthy, flourishing communities.
Our Services
01.Hourly Consulting
This service provides personalized, hourly consulting to meet your specific needs. We begin with an intake form to tailor our services and match you with the right consultant or team of consultants to achieve your goals. *Service costs may vary based on complexity of work and services.
02.Speaking Engagements
Each consultant on our team is an experienced and energetic public speaker, and if you would like one or more of our consultants to speak at your event, we'd love to support your work in this way. Each speaking contract is written individually to ensure travel expenses are covered, plus a minimum $500 stipend per person.
03.Consulting Services Package
Coming soon: Flourishing Communities Collective will provide a preset number of consulting hours targeting specific topics and tasks to walk your team through a process from start to finish. Fill out the contact form if you would like updates as this develops.
Our Consultants
Our consultants work alongside you to create lasting transformation at the intersection of faith, education, health and human services, and community development—grounded in reconciliation, justice, and the flourishing of all people.
Consultant / Co-Owner
Leslie E. Draper, MaEd
Leslie Draper is an inspiring speaker, coach, and consultant. She has a proven track record of educational leadership in complex environments. In response to the educational needs in her own under-resourced community in Indiana, she founded a K-8 public charter school in 2012 and served as the school leader for over a decade until she determined it was the right season to transition the school away from a founder-dependent model, now serving on the board of directors to continue to support and oversee the work. Leslie operates from the perspective that local people understand their needs better than outsiders and have the capacity to identify real solutions. Her work focuses on listening, ensuring multiple perspectives are considered, and inspiring local teams to embrace effective change and move ideas to strategic action. Leslie is a contagious visionary, and when she enters the room, the energy changes. She inspires those around her to believe more is possible, pursue loftier goals, and implement plans of action that make people look back and go, “Wow – we did that!” Leslie’s consulting services focus on: •Strategic planning •Board development •Organizational start-up •Getting the right team of people for the context and task, and investing in that team •Increasing performance through goal-setting and action plans that tackle key priorities and efficient systems of follow up •Organizational culture •Budgeting & responsible financial management Leslie Draper has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Ball State University, a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Taylor University, and has completed post-graduate coursework at Indiana State University. She is a licensed PK-12 building administrator and a licensed secondary English Language Arts teacher in the State of Indiana. She has over 25 years of experience in community development and education in under-resourced communities.
Maria A. Wilson, MSW, LCSW
Consultant
Maria Wilson serves as the pastor of social and mental health services at Urban Light Community Church as well as the Executive Director of the Bishop H. Royce Mitchell Hub at Urban Light (Mitchell Hub). Pastor Maria is a licensed clinical social worker and mental health therapist. Pastor Maria resides in Muncie, IN and lives out her passion for serving communities in the areas of overall equality and efficient healthcare. She was born and raised in Muncie, attended Muncie Community Schools, and has invested heavily in servicing communities within Muncie. She very much enjoys traveling and experiencing diverse cultures. Maria’s consulting services focus on: •Building faith-based and secular partnerships around a common cause •Expanding access to health solutions and medical services in under-resourced communities •Networking and building camaraderie to bring together community resources and social services •Resource development through fundraising and grant-writing •Clear articulation of goals •Problem solving through step by step solutions Maria obtained both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Indiana University. She has over 37 years of experience working in the field of social services including past work as a director at the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS). In addition to her role as one of the pastors at Urban Light Community Church, she is an adjunct professor for Indiana University School of Social Work, teaching Community Organizing and Development. She is a member of the Concerned Clergy of Muncie. Her area of expertise is bridging the gaps between the community and healthcare access.
Andrew T. Draper, PhD
Rev. Dr. Andrew T. Draper is a dynamic preacher, author, and consultant. He is the founding pastor of Urban Light Community Church in Muncie, Indiana and currently serves as the teaching pastor and overseer. He has extensive experience in community development, organizational leadership, non-profit startup, and reconciliation and justice work. He has authored numerous books and articles on race, disability, poverty, and the church. Andrew is a persuasive leader and vision caster who operates from the perspective that reconciliation is foundational to healthy church-based community development. Andrew’s consulting services focus on: • Race relations and fostering diversity through justice and reconciliation • Organizational start-up and leadership • Church-based community development • Effective theological communication through preaching and writing • Creative solutions in complex ecclesiological and political environments Dr. Andrew Draper holds a PhD in theological ethics from the University of Aberdeen and an MDiv from Winebrenner Theological Seminary, where he also serves as Distinguished Visiting Faculty. He is the author of the books A Theology of Race and Place, Christian Mission and Poverty, and Disabling Leadership, as well as numerous journal articles, reviews, and book chapters.
Consultant / Co-Owner
Kwesi R. Kamau, DMin
Consultant
Rev. Dr. Kwesi Richard Kamau is a preacher, author, leadership coach, and consultant with extensive experience in church leadership, disciple-making, organizational development, and community transformation. He is the founding and Lead Pastor of Impact Church DFW in Richardson, Texas; president of Impact Discipleship; and National Director of the Church as Movement Initiative (CAMI). Dr. Kamau believes that healthy churches are essential to healthy communities. His approach combines visionary leadership with practical strategies that empower local leaders, strengthen organizations, and turn ideas into sustainable action. He is particularly skilled at helping teams navigate complex challenges, embrace change, and work together toward a shared vision. Dr. Kamau's consulting services focus on: • Strategic planning and organizational development • Church revitalization and transformation • Disciple-making systems • Leadership development and coaching • Church-based community development • Collaborative partnerships • Organizational culture and change management Dr. Kamau earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in Evangelism and Mission from Southern Methodist University. He is the author of A Passion for Prayer and Making Disciple-Makers and developer of the Spiritual Maturity Pathway and Impact Discipleship System. His experience includes pastoral leadership in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and collaboration with denominations, theological institutions, and ministry networks nationally and internationally.
Collective Impact
"As an entrepreneur it is easy to feel alone in the process of building a business that is meeting the needs of the community in which you live. There are times when the work feels overwhelming and you wonder if it's worth it. Working with Flourishing Communities Collective has helped me to know that I'm not alone in this process and that I have human support as I launch something that I am passionate about. Thank you for all of your guidance, help, and support along this nonprofit journey!
— Brittany M. Pickett, Founder, The Mother Hood Inc.
— Dr. Kwesi Kamau, Lead Pastor, IMPACT Church
"Andrew and Leslie Draper helped our church leaders dream again. They inspire courage and ignite creativity in churches wrestling with limited hope and resources. They speak with conviction about how faith in God and patient, loving relationships can overcome limitations because they have lived it."
"Maria Wilson brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to community. She thoughtfully examines complex challenges, engages the right stakeholders, and develops practical solutions that help organizations move from ideas to meaningful action.”
— John Disher, Director of Community Health, IU Health