Our City Our Voice

The annual Innopower Minority Business Week at the Rally Business Conference is set to feature a blend of business innovation and community service through its “Day of Hope” event. WISH-TV contributor Emil Ekiyor joined us to discuss the collaborative effort between community members and business leaders.

Ekiyor detailed various roles for volunteers to pursue, including distributing essential items like shoes, mentoring, and providing educational resources.

Ekiyor also shared his emotional connection to the cause, emphasizing the impact that acts of kindness can have on the lives of children in need.

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During the month of August, News 8 will take a moment to celebrate, acknowledge, and appreciate Black-owned businesses across the U.S. The annual month-long celebration aims to highlight the robust community of Black business owners and the unique challenges they face.

News 8’s Felicia Michelle sat down with our multicultural contributor Emil Ekiyor to discuss how Indianapolis plans to celebrate.

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Marion County, Indiana’s largest and most populous county, crossed a demographic milestone, becoming majority non-white between 2020 and 2023, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data. During this period, the county also experienced a shift in its population demographics, recording a net loss of approximately 8,000 residents, according to the data.

The county saw gains of about 7,000 Black residents, 5,000 Hispanic residents, and 3,900 Asian residents, while also noting a decrease of nearly 200 Native American residents.

To dive deeper into the implications of these changes, News 8 contributor Emil Ekiyor unpacked the significance of Marion County’s evolving demographics.

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Indy Shakes is returning to the Circle City with a new play, “Riverside,” by ML Roberts.It premieres this week at the Taggart Memorial Amphitheater in Riverside Park.

The play, which explores the history and community of the Riverside neighborhood, features an ensemble cast of eight.

‘”Riverside” tells the story of Black Indianapolis through the lens of a single family across three decades: the 1820s, the 1920s, and the 1960s.

The play was developed in partnership with local arts organization The New Harmony Project and inspired by a desire to honor the history of the area and the collaborative spirit of neighborhood residents.

“Riverside” will have performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, as well as July 25 through July 27. The performances are free. Ticket information is online.

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The issue of elementary illiteracy has intensified following the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting Indiana and numerous other states across the nation to confront the challenge. Beginning in the upcoming school year, Indiana will introduce evaluations aimed at improving literacy rates among elementary-aged children. The initiative comes as part of broader efforts to mitigate the educational setbacks made worse by the pandemic.

WISH-TV contributor Emil Ekiyor joins us for a conversation, elaborating on the significance of the assessments and their implementation.

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A new app called Indy Biz Pass has set a precedent for supporting and promoting minority-owned businesses in Indianapolis. The innovative network uses technology to leverage Indianapolis’ collaborative economic environment to enhance connectivity and resources for minority-owned businesses.

The concept for Indy Biz Pass was inspired by the 2020 J.P. Morgan Chase research findings on Indianapolis, which identified challenges facing business owners of color.

You can learn more about Indy Bizz Pass by clicking this link.

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Two exceptional local musicians are making waves, proving that classical music is a universal language that transcends racial boundaries.

Classical music is taking on a transformative dimension as pipe organist Wolff von Roos and pianist Teneh Karimeo are paving the way for a new generation of Black musicians in the classical world.

According to a 2023 study published by the League of American Orchestras, Black musicians only made up 2.4% of orchestra musicians nationwide.

Not only do these two musicians excel in their craft, but they are also driven to nurture the younger generation.

Karimeo and von Roos both actively advocate for a more diverse and inclusive classical music community.

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As we celebrate Juneteenth, many Americans are delving into its historical significance. Originating in Galveston, Texas, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union soldiers brought news of freedom to more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The National Civil Rights Museum, which is located where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, stands as a symbol of the struggle for civil rights in America. From its historical roots in slavery to more recent movements for equality, the museum offers a comprehensive journey through the American Civil Rights movement.

Ryan Jones, Juneteenth program manager at the National Civil Rights Museum, emphasized the holiday’s significance in an interview with News 8.

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Arts with a Purpose at Eskenazi Health commemorated Black Music Month by using the arts to create positive change, social awareness, and inclusivity in the Circle City.

Music enthusiasts and professionals with Arts with A Purpose paid homage to rich African traditions that influenced jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and rock and roll. President Jimmy Carter established Black Music Month in 1979; the observance is reaffirmed annually by presidential proclamation.

African Americans have contributed a lot to the culture landscape of America and helped shaped the country, and influenced an entire world,” Bishop said.Each week this June, Black artists are featured performers at Eskenazi Health through the Marianne Tobias Music Program. It’s an effort to facilitate distraction from pain and reduce anxiety in patients.

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Indy Gay Market hosted its annual “Big Gay Pride” festival on Saturday and Sunday on Monument Circle. “We are vendor-focused so we try to make sure that the vendors feel cared for and celebrated in our event, so we are connecting them to each other, as well as to the community,” Lead Coordinator at Indy Gay Market Hannah Hadley said. 

Over the weekend, the artisan festival featured 100 Queer vendors, with 50 showcasing their products each day.

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