Indianapolis Public Schools will break up its newcomer program for English language learners who are new to the country.

The move to pull the newcomer program out of Northwest Middle School will help reduce transportation costs, make the best use of physical space, and help students engage more with their peers who are native English speakers, officials said in a presentation to the school board on Thursday. It also mirrors a district-wide push to more fully integrate English language learners with their English-speaking peers.

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The Asian American Alliance on February 28 hosted a fireside chat with Ting Gootee.

The president and chief executive officer of the TechPoint, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit created to advance Indiana’s tech economy, hoped to inspire young women.

Organizers of the chat say the event was part of their A Seat at the Table speaker series. The Asian American Alliance has hosted the series for seven years to help connect members with corporate suite executives.

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Indiana Avenue was one of the few safe havens for African-Americans in Indiana during the days of segregation. Tour guide, Sampson Levingston, walked and talked with our team on the history of Indiana Avenue. 

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For the past 20 years Eskenazi Health and the Center for Leadership Development have partnered up to promote careers in health care among minority students in Central Indiana. The Rawles Scholars Medicine Initiative is a six week program created to provide students the opportunity to closely interact with medical professionals. The program is named after one of the first African-Americans to practice surgery in Indianapolis, Dr. George H. Rawles. Dr. Rawles saw a need for greater representation in the field of medicine and worked tirelessly to raise awareness.

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The Madam Walker Legacy Center stands in downtown Indianapolis as a testament to Madam C J Walker’s pioneering efforts as an entrepreneur.

Recently, the city of Indianapolis dedicated a portion of Indiana Avenue as Madam Walker Memorial Way. We spoke with Madam Walker Legacy Center president Kristian Little Strickland about how the center is uplifting not only Walker’s legacy but also the building’s surrounding area.

She also discussed how the center is supporting local entrepreneurs and celebrating Black history.

Learn more about the Madam Walker Legacy Center here.

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Father Harry Smith and daughter Mya Smith Edmonds are both McDonald’s franchise owners, and we spoke to them to celebrate Black History month.

They discussed the lack of African American franchise owners throughout Harry’s career, and how Mya has followed in her father’s footsteps. The duo also has a family foundation called the Smith Foundation that helps our community.

Additionally, McDonald’s Owner/Operators in Indiana and Southwest Michigan are honoring Black History Makers of Tomorrow, who are high school seniors making a positive impact in their communities. You can see the entire 2024 list here.

This content is made possible by McDonald’s.

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The Indianapolis Public Library’s Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) is dedicated to celebrating the vibrant and resilient heritage and triumphs of those born of African roots. We spoke to Bryanna Barnes from the CBLC to learn more about the center.

Located in the R.B. Annis West Reading Room at Central Library, the Center for Black Literature & Culture is home to a 10,000+ item collection of books, CDs, magazines, movies and research tools, all of which showcase black history and culture.

This space is for ALL who are interested in exploring the rich heritage that has influenced nations across the globe. Visit the center to browse its collections, join the IPL for one of the signature programs, or explore the digital collections and website online.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Park, located at 1702 Broadway St. in the city, has a very rich history in the community. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was scheduled to hold a campaign rally in the inner city. As Kennedy received word that King had been shot, city officials and policy urged him to cancel his appearance. He refused.

Kennedy arrived to a gathered crowd at 17th and Broadway, very close to where the memorial sits today, and addressed the crowd. Instead of a campaign speech, Kennedy delivered a passionate statement informing the crowd of King’s death and urging racial reconciliation. His words were so moving that the crowd erupted in applause instead of anger.

The heart of Kennedy’s message is still on display in the park along with monuments (which include the Landmark for Peace sculpture) that serve as a reminder of King’s fight for peace, justice, and unity.

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All month long, WISH-TV is highlighting people and places where you can celebrate Black History Month.A group of African American leaders came together back in 1900 and formed the Young Men’s Prayer Band. It merged into a colored YMCA by 1910, and by 1913, it would be known as the Senate Avenue YMCA.

The Senate Avenue YMCA, 420 N. Senate Ave., was the center of community through activism and education. For many years, it sponsored what became known as “monster meetings” that attracted leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, George Washington Carver and Eleanor Roosevelt. The Senate Avenue Y also offered various cultural, religious, cultural and exercise classes.

By the 1950s, the Senate Avenue YMCA was one of the largest Black YMCAs in the United States. The center would close and move to Fall Creek in 1959.

A state historical marker for the Senate Avenue Y is at the corner of Michigan Street and Senate Avenue in downtown Indianapolis.

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The Flanner House is well known in the Circle City for its goal of supporting and advocating for community members who need a hand-up. That mission started 125 years ago as many enslaved black people migrated North from Southern states.

In the 1940s, the nonprofit started building what would be known as Flanner Homes. The project created a lot of opportunities for low-income African-American families. During this time period, many black soldiers were unable to cash in on the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944. Flanner Homes allowed families to build houses, and receive sweat equity, and low-income loans for the work. 

Many of the Flanner House Homes still stand today while the concept of “sweat equity” has been adopted by other organizations like ‘Habitat for Humanity’. 

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