Our City Our Voice

It goes without saying that Martin Luther King Jr. played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement, but so many more were involved.That message came during the holiday event Monday inside the Madam Walker Legacy Center. People who attended the center’s event say they want to continue King’s message of equality, justice and love.

The center’s event was the 42nd annual MLK Day of Celebration at the Madam Walker Legacy Center to celebrate his life.

Journalist and political commentator Roland Martin, host of “Roland Martin Unfiltered,” was the guest speaker. He says there needs to be calls for action. “We must remind that King was a radical figure who was one of the most hated men in America when he was assassinated, so we need to remind folks of that King.”

Martin also says the holiday is more than just a celebration. “One of the mistakes that we make is that we only focus on him. We don’t focus on the thousands of others who were involved in this movement. There were countless men and women and names we don’t talk about, things we don’t know who played a vital role.”

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Seeds of Caring is an organization that collaborates with over 15 local non-profit partners to empower kids and families to actively engage in community betterment.

Unlike a typical volunteer network, Seeds of Caring goes above and beyond by crafting age-appropriate programs that include guided discussions, opportunities for empathetic reflection, and meaningful activities centered around service, social action, and community building.

Whether it’s packing food for a local shelter or assembling welcome kits for new American families, children involved with Seeds of Caring are not only making an impact in their community today but also developing a sense of responsibility and compassion that will shape their ability to effect change in the future.

We are thrilled to have Brandy Jemczura, the Founder and Executive Director of Seeds of Caring, to share more about their inspiring work.

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In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, one woman in Indianapolis, Holly Loos, has taken it upon herself to offer a glimmer of hope to Afghan families facing unprecedented challenges. Loos, motivated by a personal mission beyond organizational affiliations, highlighted the perilous situations many Afghan families find themselves in after escaping to other countries.

Despite facing paperwork hurdles and encountering uncertain paths, Loos remains resilient. Over the span of two years, she filed 51 applications with a pro bono law firm, navigating through numerous roadblocks. 

However, her perseverance bore fruit as the first family arrived in Indianapolis this past November. 

Now, Loos is reaching out to the community for support, urging donations to Shepard Community to assist these families in acclimating to their new lives.

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he Umoja Village Celebration took place Tuesday afternoon for the first day of Kwanzaa at The Amp 16 Tech. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that celebrates seven principles: Umoja — meaning unity in Swahili, Kujichagulia or self-determination, Ujima translated as “collective work and responsibility,” Ujamaa principle refers to uplifting your community economically, Nia means purpose, Kuumba meaning “creativity,” and Imani the final principle translates to “faith.”

The Indianapolis Kwanzaa Committee kicked off the celebration with the holiday’s first principle, Umoja.

The Kwanzaa committee has been doing these celebrations for over 50 years with hopes of bringing the community together through local vendors and celebrations. The committee also says the occasion is for anyone curious about Kwanzaa and wanting to learn more about it.

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“I’m really excited about this!”With his first words in News 8 Daybreak’s “Morning Checkup,” WISH-TV medical expert and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams made clear his enthusiasm about two new gene therapies for sickle cell disease.

The FDA just approved the treatments for people with severe forms of the disease, offering them the possibility of improved symptoms and potentially a cure for the inherited blood disorder.

Dr. Adams estimates sickle cell impacts about 100,000 people in the United States, most of them Black.

When asked about possible downsides to the therapies, Adams agreed they are significant, but says the the pain of sickle cell will make it an easy choice for those who suffer.

For those in our community who have sickle cell trait or know they have the disease, Adams says to have a discussion with their doctor and to reach out to Indy-based Martin Center, Inc. for resources.

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The Multicultural Media Producing Program is the first of its kind, a 16-week course to help teach students from all backgrounds the ins and outs of producing the news.

The program, created by WISH-TV owner and chief executive officer DuJuan McCoy, just graduated its first class Tuesday night.

“We want to increase diversity in the newsroom in helping create content and influence the message going out to viewers,” McCoy said.

The program brought in students from across central Indiana to learn every aspect of TV news and what it takes to put on a broadcast.

Students ranged from high school to college with some coming directly from program partner Ivy Tech Community College and others coming from universities in Indiana.

Students in the program said it was important to them that there was a program ready to highlight and celebrate diversity.

The program has already creating success stories. Danielle Moore, a senior at IUPUI, has already secured a job at WISH-TV as an associate producer, all before graduating college. “It’s really exciting for me, especially since I haven’t graduated college. It makes me feel really secure that I will have a job outside of college.”

The next class will be welcomed to WISH-TV early next year.

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Tuesday marked the beginning of an extraordinary venture in journalism in central Indiana. Mirror Indy, the first newsroom launched in the state by Free Press Indiana, was created to be a reflection of Indianapolis, nodding to the past with an eye toward the future, and WISH-TV and its parent company Circle City Broadcasting are proud to be documenting partners with Mirror Indy.

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WISH-TV is proud to honor and recognize our veterans.Some come from across the Midwest to get a second chance at life thanks to some help from a Puerto Rican veteran.

When Jesse Camacho isn’t at work, he’s helping countless veterans in need through a nonprofit that’s making a positive impact on the community. “We try to help everyone that we go and talk to,” he said.

Camacho is a disciplined Army veteran. Before the crack of dawn, he and his wife, Shirley, also a veteran, have started seeking ways to bless others because they’re blessed.

To help bring change, Jesse supports the nonprofit Helping Veterans and Families as a board member, focusing on providing housing and job opportunities to veterans. The group also known as HVAF offers veterans a shopping experience with free food, hygiene items, and clothing in their points-system pantries.

He says these resources are vital and that it takes a village.

Camacho says he wants others to help spread the word about the services that the organization offers.

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A 98-year-old Plainfield man is on a mission to educate and advocate for others about the issues Native Americans face in the United States.Jim Collins has spent the last few years researching and highlighting the disparities facing Native veterans and their communities.

The World War II Navy veteran is equipped with only a pen and phone. He spends most of his time writing letters, making calls, and still fighting for others.

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Dr. Chris Williams is an Army veteran who serves as the performance and improvement consultant at Eskenazi Health. Dr. Williams retired from the military after serving twenty one years; most of his time in the military was spent in the active Indiana National Guard.

Dr. Williams expressed how the transition from a service member to civilian life is not the easiest task.

Even though many employers are happy to hire a veteran because of their leadership experience, punctual behavior, and ethical qualities, starting at a company with military knowledge is not the same as starting with educational company knowledge.

To manage this difficult transition there are a lot of programs that will help companies bring in veterans. “Specifically for Eskenazi, they started an ERG for Veterans, which is a group specialized for Veterans and people who support Veterans.”

Dr. Williams expressed how it is okay for Veterans to take a step back and relearn civilian skills and a new area of expertise that is not Military related.

To learn more about the services Eskenazi Health provides, click here. For more information about veteran services from the state of Indiana click here.

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