WBOI Artcentric

First Presbyterian Theater is formally celebrating its 50th anniversary with a special evening of activities. Besides a dinner and silent auction, guests will be able to share in a look back at some of the theater's "best of the best" moments, and a remembrance of those now departed, who helped establish the group's foundation over the decades. For a behind the scenes look at the event and what it symbolizes, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with John Tolley and Thom Hofrichter, past and present managing artistic directors, respectively, to talk about the theater's rich legacy, its staying factor, and place in Fort Wayne's community theater scene. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Mariah Roberts, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

The Utopian Community Grocery on Oxford Street and it's on-premise eatery is bringing nutritious and affordable food to the neighborhood and beyond, thanks to its founder, Ty Simmons, and his dedicated team. The area, identified as a food desert for its lack of available "good food choices," provides a perfect testing grounds for what Simmons thinks of as an incubator for this sort of enterprise. He also notes that UCG's backers have bigger plans, and the grocery is just the beginning. For a look at how things are shaping up, WBOI's Julia Meek caught up with Ty by Zoom, right in the store, to discuss the scope of the project and the hope this venture can provide to residents on the city's southeast side. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

L.I.F.E. Adult Day Academy students are making a community connection and a big splash on the local arts scene with a beach-themed choral and dance program this coming Tuesday, April 9th, at the Arts United ArtsLab. A school where learning is adapted to an individual's unique skills, the academy's mission is to create an ideal place to learn, socialize, and find acceptance.

WBOI's Julia Meek invited Academy program coordinator, Jeannette Iglesias and choral director, Heather Palmer, into the studio to discuss the school's mission, the project's impetus, and what impact a program like this can make. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

A group of rising South Side High School students will be part of the new Peacemaker Academy here in Fort Wayne that focuses on nonviolence training and conflict resolution. The project, spearheaded by Reverend Angelo Mante, Executive Director of Alive Community Outreach, is in partnership with the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne. WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with Mante and Rotary Club president elect Lynne Gilmore to learn what the program looks like, what they hope to accomplish and how this might impact the cultivation of peace in our community. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

After winning a lifelong battle with food addiction and losing one hundred pounds in about a year, Fort Wayne resident Emily Boller has chronicled that journey in a new book titled Starved to Obesity. Admitting that the road to wellness is not easy, especially at the beginning, the author points out that her own artwork was one effective tool in this process, and helped in affecting the change. For insight on Boller's transformation, WBOI's Julia Meek invited her into the studio to talk about the nature of the problem, the connections that were made along the way, and the method she used to combat the illness. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

With Juneteenth on the horizon, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, Fort Wayne is gearing up for its 18th annual local celebration with a community-wide collaborative effort that will showcase a week long series of special events. The collaboration, called Freedom Day Juneteenth FW2021, begins Sunday, June 13th with an Elders Jubilee and ends on Saturday, June 19th, the officially observed date, with a Promenade to McMillen Park for an afternoon and evening of entertainment . For a look at what's in store, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with project director, Adrian Curry and committee member, Chief Condra Ridley, to discuss the scope of the planned festivities, the significance of this collaboration and how it will live up to its tagline, "Unity in the Community." WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne attorney Mark Smith is becoming known for writing humorous, larger-than-life fiction, and he's done it again with his 3rd novel. Rock & Roll Voodoo. Set in the 1970's, the story reflects on the music, spirit and pop culture sensibilities of the baby boomer generation as seen through the author's eyes, while delivering a timeless message of self awareness. WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with Smith to discuss why the technique he utilized for telling this new story suits his purposes, and what he learned along the way. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Longtime friends John Jehl, Ethan Sternke and Alex Shinn have channeled their extreme passion for games into creating one--a Spy Thriller card game called INTEL. Invented on a whim during a long road trip before John's senior year at the University of Saint Francis, he was able to use the game as his Senior Project while all three partners participated in honing and perfecting the details. An overwhelming response to its Kickstarter campaign has made their dream a reality. For a behind the scenes look at the operation, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with two of the team, Jehl and Sternke, to discuss the motivation for their creativity and how the whole project is playing out. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne native John Hartman is a seasoned videographer who formed his own company about six months ago on the city's south side, aptly named Zero Seven Films. His own passion for the craft was influenced by the music videos that captivated him as a kid, and along with the wide variety of clients he has amassed, he continues to indulge in his love of music with an ongoing project that showcases local musicians he calls "Fancy Sessions." For a look into Hartman's passion, WBOI's Julia Meek recently sat down with him to talk about how and why his tag line, "making videos, making new friends" works. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Across America, Food Truck Parks are becoming permanent year round attractions, and thanks to a Fort Wayne Soup Grant, local entrepreneur TK Kelly is hoping to be able to add our city to that list. Funding for the park's first of three phases has already been secured, which is enough to get the park open. Kelly continues to enjoy support and input from other parks throughout the country, and is basing his own enterprise's footprint on those layouts, including facilities in Dallas, Traverse City, Detroit, Cleveland and Greenville, South Carolina. WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with Kelly to discuss his motivation for the project, its anticipated time frame and what it could mean to the community. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Alex Castonzo, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.