Tanya Bell Mckinzie to exit Indiana Black Expo leadership role
Alice Watson, Indiana Black Expo’s senior vice president of operations and project management, was named as Mckinzie’s successor.
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The Freedom Forum podcast: Karen Bravo, dean of the IU McKinney School of Law.
Host Angela Freeman talks with the dean about voting rights, human trafficking and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Central Indiana fair housing group files suit against senior living developer
The lawsuit alleges Clover Group violated federal accessibility requirements at 38 properties in Indiana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Library approves second interim CEO as board reviews ‘climate’ study
The approval of the leadership change came as the Indianapolis Public Library’s board of trustees met for the first time since the release of a lengthy “climate” report examining the library system’s inner workings following allegations of racism.
Study: Younger women earn as much or more than men in 22 metro areas
Younger women have closed the pay gap or are outpacing their male counterparts in nearly two dozen U.S. metropolitan areas, according to research published Monday.
Top colleges accused of violating Black athletes’ rights
A group that advocates for college athletes has filed a federal complaint that claims NCAA Division I schools are violating the civil rights of Black basketball players and major college football players by prohibiting compensation.
Black quality of life initiative accepting first round of grant applications
The initiative is a partnership between the Indianapolis Urban League, the National Urban League and the African American Coalition of Indianapolis, and is funded with a $100 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant awarded in August 2020.
Ganassi, PNC Bank launch Women in Motorsports campaign
Women in Motorsports will feature both a video content series showcasing female industry leaders and an internship program designed to create opportunities in motorsports for women.
Initiative will pair Black-owned businesses with downtown spots
The moves are part of a larger effort to help the city’s core recover from the pandemic, and they’re getting help from a not-for-profit that has emerged as a local leader in diversity initiatives.
Indiana Black Expo launches training program for Black business owners
IBE President and CEO Tanya Mckinzie said the initiative grew out of the organization’s pandemic work with local Black business owners and a survey of nearly 1,000 such businesses.
Advocates for female entrepreneurs want Elevate Ventures’ next CEO to be a woman
Members and supporters of The Startup Ladies, an Indianapolis company that supports female entrepreneurship, sent an open letter to Elevate Ventures detailing their concerns that Elevate marginalizes female founders.
The Freedom Forum podcast: Sharon Barner of Cummins Inc.
Barner talked with host Angela B. Freeman about the challenges she faced building her career, how she has helped others overcome similar barriers and what companies and law firms can do to increase diversity.
IBJ Podcast: Groundbreaking history of African Americans in Indy debuts
Historian David Leander Williams has built on his previous works documenting the city’s jazz and rhythm-and-blues legacies with “African Americans in Indianapolis: The Story of a People Determined to Be Free,” published by Indiana University Press.
Cycling legend Major Taylor’s bike returning to Indianapolis for exhibition
The California-based U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that it was loaning the bike to the Indiana State Museum for an exhibit opening in March.
Central Indiana fair housing group to get $1M in Fannie Mae settlement
The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana and 20 other fair housing organizations across the country announced Monday that they have reached a $53 million agreement with Fannie Mae to settle a discrimination suit.
Q&A with Vernon Williams about the OnyxFest for Black playwrights
Williams, who is also communication and engagement strategist at IUPUI, said the program—sponsored by the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI—has helped develop playwrights in Indiana and new theater fans.
Brian Flores’ allegations against NFL lead to call for congressional hearing
Flores said in a televised interview earlier Wednesday that he is trying to “create some change” to the league’s minority hiring practices.
The Freedom Forum podcast: Angel Henry, author of ’Dents in the Ceiling’
Host Angela B. Freeman talks with Angel Henry, author of “Dents in the Ceiling: Tools Women & Allies Need to Breakthrough,” which tells the stories of 30 women of color who have survived and thrived in tech and corporate America.
Airport program manager to head Indy procurement diversity office
David Fredricks, previously a supplier-diversity program manager for the Indianapolis Airport Authority, has been named director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development.
Cook Medical builds Indy factory using only contractors with diverse owners
Hiring 100% diverse contractors to build a $15 million medical-device manufacturing facility was considered difficult, if not impossible, by many in the construction industry.