Indiana 250: Jimmie McMillian
Jimmie McMillian serves as chief diversity officer and senior corporate counsel at Penske Entertainment Corp., which includes IndyCar, IMS Productions and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Diversity
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Indiana State Museum, Newfields acquire art at Butter, where sales top $285K
Butter, an event that requires no fees paid by artists and collects no commissions on sales, displayed work by 49 Black artists.
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IBJ Podcast: Brothers behind tech firm Qualifi on being Black founders, raising capital, ‘unwillingness to die’
Darrian and Devyn Mikell discuss the inspiration they’ve received from their family (including an older brother with a Pro Bowl career in the NFL); how they handle the rollercoaster of startup life; obstacles that Black entrepreneurs face; and the importance of a diverse staff.
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Rapper studied Indianapolis neighborhoods to make ‘Deep Currents’ EP
Seaux Chill, otherwise known as Nabil Ince, wrote and recorded five songs after being awarded a grant from the Joyce Foundation in June 2022.
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IU Health aims to award 30% of downtown hospital project to diverse contractors
IU Health expects to give about $690 million worth of work to diversity contractors. That’s 30% of $2.3 billion—the amount the hospital system says the project is worth after subtracting the cost of expensive medical equipment such as imaging scanners.
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Articles
Wall Street tapping women, minority-owned banks for billion-dollar bond deals
After being relegated to bit parts for decades, women- and minority-owned investment banks are slowly stepping into larger roles as corporations push their go-to banking partners to team up with diverse firms.
Alliance aims for equitable placement of EV chargers
A group of Black civil rights organizations is amping up its call for racial equity to be taken into account as state and city leaders decide where to place chargers needed to support the growing number of electric vehicles.
SBA program upended in wake of Supreme Court affirmative action ruling
Thousands of Black, Latino and other minority business owners are scrambling to prove that their race puts them at a “social disadvantage” after a federal judge declared a key provision of a popular Small Business Administration program unconstitutional.
Republican councilors oppose Hogsett’s new diversity office, but Shreve leaves door open
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s proposal to create a city office prioritizing diversity efforts was met with “no” votes from some City-County Council Republicans. But Hogsett’s GOP mayoral opponent Jefferson Shreve wouldn’t rule out the concept if his public safety funding priorities could be met first.
Biden administration urges colleges to pursue racial diversity without affirmative action
New guidance from the Biden administration on Monday urges colleges to use a range of strategies to promote racial diversity on campus after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in admissions.
Curtis Hill says he’ll eliminate state’s equity and inclusion office if elected governor
The former Indiana attorney general and 2024 gubernatorial candidate said equity and inclusion efforts “exist only to pander to identity politics.”
Indiana attorney general criticizes Target for Pride merchandise
The letter signed by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and the the attorney generals of six other states expresses legal concerns over Target’s “possible violation of fiduciary duties.”
Activists spurred by affirmative action ruling sue over legacy admissions
A civil rights group is challenging legacy admissions at Harvard University, saying the practice discriminates against students of color by giving an unfair boost to the mostly white children of alumni.
What the Supreme Court ruling on race-conscious admissions means for Indiana students
In Indiana, state leaders and others are already worried about the declining college-going rate, which is especially low for Black and Hispanic and Latino students.
Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action in college admissions
The decision will force institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.
As Supreme Court considers affirmative action, colleges see few other ways
As the Supreme Court decides the fate of affirmative action, colleges nationwide are bracing for setbacks that could erase decades of progress on campus diversity.
NFL hits highs in diverse executives, lacks in head coaches
The league has reached milestone points in diverse hirings in the front office, but critics point to the sidelines where there are only three Black head coaches in a sport that had 56.4% Black players in 2022.
Indy saw uptick in economic growth for marginalized groups
The 2023 Metro Monitor report from the Brookings Institute showed that in terms of inclusive economic growth Indiana rose from 101st out of 192 metro areas in 2019 to 24th in 2021.
Robotics curriculum initiative targets younger, nonwhite kids
A $2.6 million grant from the Indiana Department of Education, announced Feb. 21, will help expand a program offered by the IUPUI Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.
City to spend $4.5M on program to raise Black homeownership
The Vacant to Vibrant initiative, announced Tuesday, will utilize about 100 lots in several neighborhoods that have fallen into disrepair and are held in the city’s land bank.
Indy library board member resigns amid continued backlash
TD Robinson, the senior pastor of Mt. Paran Baptist Church, has resigned from the Indianapolis Public Library Board amid an ongoing controversy over the selection of a new library CEO.
Black librarians yank national conference from Indy
The National Conference of African American Librarians has decided not to hold its annual convention in Indianapolis this year after one of its leaders was passed over for the job of CEO at the Indianapolis Public Library.
Indianapolis-based High Alpha shifting to a founder-first model of biz creation
Traditionally, Indianapolis-based venture studio High Alpha has created new software companies by starting with an idea for a company, then finding an entrepreneur or team to lead that startup. High Alpha is shaking up that model this year.
Art & Soul performances to celebrate ‘Kings & Queens’
In-person Art & Soul events are scheduled for February at the Cabaret, Jazz Kitchen and Indianapolis Artsgarden.