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.
Diversity
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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.
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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.
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Art & Soul performances to celebrate ‘Kings & Queens’
In-person Art & Soul events are scheduled for February at the Cabaret, Jazz Kitchen and Indianapolis Artsgarden.
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Eli Lilly’s report card on racial justice effort shows $15.6M in donations
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker released a report card Thursday that outlined its progress “to support effective solutions” to racial inequity and social injustice. In addition to donations, the company has committed tens of millions of dollars to other diversity efforts.
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Articles
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.
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.
Stadium construction manager with Indy ties pays $1.9M over minority hiring
Construction of the 9,500-seat, $160 million stadium in Worcester was managed by Gilbane/Hunt, a joint venture of Gilbane Building Co. of Providence, Rhode Island, and Aecom Hunt Construction Group Inc. of Indianapolis.
Black legislative caucus picks new leaders
Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago,, succeeds state Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, as chair.
Women’s Fund of Central Indiana names new president
Tamara Winfrey-Harris has been with the CICF for more than six years, most recently as vice president of people, culture & brand.
Justices spar in latest clash of religion, gay rights
The U.S. Supreme Court ‘s conservative majority sounded sympathetic Monday to a Christian graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for gay couples, a dispute that’s the latest clash of religion and gay rights to land at the highest court.
Senate vote to protect same-sex marriage reflects years-long political shift
The Respect for Marriage Act, once repassed by the House and signed by President Joe Biden, will help protect recognition of same-sex marriages, enforced by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, against future legal challenges.
IBJ Podcast: Indy-based airline charting path to more diverse workforce
Host Mason King is joined by Rob Lowe, Republic’s vice president of people and culture, and Alisha Spires, senior manager of talent acquisition for pilot recruiting, to discuss the barriers that women and people of color face when they consider aviation careers, and what Republic is doing to widen those horizons.
Share of women in Indiana legislative chambers hits record high
The percentage of women in the Indiana General Assembly, 26.7%, is comparable to the nationwide rate in Congress, which hit its own record last year.
Youth summit seeks to increase Black enrollment in medical schools
Hospitals and clinics are full of doctors in white coats. But only a tiny portion of them, about 4%, are Black.
GOP eyes Indiana upset amid national push to diversify party
Air Force veteran Jennifer-Ruth Green is seeking an upset in an Indiana U.S. House district that has been Democratically controlled for nearly a century.
TechPoint partnership focuses on developing Black tech talent across state
The not-for-profits TechPoint and InnoPower plan to host three-phased sessions, designed to learn what obstacles exist, develop ideas to overcome the obstacles and then implement the ideas.
New CEO says Newfields has a role to play in cultural renaissance
Colette Pierce Burnette sees her hiring as the new president and CEO of Newfields as an example of the difference between equality and the more modern progress toward equity, or the practice of providing fair access and opportunities.
Coalition asks feds to reject Indiana’s $100M EV charging plan
The Indiana Alliance for Equity Diversity Inclusion of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Economic Opportunities said the Indiana Department of Transportation’s planning process was flawed, and thus, inequitable.
The Freedom Forum podcast: Rafael Sanchez, Old National Bank exec
In this episode host, Angela B. Freeman talks with Sanchez about diversity, equity and inclusion from a unique and authentic vantage point as a Hispanic male executive in the banking and lending industry.
The Freedom Forum podcast: Angela Smith Jones, vice president of diversity and inclusion for the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County
Jones explains how she has incorporated lessons from her previous role as deputy mayor of economic development for the city of Indianapolis into her new role focusing on DEI in the health care sector.