Public companies using SEC filings to talk up diversity, but few sharing data
Eli Lilly and Co. included in its proxy statement an intricate graphic breaking down the presence of women and minorities in its overall workforce and in management.
Minority/Women
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Entrepreneur starts hydroponics container farm on vacant urban lot
DeMario Vitalis, a descendant of cotton-plantation slaves and sharecroppers, sees ironic ties between his family’s past and his farm ownership.
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Fishers startup gamifies trading, targets historically Black colleges
Social media startup Stockteamup has partnered with the philanthropic arm of a hip-hop-inspired snack company to teach financial investing to Black communities.
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City gets serious about enforcing minority contracting goals
But not everyone agrees the change will make a significant difference in ensuring the city’s bidding process is more inclusive, and they argue more work needs to be done.
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Groundbreaking well-being app targets Black women’s stressors
Entrepreneur Katara McCarty says the Exhale app she developed “speaks to the path of women of color.”
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Articles
Legislation seeks to keep pregnant women on the job
Gov. Eric Holcomb and a group of lawmakers and family advocates are pushing for legislation that would require companies to offer more breaks or modify schedules and tasks for pregnant women—if they need them.
Savvy strategy, some luck propel online boutique to big success
Magnolia Boutique—known for its bohemian style built around casual, trendy clothing, shoes and accessories—is an online-only business on track to hit $10.5 million in sales this year, up from $7.9 million in 2019.
Justice center project hitting minority-contracting targets, but are they too low?
Roughly $162 million has been committed so far to minority-owned businesses helping to build the city’s $575 million criminal justice center complex in the Twin Aire neighborhood.
Venture firm opening Indy office to target the overlooked
Cincinnati-based Lightship Capital is opening an Indianapolis-area office within three months to provide underrepresented entrepreneurs here access to a $50 million investment fund.
IBJ Podcast: Advice for hiring and nurturing a diverse workforce
Attorney Angela Freeman, who has spent six years on the board of Women & Hi Tech, recommends using diverse committees—rather than leaving the job to one individual—for hiring and then assigning new employees, especially minority hires, to mentors who are invested in their success.
Biologist, attorney, tech leader has championed inclusion throughout her career
During her six years on the board of Women & Hi Tech—the last year as its president—Angela Freeman has focused as much on up-and-coming young women and schoolgirls as on supporting the not-for-profit’s members.
Governor’s race not top of mind in Black community
Democrat Woody Myers is the state’s first Black gubernatorial nominee from either major political party, but Black community leaders say his campaign is getting lost in the barrage of news about COVID-19 and protests over police brutality and racial inequity.
2020 Innovation Issue: Consultant uses improv to help foster teamwork
ActUp Consulting founder’s classes focus on principles of improvisational theater—celebrating failure, adapting to the moment, and making your fellow performers look good.
City-County Council seeks to root out inequities in city hall
The council committed to addressing the problem throughout city-county government by passing a special resolution outlining steps that will be taken to move the needle on the issue.
Disparity study says minority, woman-owned businesses underutilized in city contracting
The city of Indianapolis released a study Thursday that looks at disparities minority-owned businesses face as part of the city’s business-contracting processes.
Q&A with Rep. Robin Shackleford, chairwoman of black caucus
The caucus has crafted a 2020 agenda that includes bills that mandate lead testing of water in schools; reducing insulin prices; cutting the number of people facing misdemeanor charges that must wait in jail for hearings; and university reporting on efforts to hire black-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.
IBJ Podcast: How an Indy group will use $11.6 million to help black students achieve
Host Mason King talks with the Center for Leadership Development’s president, Dennis Bland, about how a Lilly Endowment grant will expand the group’s programs to help minority students achieve in school and in life.
Startup aims to provide digital ‘Green Book’ for minority travelers
LaToya Johnson launched AwayZone, which she describes as a kind of digital Green Book, in Indianapolis in late 2017. She already has commitments from dozens of corporations to pay for monthly subscriptions to be a part of the app and has a plan to boost revenue to $4.1 million by 2022.
Inside a tech firm’s quest to bolster gender diversity
Genesys launched a companywide gender-diversity-and-inclusion campaign early this year and has made measurable, albeit small, progress since.
What’s New: Amy’s PJs
This week, we meet Amy Graham, who opened upscale pajama boutique Amy’s PJs in Indianapolis on Oct. 1.