Spirit & Place, IU Indianapolis

Powerful Conversations on Race (Oct.)
2021-10-10 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Powerful Conversations on Race (PCR) is a monthly community dialogue series — with two tracks — exploring topics around race, racism, and the resulting impact. These sessions provide a means of getting comfortable talking about uncomfortable topics are are rooted in humanities- and art-based materials and sources.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but rather a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. Active participation is expected.
PCR 101 sessions are great starting place for those new to these kinds of dialogues and/or those wishing to more fully understand America’s complex racial history. Race & . . . sessions explore more contemporary issues are are designed for those who wish to continue past PCR 101.
Learn more on the Powerful Conversations on Race main page.
October’s sessions will focus on:

PCR 101: Religious Life, Spirituality, and Racial Identity
Race & . . . TBA

*For now, PCR sessions are being conducted via Zoom. A camera check-in will be requested when you enter the space and since we share our computer screen to show images and text, it is best to login from a laptop or tablet rather than a smartphone. Registration is managed through Eventbrite and the link is below.
Special thanks to our partners Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Indiana Humanities, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Medical Humanities & Health Program @ IUPUI, National Endowment of the Humanities, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate and of course our community-based dialogue facilitators!

Climate Change and American Religion: Resetting the Agenda
2021-11-10 10:00 - 11:30 | https://spiritandplace.org/event/climate-change-and-american-religion-resetting-the-agenda/
TO WATCH A RECORDING OF THIS EVENT, CLICK HERE.
TO LISTEN TO A FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEW ON WFYI’S “ALL IN,” CLICK HERE.
Climate change is real, and the danger is urgent. Can religion contribute to meaningful change, or are the main solutions political? Join Peter Thuesen, author of Tornado God, as we discuss one of the biggest challenges of our time.
Throughout U.S. history, religion – particularly Christianity – has inspired radical change in some and passivity in others. The prophetic tradition in Hebrew scripture, for example, has called some Americans to radical responsibility, whereas apocalyptic texts in the same Bible have led other Americans to conclude some events are beyond our control. Peter Thuesen will challenge attendees to consider these conflicting impulses and whether they can be marshaled in creative new ways to address climate change. Following Thuesen’s lecture, participants will gather in small Zoom breakout rooms to discuss the question, “Does religion have a role to play in combatting climate change, and if so, what should that role be?”
In partnership with Peter Thuesen and the IUPUI Senior Academy.
Questions? Contact 317-274-5942 or pthuesen@iupui.edu.
This event will be conducted via Zoom and is not in-person. Register by Nov. 10.
Image Credit: Russ Allison Loar

This event is part of the Spirit & Place Festival. Click here to discover more festival events!
Spirit & Place is a self-funded community initiative housed in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.

Past the Klan: The Roots of Racism in IPS and Beyond
2021-11-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Central Library, Center for Black Literature & Culture, 40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis, IN, 46204, United States
WATCH OPENING REMARKS & SMALL GROUP REPORT OUTS HERE.
Go on a journey through the last 100 years of IPS’s past to dispel urban myths and uncover hidden stories around race and racism, religion, gender, ethnicity, geography, and politics.
After a brief presentation on IPS’s history, participants will be divided into small groups and given a research-based packet including historic newspaper clippings, IPS board minutes, and other historic documentation to tease apart and critically analyze. Following a path of inquiry asking “What?,” “So what?,” and “Now what?,” participants will work together to propose action steps for addressing past harms.
History-based scenarios might include the Klan’s role in IPS’s history, what the Indianapolis Recorder does – and does not – shine light on, what the Citizen School Committee was, what part religion played in the district’s past, and who Principal George Buck was.
A partnership between Charles E. & Virginia P. Loflin Center on the History of the Indianapolis Public Schools, Redevelopment/Restoration of the Southside, Kheprw Institute, Dr. Richard Pierce, Virgil and Sheila Boyd, The Black & Latino Policy Institute, The Historic Journey, Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Brown, and Families Talk: IPS Oral Histories.
Questions? Contact 317-274-2462 or festival@iupui.edu.
This event is currently scheduled to occur in-person. Register by Nov. 7 and note this event will adhere to prevailing local guidance on COVID-19. Thoroughly read confirmation details sent by the host.

This event is part of the Spirit & Place Festival. Click here to discover more festival events!
Spirit & Place is a self-funded community initiative housed in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.

We Are The Change We've Been Waiting For: A Practical Guide to Social Change
2021-11-10 13:30 - 15:30 | Indiana Interchurch Center, 1100 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis, IN, United States
Transform a mindset of “that’s terrible” into “I can be the change!” after hearing from grassroots activists and learning practical action steps for social change.
Beginning with a panel discussion featuring local activists followed by small group discussions, participants will explore clear, easy-to-understand strategies they can use to confront challenges they see in the world. An accompanying exhibit will also inspire attendees to focus their thoughts and feelings into action.
Featured guests include representatives from Flanner House’s Food Justice Project, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, Indianapolis First Friends, and Project Lia. Attendees will not only hear from these panelists but also receive handouts and other materials on action steps they can take in their own lives to affect positive social change.
A partnership between Indianapolis Peace & Justice Center, Center for Interfaith Cooperation, and Indianapolis First Friends.
Questions? Contact 317-288-0408 or susanperickson@gmail.com.
This event is currently scheduled to occur in-person. Register by Nov. 10 and please note this event will adhere to prevailing local guidance on COVID-19. Thoroughly read confirmation details sent by the host.
Click here to register.

This event is part of the Spirit & Place Festival. Click here to discover more festival events!
Spirit & Place is a self-funded community initiative housed in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.

Powerful Conversations on Race (Nov.)
2021-11-21 10:00 - 12:00
Powerful Conversations on Race (PCR) is a monthly community dialogue series — with two tracks — exploring topics around race, racism, and the resulting impact. These sessions provide a means of getting comfortable talking about uncomfortable topics are are rooted in humanities- and art-based materials and sources.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but rather a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. Active participation is expected.
PCR 101 sessions are great starting place for those new to these kinds of dialogues and/or those wishing to more fully understand America’s complex racial history. Race & . . . sessions explore more contemporary issues are are designed for those who wish to continue past PCR 101.
Learn more on the Powerful Conversations on Race main page.
November’s sessions will focus on:

PCR 101: Race, Holidays, and Dinner Discussions
Race & . . . Religion & White Supremacy (Inspired by this year’s Spirit & Place Festival Public Conversation with Robert Jones.)

*For now, PCR sessions are being conducted via Zoom. A camera check-in will be requested when you enter the space and since we share our computer screen to show images and text, it is best to login from a laptop or tablet rather than a smartphone. Registration is managed through Eventbrite and the link is below.
Special thanks to our partners Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Indiana Humanities, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Medical Humanities & Health Program @ IUPUI, National Endowment of the Humanities, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate and of course our community-based dialogue facilitators!

Powerful Conversations on Race (Jan. 2022)
2022-01-09 10:00 - 12:00
Powerful Conversations on Race (PCR) is a monthly community dialogue series — with two tracks — exploring topics around race, racism, and the resulting impact. Rooted in humanities- and art-based materials and sources, these sessions give us time to practice and normalize hard conversations about race.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but rather a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. Active participation is expected.
PCR 101 sessions are great starting place for those new to these kinds of dialogues and/or those wishing to more fully understand America’s complex racial history. Race & . . . sessions explore more contemporary issues are are designed for those who wish to continue past PCR 101.
Learn more on the Powerful Conversations on Race main page.
There will only be one session in January and we will explore excerpts from the writings and speeches of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Special thanks to our partners Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Indiana Humanities, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Medical Humanities & Health Program @ IUPUI, National Endowment of the Humanities, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate and of course our community-based dialogue facilitators.
Register below.

Powerful Conversations on Race (February 2022)
2022-02-13 10:00 - 12:00
POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH 13.
Due to a scheduling oversight the February Powerful Conversations on Race session will be postponed until March 13, 2022. This month’s dialogue conflicts with an iconic American tradition – Super Bowl Sunday. This has resulted in an extremely low number of registrations. Our work is sustained by a cadre of community-based facilitators that volunteer to lead these difficult community conversations each month. As such, we want to be respectful of the considerable amount of work and time they give to make this the best experience possible, which means having participants to attend the dialogue. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you in March!
Powerful Conversations on Race (PCR) is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race, racism, and the resulting impact. Rooted in humanities- and arts-based sources primarily from The Charleston Syllabus, these sessions give us time to practice and normalize hard conversations about race.
There will only be ONE session track in February (e.g., no Race & track) and the focus will be on The Civil War & Reconstruction in History and Memory.
A little more about Powerful Conversations on Race:

This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but rather a space for community to come together to dive into a variety of topics concerning race.
Active participation is expected and a camera “check-in” is required.
When possible, participants are urged to join via laptop or tablet rather than smart phone to better engage with the content and others.
Entry into the session is not granted after 3:15pm.
After registering via Eventbrite, you will immediately receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link at the very bottom of the confirmation message.

Learn more on the Powerful Conversations on Race main page.
Special thanks to our partners Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Indiana Humanities, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Medical Humanities & Health Program @ IUPUI, National Endowment of the Humanities, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate and of course our community-based dialogue facilitators.
Register below.

Powerful Conversations on Race (March 2022)
2022-03-13 11:00 - 13:00
Powerful Conversations on Race (PCR) is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race, racism, and the resulting impact. Rooted in humanities- and arts-based sources primarily from The Charleston Syllabus, these sessions give us time to practice and normalize hard conversations about race.
There will only be ONE session track in March (e.g., no Race & track) and the focus will be on The Civil War & Reconstruction in History and Memory.
A little more about Powerful Conversations on Race:

This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but rather a space for community to come together to dive into a variety of topics concerning race.
Active participation is expected and a camera “check-in” is required.
When possible, participants are urged to join via laptop or tablet rather than smart phone to better engage with the content and others.
Entry into the session is not granted after 3:15pm.
After registering via Eventbrite, you will immediately receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link at the very bottom of the confirmation message.

Learn more on the Powerful Conversations on Race main page.
Special thanks to our partners Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Indiana Humanities, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Medical Humanities & Health Program @ IUPUI, National Endowment of the Humanities, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate and of course our community-based dialogue facilitators.

Civic Circle Gathering (March 16)
2022-03-16 14:30 - 15:30
Join us as we nurture a spirit of shared civic purpose with poetry, music, and small dialogue groups.
Spirit & Place invites you to reflect on our democracy and grapple with what it means to live by America’s civic values during its “Civic Circle” gatherings.
Using the civic reflection dialogue method, these participatory gatherings – you’ll be doing most of the talking! – will focus on the words, deeds, and imagery of our nation’s past. By unpacking our civic values together, we can better support each other in living by those values.
Don’t be surprised by a little poetry and/or music thrown into the mix when we can!
Register here.

Powerful Conversations on Race (April 2022)
2022-04-10 11:00 - 13:00
Powerful Conversations on Race (PCR) is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race, racism, and the resulting impact. Rooted in humanities- and arts-based sources primarily from The Charleston Syllabus, these sessions give us time to practice and normalize hard conversations about race.
A little more about Powerful Conversations on Race:

This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but rather a space for community to come together to dive into a variety of topics concerning race.
Active participation is expected and a camera “check-in” is required.
When possible, participants are urged to join via laptop or tablet rather than smart phone to better engage with the content and others.
Entry into the session is not granted after 3:15pm.
After registering via Eventbrite, you will immediately receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link at the very bottom of the confirmation message.

Learn more on the Powerful Conversations on Race main page.
Special thanks to our partners Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Indiana Humanities, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Medical Humanities & Health Program @ IUPUI, National Endowment of the Humanities, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate and of course our community-based dialogue facilitators.
Register

Civic Circle Gathering (April 27)
2022-04-27 14:30 - 15:45
Join us as we nurture a spirit of shared civic purpose with poetry, music, and small dialogue groups.
Spirit & Place invites you to reflect on our democracy and grapple with what it means to live by America’s civic values during its “Civic Circle” gatherings.
Using the civic reflection dialogue method, these participatory gatherings – you’ll be doing most of the talking! – will focus on the words, deeds, and imagery of our nation’s past. By unpacking our civic values together, we can better support each other in living by those values.
Don’t be surprised by a little poetry and/or music thrown into the mix when we can!
Register

Powerful Conversations on Race (May 2022)
2022-05-15 11:00 - 13:00
Powerful Conversations on Race (PCR) is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race, racism, and the resulting impact. Rooted in humanities- and arts-based sources primarily from The Charleston Syllabus, these sessions give us time to practice and normalize hard conversations about race.
A little more about Powerful Conversations on Race:

This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but rather a space for community to come together to dive into a variety of topics concerning race.
Active participation is expected and a camera “check-in” is required.
When possible, participants are urged to join via laptop or tablet rather than smart phone to better engage with the content and others.
Entry into the session is not granted after 3:15pm EST. (EASTERN TIME ZONE)
After registering via Eventbrite, you will immediately receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link at the very bottom of the confirmation message.

Learn more on the Powerful Conversations on Race main page.
Special thanks to our partners Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Indiana Humanities, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Medical Humanities & Health Program @ IUPUI, National Endowment of the Humanities, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate and of course our community-based dialogue facilitators.
REGISTER HERE.
*NOTE: Powerful Conversations on Race typically occurs the 2nd Sunday of the months. May’s session has been moved back a week to 5/15/22 due to Mother’s Day.

Laugh in Peace Comedy Show
2022-05-19 15:00 - 17:00 | Central Library – Clowes Auditorium, 40 E. St. Clair Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States
You can use a laugh, right? Who can’t these days?!
For our 2nd annual spring faith event, Spirit & Place is absolutely giddy to invite you to join Rabbi Bob Alper, Rev. Susan Sparks (a former Spirit & Place Public Conversationalist), and Muslim comic Gibran Saleem for a fun-filled evening of interfaith comedy that highlights our commonalities. You will think, laugh and leave with a little different view of the world. Registration for the Laugh in Peace Comedy Show will open soon!
Presented by Spirit & Place in partnership with The Indianapolis Public Library and made possible through the generous support of Lilly Endowment Inc.
*Tickets are free; max 4.
*Masking is not required, but is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.
*Registration closes on May 18. We will accommodate “walk ins” at the event as seating allows beginning at 6:50pm.
Register

Erectile dysfunction is a delicate issue. When the male penis does not increase faastpharmacy home in volume at the right moment, does not erect or its resistance is not enough to complete the act, both man and woman prefer to pretend as if nothing has happened. That is why erectile dysfunction has become surrounded by a mass of myths.

Powerful Conversations on Race (June 2022)
2022-06-12 11:00 - 13:00
Powerful Conversations on Race [PCR] is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race and racism and the resulting impact.
Powerful Conversations on Race is a way for us to get comfortable talking about uncomfortable histories and is, therefore, rooted in historical documents and subject matter.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. This is an immersive experience. As such, we’ll spend a considerable amount of time in small groups to dialogue with each other about these topics.
All dialogues are virtual and occur on Eastern Standard Time / Eastern Daylight Time.
The June 12, 2022 dialogue will explore Contemporary Issues on Race in America.
Registration ends at 12 noon day of event.

Civic Circle Gathering (July 20)
2022-07-20 14:30 - 15:45
VIRTUAL EVENT.
Join us as we nurture a spirit of shared civic purpose with poetry, music, and small dialogue groups.
Spirit & Place invites you to reflect on our democracy and grapple with what it means to live by America’s civic values during its “Civic Circle” virtual gatherings.
Using the civic reflection dialogue method, these participatory gatherings – you’ll be doing most of the talking! – will focus on the words, deeds, and imagery of our nation’s past. By unpacking our civic values together, we can better support each other in living by those values.
Don’t be surprised by a little poetry and/or music thrown into the mix when we can!
Register

Civic Circle Gathering (Aug. 10)
2022-08-10 14:30 - 15:45
VIRTUAL EVENT.
Join us as we nurture a spirit of shared civic purpose with poetry, music, and small dialogue groups.
Spirit & Place invites you to reflect on our democracy and grapple with what it means to live by America’s civic values during its “Civic Circle” gatherings.
Using the civic reflection dialogue method, these participatory gatherings – you’ll be doing most of the talking! – will focus on the words, deeds, and imagery of our nation’s past. By unpacking our civic values together, we can better support each other in living by those values.
Don’t be surprised by a little poetry and/or music thrown into the mix when we can!
Register

Powerful Conversations on Race (Sept. 2022)
2022-09-11 11:00 - 13:00
Powerful Conversations on Race [PCR] is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race and racism and the resulting impact.
Powerful Conversations on Race is a way for us to get comfortable talking about uncomfortable histories and is, therefore, rooted in historical documents and subject matter.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. This is an immersive experience. As such, we’ll spend a considerable amount of time in small groups to dialogue with each other about these topics.
All dialogues are virtual and occur on Eastern Standard Time / Eastern Daylight Time.
Registration ends at 12 noon day of event.

Powerful Conversations on Race (Oct. 2022)
2022-10-09 11:00 - 13:00
Powerful Conversations on Race [PCR] is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race and racism and the resulting impact.
Powerful Conversations on Race is a way for us to get comfortable talking about uncomfortable histories and is, therefore, rooted in historical documents and subject matter.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. This is an immersive experience. As such, we’ll spend a considerable amount of time in small groups to dialogue with each other about these topics.
All dialogues are virtual and occur on Eastern Standard Time / Eastern Daylight Time.
Registration ends at 12noon on the day of the event. A Zoom link is sent prior to the event start time.

Civic Circle Gathering (Oct. 12)
2022-10-12 14:30 - 15:45
VIRTUAL EVENT.
Join us as we nurture a spirit of shared civic purpose with poetry, music, and small dialogue groups.
Spirit & Place invites you to reflect on our democracy and grapple with what it means to live by America’s civic values during its “Civic Circle” gatherings.
Using the civic reflection dialogue method, these participatory gatherings – you’ll be doing most of the talking! – will focus on the words, deeds, and imagery of our nation’s past. By unpacking our civic values together, we can better support each other in living by those values.
Don’t be surprised by a little poetry and/or music thrown into the mix when we can!

Outside the Boxes: Challenging Labels Attached to Justice-Involved Individuals
2022-11-04 15:00 - 17:00 | The Church Within, 1125 Spruce St., Indianapolis, IN, 46203
Discover how being a part of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program challenged participants to re-think their ideas of “identity” and the need to challenge the use of labels that often divide us.
How we each identify, and how we are identified by others, are often not the same. The practice of bringing together incarcerated (inside) and non-incarcerated (outside) people together for engaged and informed dialogue allows for a transformative learning experience that challenges people to re-think their use of labels, such as “offenders,” “addicts,” “felons” — language that dismisses and demeans people who have been entangled in the criminal justice system.
In this session, people who have been formerly incarcerated, people overcoming addiction, and college students who have all participated together in Inside-Out courses together will share their experiences and lead session participants to question the ways society uses labels to define and constrict people’s opportunities and futures.​​​​​​​
A partnership between the Indiana Chapter of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange, PACE Indy, and Dove Recovery House for Women.
Contact the event organizers at 317-274-2462 or suhyatt@iupui.edu.
Walk-ins welcome, but registration strongly encouraged by Nov. 4.
Register below.

Tell Me What You Eat and I'll Tell You Where You Are From
2022-11-05 14:30 - 16:30 | MOTW Coffee & Pastries, 4873 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN, 46254, United States
Experience foods and flavors from Yemen, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Palestine and more while meeting the people who have prepared those foods. Learn about each other while exploring how what we eat is tightly bound to our identity.
In the documentary High on the Hog, Yoruba artist Romuald Hazoumè repeats a local saying to Stephen Satterfield, telling him, “We say ‘Tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you where you are from.” This sentiment points directly toward this truth: Food and identity are inextricably linked. You can, by learning what people eat and why, identify not only where they are from, but where they’ve been on their way to where they are now.
This highly participatory and conversation-driven event invites the community to recognize the ways in which, here in the U.S., we very often separate food and flavors from the people and cultures from which they originate. In denying these roots, we are missing out on so very much. We hope folks will make space for the whole story that foods can tell.
Limited free food provided with additional food and beverages for purchase. This event is highly interactive! Willingness to talk and engage with new friends is important.
A partnership between The Church Within and MOTW Coffee & Pastries.
Contact event organizers at 317-683-0829 or thechurchwithin@thechurchwithin.org.
Walk-ins welcome but registering by October 28 helps with planning for enough food.
Register below.
Image Credit: Narmeen Taw, Creative Commons
Patogenetisk behandling – med det formål at afbryde den patologiske mekanisme apoteken24.com for erektil dysfunktion. Ideelt set elimineres indflydelsen af denne mekanisme fuldstændigt. Hvis dette ikke er muligt, sigter lægerne mod i det mindste at reducere dens indvirkning og bremse udviklingen af erektil dysfunktion.

Call People What They Want to Be Called: Racial/Ethnic Labeling & Identity in Healthcare
2022-11-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Global Village Welcome Center, 4233 Lafayette Rd., Indianapolis, IN, 46254, United States
Explore how one’s sense of identity affects emotional/behavioral health of Black and Brown people through an interactive TED Talk-like presentation, audience activities, and conversations with local health-focused organizations. Food will be served.
This multi-faceted event invites the public to explore the importance of conscious identity labeling in healthcare situations. Through a short TED Talk-like presentation, an interactive identity-focused session on discovering behavioral triggers, and guided conversations with healthcare organization representatives focused on respectfully engaging Black and Brown community members, attendees will grow in their understanding of why and how identity matters for people of color in healthcare situations. The goal of this event is for Black and Brown people who attend to have more confidence and support in verbalizing their choices of racial/ethnic identification labels, and for white people to have better information and answers to questions they are hesitant to ask out loud. Food reflecting the racial/ethnic cultures of the International Marketplace will be served.
A partnership between the Komen Tissue Bank, Pink-4-Ever Ending Disparities and Men of Pink, Indiana Donor Network, and Global Village Welcome Center.
Walk-ins welcome, but due to food being served, registration by Nov. 4 is strongly encouraged.
Event organizer contact info: (317) 319-6337 or keridley@iupui.edu.
Register below.
Image Courtesy of Movement Advancement Project

HIV Modernization: Ending the Stigma of People Living with HIV
2022-11-09 12:30 - 15:00 | Phoenix Theater Cultural Center, 705 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Through an art exhibit and panel discussion, learn how people living with HIV and their allies are working to end HIV stigma by modernizing Indiana’s outdated HIV criminal laws.
People living with HIV often face stigma and discrimination related to Indiana laws that criminalize them due to their positive HIV status. This event features speakers living with HIV who are working to end HIV criminalization through legislative change, activism, art, and community support.
A visual art show featuring Indy-based artist Contonnia Turner, Jr. and photographer/digital artist Todd Fuqua will provide a backdrop for the discussion. Contonnia Turner, Jr. is a talented young Black Hoosier with multiple layers of intersecting identity who creates artwork that reflects who he is physically, mentally, and spiritually. Todd Fuqua is an Indianapolis-based artivist (activism through art) who started a social movement called CelebrateUU, building on the concept of HIV Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U).
Explore the exhibit and interact informally with artists beginning at 5:30. The Talk will begin at 6:15 moderated by Terrell Parker and will include HIV Modernization Movement Chair Dr. Carrie Foote, and Co-Chair Mark Anthony Hughes. The Phoenix bar will be open, and snacks will be provided.
A partnership between Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center and HIV Modernization Movement Indiana.
Contact the event organizers at 317-635-7529 or cmacy@phoenixtheatre.org.
Walk-ins welcome, but registration is strongly encouraged by Nov. 9.
Register below.
EXHIBIT DATES: Nov. 3-13.

Legislating Students' Identities: Stopping Attacks on Students' Identities in School
2022-11-10 11:30 - 13:00
Hear from students themselves on the ways in which their identities are being policed in schools, specifically related to race, sexual orientation, and gender.
Students have been the target of state legislatures across the country, including Indiana, in recent years. From bans on trans athletes and classroom censorship bills to dress codes that disproportionally affected students of color, student rights to be who they are seem constantly under attack. What do students themselves have to say about this?
This event invites the public, especially other youth (14+), to small resource fair featuring “know your rights” content followed by a panel discussion and small group conversations led by students.
A partnership between ACLU of Indiana, Indiana Youth Group, Shelly’s Voice Advocacy, and other Gay-Straight Alliance Groups.
Contact the event organizers at 317-635-4059 or info@aclu-in.org.
Register below.

Image Credit: – Students Protest by Fibonacci Blue on Flickr

Where’d You Go to High School? Analyzing a Century of the IPS Caste System
2022-11-11 12:30 - 15:30 | Central Library – Center for Black Literature & Culture, 40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis, IN, 46204, United States
Where we went to high school tells a lot about how we see ourselves and how others see us. Join a session where you and other local grads are challenged to understand identity by analyzing a century-old IPS high school pyramid of caste, power, and prestige through art, poetry, and conversation.
Though we might not think it’s important, when the question “Where’d you go to high school?” is asked, most people know why. Our answer identifies us, making public our social, economic, and cultural background. This is important for our city. Over the past century, Indianapolis created a divided and unjust system of schools sorting/ranking students by neighborhood, race, class, ethnicity, religion, and ability. This caste system betrayed Horace Mann’s promise that our public schools would be the great “equalizer,” a level playing field with equal opportunity for all.
Guests at this event will be challenged, via primary sources, art, poetry, and story sharing, to go deeper, emphasizing important connections to power structures and how we’ve all been used by the system to uphold those systems which have exerted control and influence over public education. Attendees will leave understanding it is worth their time to pay attention to the high school forces that shaped their identity and will be better able to identify current (and future) forces shaping local schools, youth, and neighborhoods.
5PM – Doors open. Check-in begins.
5:30-6PM – Poster board activity reflecting on IPS’s past and present (11) high schools
6-6:30PM – Welcome, Introductions, & Art Presentations
6:30-7:30PM – Small Group Discussions
7:30-8:30PM – Group Report Outs, Discussion, and Conclusion
Artist and poet presentations feature Dr. Monday, Kaila Austin, and Glyde Gaw.
On-site discussion consultants are IPS graduates Guy Russell (Shortridge), John Loflin (Harry E. Wood), Sheila Boyd (Crispus Attucks), and Dr. Thomas Brown (Arsenal Tech).
A partnership between Charles E. & Virginia P. Vornehm-Loflin Center on IPS History, Kheprw Institute, Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Brown, Virgil Boyd & Sheila Boyd, Guy Russell, Kaila Austin, Clyde Gaw, Wyse Ra, and Black & Latino Policy Institute.
Contact the event organizers at 317-998-1339 or johnharrisloflin@yahoo.com.
Walk-ins welcome, but registration is strongly encouraged by Nov. 10.
Register below.

The Testimony Service: I Made It. You Made It. We Made It, Together
2022-11-12 12:00 - 15:00 | Broadway United Methodist Church, 609 E. 29th St., Indianapolis, IN, 46205, United States
The Testimony Service seeks to bring people together—regardless of faith affiliation—to fellowship and celebrate the good news about what’s going on in their lives and communities through music, personal testimony and a shared meal.
To identify means to recognize the existence of a thing. This event, which is rooted in the testimony tradition of the Black church, invites the public to identify the ways they have experienced triumph in their lives. Using interactive writing activities followed by a live musical performance and storytelling from a group of community “testifiers,” this event welcomes everyone to celebrate and share in life’s joys.
Hear from pre-selected community testifiers (and then perhaps share your own story!), make art, listen to music, sit down to a community meal, and join in fellowship with others who want to share what’s good in the world right now. Although rooted in a specific religious tradition, this event eagerly welcomes all!
A partnership between The Testimony Service and The Learning Tree.
Contact event organizers at 317-413-1239 or ebonychappel@gmail.com/
Walk-ins welcome, but registration by Nov. 11 is strongly encouraged.
Register below.

The Sisters Are Alright Weekend: A Celebration of the Black Femme Experience - "Centering Sisters: Loud & Unapologetic"
2022-11-12 14:00 - 15:30 | Madam Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Ave., Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
Through live letter readings and community discussion, The Sisters Are Alright Weekend: A Celebration of the Black Femme Experience amplifies how Black women identify their true selves separate from poisoned narrative. Two gatherings, two venues, one awesome time! ($10 per person/per show.)
For centuries, Black American women have been forced to reckon with negative stereotypes rooted in misogynoir. The indefatigable Mammy; the aggressive Sapphire; the wanton Jezebel; and thoughtlessly procreating Matriarch influence how Black women are seen by society and how they see themselves, disconnecting them from authenticity. Activist Audre Lorde said, “If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.” This is the spirit of The Sisters Are Alright Weekend: A Celebration of the Black Femme Experience, where participants see what happens when Black women have the freedom to identify their authentic selves–sharing joys, fears and laughter–apart from demonizing stereotype.
Two events explore how Black women identify their authentic selves:
On Nov. 11, a powerful roster of Black women, including performers such as Kesha Dixon, Celeste Williams, and Tatjana Rebelle will take the main stage at The District Theatre for “Dear Black Girl Live II,” reading frank, honest and vulnerable letters about the joys and pains of Black girlhood from the book Dear Black Girl: Letters from Your Sisters on Stepping into Your Power by Tamara Winfrey-Harris.
On Nov. 12, festivalgoers are invited to “Centering Sisters: Loud & Unapologetic” at the Madam Walker Legacy Center—a guaranteed raucous panel and audience discussion that tackles topics such as anger, strength and sex.
To purchase tickets, for “Dear Black Girl Live II,” visit indydistricttheatre.com. For tickets to “Centering Sisters: Loud & Unapologetic,” visit madamwalkerlegacycenter.com.
Partnership between Centering Sisters, The District Theatre, and Madam Walker Legacy Center.
Contact event organizers at 219-885-9023 or CenteringSisters@gmail.com.
Walk-in welcome as seating permits, but registration is strongly encouraged by Nov. 11 and/or 12, respectively.
Image Credit: Scott Weber

Powerful Conversations on Race (Nov. 2022 - "Exterminate the Brutes")
2022-11-20 10:00 - 12:15
Powerful Conversations on Race [PCR] is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race and racism and the resulting impact.
Powerful Conversations on Race is a way for us to get comfortable talking about uncomfortable histories and is, therefore, rooted in historical documents and subject matter.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. This is an immersive experience. As such, we’ll spend a considerable amount of time in small groups to dialogue with each other about these topics.
All dialogues are virtual and occur on Eastern Standard Time / Eastern Daylight Time.
Registration ends at 12noon on the day of the event. A Zoom link is sent prior to the event start time.
**NEW INFORMATION**
The November 2022 dialogue will be about 15 minutes longer. We will watch and discuss part 1 of the documentary Exterminate All the Brutes, which dives into the historical context of white supremacy and whiteness. The documentary is 1 hr. long followed by 1 hr. of dialogue.

Powerful Conversations on Race (Jan. 2023)
2023-01-08 10:00 - 12:00
Powerful Conversations on Race [PCR] is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race and racism and the resulting impact.
Powerful Conversations on Race is a way for us to get comfortable talking about uncomfortable histories and is, therefore, rooted in historical documents and subject matter.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. This is an immersive experience. As such, we’ll spend a considerable amount of time in small groups to dialogue with each other about these topics.
For the January 2023 dialogue, we will explore the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This session entitled “Beyond the Dream” will seek to broaden our understanding of King’s philosophies and ideas as we enter the new year and in commemoration of upcoming celebrations of King’s birthday on Jan. 16, 2023.
All dialogues are virtual and occur on Eastern Standard Time / Eastern Daylight Time.
Registration ends at 12noon on the day of the event. A Zoom link is sent prior to the event start time.

Powerful Conversations on Race - Exterminate the Brutes, Pt. 1
2023-02-19 10:00 - 12:15
Powerful Conversations on Race [PCR] is a monthly community dialogue series exploring topics around race and racism and the resulting impact.
Powerful Conversations on Race is a way for us to get comfortable talking about uncomfortable histories and is, therefore, rooted in historical documents and subject matter.
This IS NOT a lecture or book club, but a space for community to come together and dive deeply into a variety of topics concerning race. This is an immersive experience. As such, we’ll spend a considerable amount of time in small groups to dialogue with each other about these topics.
For the February 2023 dialogue, we watch and discuss Part 1 of the documentary “Exterminate All the Brutes,” which dives into the historical context of white supremacy and whiteness. The documentary is approximately 1 hour long and will be followed by 1 hour of dialogue.
All dialogues are virtual and occur on Eastern Standard Time / Eastern Daylight Time.
Registration ends at 12noon on the day of the event. A Zoom link will be sent prior to the event date.
