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This Week’s Issue: June 12-18

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:00:16 +0000

Friends of Irving Circle Host 34th Year of Summer Concerts

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:11:19 +0000

IRVINGTON — Imagine the family sitting under big shade trees listening to home-grown music, munching on a hot dog while neighbor kids ride their bikes around a park. Sounds like something out of one of those sweet old-timey musicals, but it will be happening on Saturday, June 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. featuring Audio Diner. These monthly summer shows are a chance to catch up with neighbors, The July 25th concert features the fabulous Roundups and the August 29th concert features the amazing Blue Alchemy with Donn Smith. Friends of Irving Circle will be hosting the 34the Annual Summer Concert Series that highlights some of the area’s top musicians and opens up opportunity to build community. Hundreds of attendees from the neighborhood and surrounding areas enjoy these summer evenings filled with music, friends and neighbors. The shows are held at Irving Circle Park, located at the intersection of Audubon Road and University Avenue, 236 S. Audubon.
Irving Circle is closed before the concerts, but parking is available close by. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket to sit on. It’s a delightful experience that the whole family will enjoy.
While serving as an opportunity for neighbors to gather and enjoy the summer evening, the concerts also serve as a fundraiser through concession sales and sponsorships. Concessions for sale during each concert including hot dogs, brauts, water, soda, popcorn, and candy with all proceeds going to maintain Irving Circle Park. The money raised from the concerts helps fund annual spring plantings, mulching, fountain and bust restoration, general maintenance and park events like future concerts, Halloween festivities and winter holiday activities.
Local businesses are sponsors: Arbuckle and Sons Landscaping, George Thomas Florist, Glenroy Construction, Hampton Design, Irvington Garden Club, Irvington Insurance, Irvington Wellness, Market Vintage, Martine Locke, Realtor@properties, Mundell and Associates, Oakley Hammond Funeral Home, The Snug, and Andy Whitehurst.
Friends of Irving Circle was established as a not-for-profit in 1996, a few years after an informal group began working to clean and maintain the park. The park is dedicated to Washington Irving, for whom the town of Irvington was named in 1870.

Juneteenth Program Features Film, Discussion, Celebration

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:10:45 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — In celebration of Juneteenth, a federally designated holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, on June 19 Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program presents a program exploring the legacy of Marcus Garvey and his impact on Indiana.
In the early twentieth century, Jamaican activist Marcus Mosiah Garvey’s started a movement known as Garveyism. Garvey’s efforts resulted in the creation of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1915 with three divisions operating in Indianapolis from 1919 until the late 1940s, comprised of the most educated and elite Black Hoosiers.
On June 19, the evening begins at 5 p.m. with a free screening of Mosiah, a 40-minute independent historical short film detailing Marcus Garvey’s 1923 mail fraud trial. The evening’s main presentation follows from 6-7:30 p.m. featuring a panel discussion with speaker Steven Golding, president of the Kingston Division of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL); Jeff Stroebel, local historian; Ronald J. Stephens, professor of African American Studies at Purdue University; and Ebony Chappel of Free Press Indiana as moderator. The film screening and presentation are free with advance registration.
Following the free program, a post-presentation celebration from 7:30-9 p.m. features food, drink, dancing, and a musical performance by Alaina Renae. A paid ticket is required for the post-presentation celebration.
During the celebration, Indiana Landmarks will honor Robin and Charlitta Winston — longtime champions of Indiana’s Black history — with the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Award.
Indiana Landmarks Center is located at 1201 Central Ave. The film and presentation are free with registration, and post-presentation celebration $25 per person. Visit indianalandmarks.org/juneteenth-celebration or by calling 317-639-4534.

Mid-North Food Pantry Launches Summer Saturday Pantries

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:10:44 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — Mid-North Food Pantry is expanding access to food this summer by offering Saturday pantry hours throughout June and July to help families facing increased food insecurity while children are out of school.
For many families, summer creates additional strain on already stretched household budgets. With Indiana opting out of the federal Summer EBT/SUN Bucks program, many parents are left searching for ways to replace meals that children would normally receive during the school year.
To help bridge that gap, Mid-North Food Pantry will open its doors on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. every Saturday in June and July, with the exception of the July 4 holiday weekend.
The pantry is open to Indiana residents and offers a client-choice shopping experience that allows neighbors to select foods that best meet their family’s needs. Families may shop once per week.
The pantry will be open every Saturday in June and July (excluding the July 4 holiday weekend) from 10:00 a.m. – noon. It is located at 3333 N. Meridian St.
Pantry shopping takes place inside the building in the lower-level basement pantry. Shoppers should line up outside the main entrance facing Meridian Street, where volunteers will direct them into the building when the pantry opens.

Fiscal Package for the City Introduced

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:10:27 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — Mayor Joe Hogsett and the City-County Council recently introduced Proposal No. 163, 2026, a fiscal ordinance that directs roughly $19.49 million in supplemental income tax funding toward investments in public safety, infrastructure, homelessness and housing stability, education, and quality of life.
This proposal was sponsored by Council President Lewis, Vice President Barth, Majority Leader Evans, Assistant Majority Leader Nielsen, and Majority Whip Jones, and Chairman Boots. Proposal No. 163, 2026 will be heard at the Administration and Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 9 at 5:30 p.m., before advancing to a final Council vote on Monday, July 6.
Highlights of the $19.49 million fiscal package include:
• $9.7 million for infrastructure, including $8 million for the resurfacing and repair of residential streets
• $600,000 for additional security cameras at multiple Indy Parks
• $5 million to ensure the long-term operational stability of the Housing Hub, the City’s first low-barrier shelter and housing navigation hub
• $1 million to expand outreach and housing navigation services as part of Streets to Home Indy Phase 2.
• $530,000 to support quality of life, including parks beautification

Indiana Improving on Education but Challenges Remain

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:09:41 +0000

INDIANA — Indiana has moved up in a national education ranking but the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book showed many students still face challenges in reading and math.
The report ranked Indiana 11th nationally in education, up from 17th in 2019. But more than half of Indiana fourth graders struggle with reading, and nearly seven in 10 eighth graders struggle with math.
Educators pointed to literacy initiatives and rising graduation rates as signs of progress. Some child advocates said Indiana still needs to strengthen support for early learning and academic achievement.
The report also highlighted concerns about children’s mental health, including excessive screen time, anxiety and loneliness affecting many young people.
A new scoring system in this year’s report measured child well-being across education, health, economic and family indicators. The system is intended to help states track actual progress rather than simply compare rankings.
Indiana scored above the national average overall, although economic well-being and family indicators declined compared with a year ago.

Applause!: June 12-18

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:09:38 +0000

• The Second Chance Workshop returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, June 17, offering free license reinstatement assistance and expungement screenings for those looking for a fresh start. Hours are 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania. This event is FREE, but space is limited and assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Indy Pride Parade & Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 13–14, in downtown Indianapolis. The parade kicks off Saturday, June 13 at 10 a.m. along Mass Ave. and is free and open to the public. The festival spans Military Park, Celebration Plaza, White River State Park, and the Indiana State Museum Lawn.
• The next Irvington Community Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. at Irvington Presbyterian Church, 55 Johnson Ave. In addition, the meeting will be livestreamed on the Council’s Facebook page.
• The City of Lawrence will be celebrating Juneteenth on Saturday, June 13 from 4-8 p.m. at the Arts for Lawrence campus on the corner of 56th St. and Post. There will be live music, performances, vendors, local food trucks, kids’ activities, and a gallery exhibit. The festival is free.
• Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 20 for a Juneteenth Quilting Day at Arts for Learning, 3328 E. 10th St., Suite A from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Led by Vickie Daniels and Theo Ball, you’ll have a hands-on experience creating a quilted book and design custom buttons inspired by Black culture. This is a free family-friendly event.
• The first performance at the Warren Performing Arts Center since COVID will feature organist Mark Herman on Sunday, June 14 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $15. He will be playing from the Great American Songbook on the Paramount Music Palace Organ. You can order tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/5azd7dpa
• Irvington Library will host an adult book discussion on Monday, June 15 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. The book to be discussed will be the classic J.R.R. Tolkien novel The Hobbit. No registration is necessary.
• The Fourth Wall Players will present Lady Windermere’s Fan June 12-14 and June 19-21 at the Backlot Makerspace and Venue, 5635 Bonna Ave. in Irvington. The play is by Oscar Wilde, first performed in 1892. This will be a family-friendly performance. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door or purchase online at www.4thwallplayers.org/tickets.
• Indianapolis and Marion County law states that dogs kept outside must be brought into a temperature controlled building when temperatures are about 90 degrees. If you see a tethered dog outside, call the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622 or 317-327-3811 for after-hours emergencies. And if you’re running errands, please don’t leave them in the car on hot days — leave them at home.

Central Library Opens Up Kids Central and Teen Central

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:09:25 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — Central Library unveiled Kid Central and Teen Central on June 6. Across the second and third floors, 46,000 square feet have been transformed to create more accessible and engaging experiences for young readers and learners.
Kid Central and Teen Central are enclosed spaces with dedicated entrances. Thoughtful design improvements, including enhanced sightlines throughout the areas, allow staff to better support the needs of children and teens.
The entire third floor of Central Library has been transformed into Kid Central. The east side of the third floor supports early learners, while the west side of the floor is tailored for school-age children. Kid Central offers a collection of approximately 90,000 items in 28 world languages, including picture books, graphic novels, nonfiction, audiobooks, homeschool resources, and more. The collection also features 125 Playaway’s providing portable, pre-loaded audiobooks with no downloads or internet connection required.
Located on the west side of the second floor, Teen Central is a welcoming environment to study, learn, and build connections with the library and one another. Teen Central features approximately 16,000 items in 17 world languages, including young adult novels, nonfiction, graphic novels, and Quick Reads for developing and reluctant readers. The collection also includes 120 Playaways, expanding access to portable audiobooks.
Central Library, located at 40 E. St. Clair, is open Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Indiana Black Expo Announces Honorees for the 2026 Luncheon

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:09:22 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Black Expo has named the honorees for the 2026 Pacers Sports & Entertainment Corporate Luncheon.
The event will take place during Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration, during the week of July 8-19, with the luncheon being held Friday, July 17. Honorees include:
• Award-winning actor and producer Anthony Anderson (Lifetime Achievement)
• Indianapolis Pastor Jeffrey Johnson Sr. (Legacy Award)
• Award-winning actor Delroy Lindo (Screen Image Award)
• R&B and soul singer-songwriter October London (Music Heritage Award)
• Women’s National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson (Excellence in Sports Award)

Fathers and Families Center Launch Campaign to Help More Dads

Weekly View — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:09:17 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — With a waiting list of as many as 100 Central Indiana men per month, the nonprofit Fathers and Families Center (FFC) is announcing its $5.5 million campaign with the goal of doubling the number of fathers and families it serves with its life-changing programs. Fathers and Families has already raised $3.9 million for its “Vision for the Future” campaign thanks to gifts from Eli Lilly and Company Foundation (Lilly Foundation), United Way of Central Indiana, and others. To donate, visit ffcindiana.org
Fathers and Families Center equips fathers and strengthens families across Central Indiana by providing services focused on education, employment, and family stability. Numerous studies show that when a father is involved in their child(ren)’s life, they earn better grades, are healthier emotionally, and are less likely to commit a crime.
In 2025, Fathers and Families served 1,225 men. The Vision for the Future campaign will fund additional staff and a move to a larger space, eventually allowing the organization to serve more than 2,400 annually. For every man served, an average of two children receive the benefit of a more engaged, effective father.
The majority of dads FFC serves are divorced or never married, unemployed or underemployed, and at least half are justice-involved men. All of them participate voluntarily. While any father 16 or older can participate, the average age is 30-35. FFC provides all services at no cost to the men. This is crucial given that participants’ incomes average less than $12,000 when they enroll.
To expand its programming, Fathers and Family is moving from 2835 N. Illinois St. to Brougher Plaza at 2830 N. Meridian St., where it will lease space and have access to spacious, shared areas.
Since it began in 1999, Fathers and Families Center has served more than 27,000 fathers.