Indiana University college students are preparing 6-12th grade students across the state for college and careers by providing free tutoring, mentoring, and workshops through the Indiana Kids program. Launched from the IUPUI campus, the Indiana Kids program is a collaboration between Serve Indiana and seven Indiana University campuses (IUPUI, IU Bloomington, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend and IU Southeast).

Participating Indiana University campuses serve their regions through a variety of on-site and online tutoring, mentoring, workshops, and summer programming. Participants are matched with college students who serve as mentors and coaches, providing academic advice and discussing positive choices.

Online tutoring is provided statewide by IUPUI undergraduate and graduate students Monday through Thursday from 6pm-9pm EST and Saturday from 10am-noon EST. Tutoring is provided in areas of math, English, science and social studies.

College and career readiness workshops are sponsored by each campus for student and guardian participation. Many different topics are featured in the workshops such as the Indiana 21st Century Scholars Program, College Readiness Tips, Hispanic College Night, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and more, thus providing students with the tools they need to succeed. Read more about the Indiana Kids STEM workshop provided by IU East.

Indiana Kids serves families statewide and provides a resource to achieve academic and career success now and for the future. In the first two months of 2018, the program has provided 106 tutoring sessions as well as 347 mentoring sessions.

According to one student describing their experience with tutoring and mentoring through Indiana Kids, “it helps me turn in more work, understand the material more, have someone else to talk to, and more one-on-one time to learn.”

Another student talked about how they benefited saying, “They help us a lot on our work and make learning more fun. They help me understand difficult subjects that make no sense at first.”

To learn more about Indiana Kids at Indiana University, including how to enroll your 6-12th grade students in the free program, visit the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement’s website.

Three new features have been added to OnyxFest – the first and only Indiana theater festival dedicated to showcasing the work of Black playwrights.

For the first time, festival goers can purchase group tickets with discounts for more than 10 at a time. In addition, individuals can purchase the OnyxFest 2023 Pass for all five performances at a savings.

“It is critical to A.R.T.I. to sustain the consistent growth of OnyxFest we have experienced from year to year. We want to explore creative methods to reach that audience we have not yet accessed. Group sales, season pass discounts and comps for Central Indiana students will help us move forward in that direction,” said Vernon A. Williams, Director of OnyxFest and member of the Africana Repertory Theater of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.).

A third new feature will be utilization of sponsor dollars to provide complimentary tickets to Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and Central Indiana high schools to better acquaint young people with live theater. Educators and administrators interested in free tickets for students should reach out at: onyxfestindy@gmail.com

That exposure is consistent with the vision and mission of the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.) which sponsors OnyxFest in cooperation with the IndyFringe Theater.

OnyxFest 2023 will be staged November 3-5 at IndyFringe Basile Theater and November 10-12 at the Crispus Attucks Auditorium. General admission is $15 and tickets are on sale online at: https://indyfringe.org/OnyxFest/

For information, visit onyxfest.com.

SCHEDULE

Friday, November 3 through Sunday, November 5 at the IndyFringe Basile Theater:

• Friday, November 3: “TIGONE” by Levi Frazier, Jr. at 6:30 pm; and “5 MOODS OF BLACK ANGUISH” by Josiah Ray McCruiston at 8:00 pm.
• Saturday, November 4: “RIGHT BEHIND YOU” by D.L. Patrick at 1:30 pm; “BABE” by Delores Thornton at 3:00 pm; “5 MOODS OF BLACK ANGUISH” by Josiah Ray McCruiston at 4:30 pm; “TIGONE” by Levi Frazier, Jr. at 6:00 pm; and “THE HEART OF A MAN” by Ardre Orie at 7:30 pm.
• Sunday, November 5: “BABE” by Delores Thornton at 3:00 pm; “THE HEART OF A MAN” by Ardre Orie at 4:30 pm; and “RIGHT BEHIND YOU” by D.L. Patrick at 6:00 pm.

Friday, November 10 through Sunday, November 12 at the Crispus Attucks High School Auditorium:

• Friday, November 10: “TIGONE” by Levi Frazier, Jr. at 6:30 pm; and “BABE” by Delores Thornton at 8:00 pm.
• Saturday, November 11: “RIGHT BEHIND YOU” by D.L. Patrick at 1:30 pm; “THE HEART OF A MAN” by Ardre Orie at 3:00 pm; “BABE” by Delores Thornton at 4:30 pm; “5 MOODS OF BLACK ANGUISH” by Josiah Ray McCruiston at 6:00 pm; and “TIGONE” by Levi Frazier, Jr. at 7:30 pm.
• Sunday, November 12: “5 MOODS OF BLACK ANGUISH” by Josiah Ray McCruiston at 3:00 pm; “RIGHT BEHIND YOU” by D.L. Patrick at 4:30 pm; and “THE HEART OF A MAN” by Ardre Orie at 6:00 pm.

About A.R.T.I. (Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI):
The Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (ARTI) is a program of study offered by the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the School of Education and the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement using a multidisciplinary approach to “edutainment.” ARTI was developed
to document and artistically reflect the history, cultural life, and politics of peoples of the African Diaspora. As a public arts initiative, ARTI has a deep commitment to and focuses on artistic and community engagement. Learning in the arts is invaluable at all stages of
life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life may advance civic engagement while also creating a college and career pathway.

About IndyFringe:
The Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival (IndyFringe) founded in 2005 is a place, an event, a movement, an incubator for new talent and a magnet for imaginative and thoughtful people. IndyFringe established OnyxFest in 2011 to counter the lack of diversity
both on stage and in audiences of Indianapolis theatre. The annual festival is a vehicle to expose theatergoers to new and emerging Black playwrights. IndyFringe is best known for the annual IndyFringe Festival that transforms Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis into a vibrant, eclectic and exciting festival avenue.

Cindy Gil, director of Latino Affairs in the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement, will be one of 56 inaugural members of the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU) Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program. The six-month leadership development program for mid-level college and university professionals is designed to increase the number, variety, and quality of Latino/a talent in leadership positions at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and in higher education overall. Gil is the only member named from Indiana.

“I am excited about the opportunity to network with outstanding Latinx professionals in higher education from across the country,” said Gil. “I am looking forward to developing mentorship relationships with other Latinos who have achieved leadership roles within their universities and learn from their experiences.”

Cindy Gil is a speaker, educator, and community connector. Originally from Mexico, she spent half of her life on the West Coast and currently lives in Indianapolis. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Butler University and a Master of Public Affairs from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indianapolis. She works as a member of an IUPUI cross-campus leadership team focused on the design and implementation of Latino outreach activities, student and faculty transition and retention services, and educational programs to empower all students to achieve success.

In addition to her role at IUPUI, she works to build understanding of the immigrant experience in the United States. In 2013, she developed and presented the Indiana Immigration Simulation Experience as part of a graduate course assignment. The simulation is a two-hour program that serves to sensitize participants to the realities faced by newcomers, refugees, immigrants, and mixed status families. Organizations such as the Immigrant Welcome Center, Families First Indiana, Indianapolis Public Schools, Butler University, and IUPUI have used this tool to build identification with and empathy towards immigrant communities.

“My objectives are to gain tools to help address Latinx student recruitment and retention, to build a wider support network for the Latinx Affairs work on our campus, and to educate others about the service and programming we have to offers to Latinx communities on our campus and beyond,” said Gil. “While IUPUI has maintained a consistent upward trend in Latinx student enrollment we still struggle with retaining and graduating the students we recruit. I hope to learn strategies to support our retention efforts and work alongside our various units including Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs to support our efforts.”

Enlace members will participate in programming covering academic and student affairs management, regional institutional accreditation, diversity, equity and inclusion, and higher education advocacy issues. The sessions will be delivered through a series of online meetings and also in person sessions that will take place in October 2023 at HACU’s Annual Conference in Chicago and at the National Capitol Forum in Washington, D.C., in April 2024. The program will conclude with a graduation ceremony.

On August 25, 2023, more than one hundred university and community Latinx-serving individuals attended the Latinx Community-University Coalition of Indiana’s 2023 Latinx Conference with the theme “Possibilities for our Future.”

The program featured a presentation on the history of Latina women in Indiana, an expert panel discussion, and the opportunity to dialogue with other Latinx community-serving organizations and researchers from universities across Indiana. This year’s theme, “Possibilities for Our Future,” was about efforts to address inequity in communities with a focus on post-COVID Latinx well-being and on youth. The conference took place at the University Tower Ballroom on the IUPUI campus.

The Latinx Community-University Coalition of Indiana aims to connect university faculty, students, and staff interested in research with Latinos with community organizations that serve this population. The ultimate purpose of the Coalition is to address equity and wellbeing across the state of Indiana through interdisciplinary collaborations for research and programmatic services aimed at improving the well-being of the Latino population in Indiana.

Planning Committee Members:

• Silvia M. Bigatti, Professor in the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI
• Monica A. Medina, Clinical Associate Professor in the IU School of Education at IUPUI
• Khaula Murtadha, Associate Vice Chancellor in the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement
• Silvia A. Garcia, Director of Research and Assessment in the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement
• Cindy Gil, Director of Latino Affairs in the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement
• Virna Diaz, Director of Latino Affairs at the Indiana Minority Health Coalition & Executive Director of the Latino Health Organization
• Teresa Sosa, Associate Professor, IU School of Education at IUPUI and Director of Equity Education in the IUPUI Office of Academic Affairs

Guest Speakers:

Phaedra Corso, Associate Vice President for Research at Indiana University and Vice Chancellor for Research at IUPUI, discussed the research plans for IU Indianapolis and “Vision 2024.” IU Indianapolis plans to expand upon the research activities by increasing partnerships with the community.

Keynote speaker Nicole Martinez-Legrand, Multicultural Collections Curator at the Indiana Historical Society, presented about ‘Taking Pride in the History of Latinas in Indiana: Acknowledging the Extraordinary Contributions of These Remarkable Women.’ Nicole debuted new research about Latinas in Indiana history. She spoke about the history and complexity of the Latina identity in Indiana in US history, the perspective and the roots of the earlier Latino community, and Latinas that most may not know about.

Panelists: “Nurturing the Next Generation of Latinx Leaders”

A panel discussion was around the theme “Nurturing the Next Generation of Latinx Leaders.” Monica A. Medina served as the moderator.

Expert panelists:

• Karina Garduno, Director of the IUPUI Multicultural Center and DACA Primary Contact in the IUPUI Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Alexis Gonzalez, Director of the Indiana Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs
• Susana Mariscal, Associate Professor at the IU School of Social Work at IUPUI
• Yecenia Tostado, Senior Program Officer at the Indiana Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
• Francisco Valdiosera, Executive Director of the Monarca Academy

Some of the conclusions of the panel discussion included ways to support Latinx youth through collaboration, commitment, communication, and development. Mentoring and listening are essential in helping them feel heard and creating a safe space; furthermore, celebrating young people and giving them an opportunity to have a voice and a choice was highlighted.

The last activities on the agenda were two “Ignite” table conversations where the participants sat at tables of their choosing to discuss specific topics such as chronic disease, women’s health, higher ed, mental health, youth health, maternal and child health, K-12 education, and access to care. The aim was to create connections between community leaders and university researchers that may ‘ignite’ research ideas and collaborations.

The Latinx Community-University Research Coalition of Indiana is the result of a collaborative effort among community members and IUPUI faculty and staff with a vision of a thriving Latino community in the state through research, programmatic services, and other collaborations. When appropriate, the Coalition will train researchers in community-based research that is respectful of the needs and interests of the population.

The sponsors of the 2023 Latinx Conference include the IU Office of The Vice President for Research, IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, IUPUI Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, IUPUI Office of Community Engagement, IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI, IU School of Education at IUPUI, and the Indiana CTSI Community Health Engagement Program (CHEP).

For more information about the Latinx Community-University Research Coalition of Indiana, visit the webpage.

Join the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.) and partner IndyFringe for an intimate evening of ebony elegance as we celebrate Black theater! The event will feature live presentations from OnyxFest 2023 playwrights highlighting a “Reception and Reading.”

This event will take place on Friday, October 6, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Galleries at Eskenazi Fine Arts Center, 1410 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Playwrights, actors, sponsors, and the general public are invited to attend.

Meet and greet writers Delores Thornton (Indianapolis, Indiana), playwright of “BABE”; Deborah Patrick (Detroit, Michigan), playwright of “RIGHT BEHIND YOU”; Ardre Orie (Atlanta, Georgia), playwright of “THE HEART OF A MAN”; Levi Frazier (Memphis, Tennessee), playwright of “TIGONIE” and Josiah McCruiston (Indianapolis, Indiana), playwright of “5 MOODS OF BLACK ANGUISH.”

Register for the OnyxFest 2023 Kickoff Reception. For more information, visit onyxfest.com.

Tickets are now on sale for OnyxFest 2023! OnyxFest is Indiana’s first and only theater festival dedicated to the stories of Black playwrights. Sponsored by the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (A.R.T.I.), in partnership with IndyFringe, this fall festival will feature five never-produced one-act plays written by local and national playwrights.

OnyxFest 2023 is scheduled for November 3 – 5 at the IndyFringe Basile Theater and November 10 – 12 at the Crispus Attucks High School Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and on sale at indyfringe.org/onyxfest/. Group Price and OnyxFest 2023 Passes are available. Use your OnyxFest 2023 Pass to attend all five incredible shows celebrating the voices of local Black playwrights!

This year’s line-up of plays is as follows:

“5 MOODS OF BLACK ANGUISH” by Josiah McCruiston (Indianapolis, IN). An awe-inspiring theatrical masterpiece using drama, prose, poetry, and spiritual expression, written and directed by Josiah Ray McCruiston.

“BABE” by Delores Thornton (Indianapolis, IN). A cogent story which explains how the protagonist overcomes a deep seated issue. This brand new play is written and directed by Delores Thornton who starred as Mari Evans in 2022’s hit play, “Black is my Color.”

“RIGHT BEHIND YOU” by Deborah Patrick (Detroit, Michigan). Three generations deal with rising family conflict as their matriarch battles COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic. This dramedy is written by award-winning playwright, D.L. Patrick and directed by Megan Simonton.

“TIGONIE” by Levi Frazier Jr. (Memphis, Tennessee). A “changed” man’s sordid past comes back to haunt him unexpectedly after 30 years of bliss in this world-premiere drama from Levi Frazier Jr.

“THE HEART OF A MAN” by Ardre Orie (Atlanta, Georgia). Men are often seen but not heard until now, in this brand new drama written by Ardre Orie and directed by Rasheda Randle.

For information, visit onyxfest.com. To purchase tickets for OnyxFest 2023, visit indyfringe.org/onyxfest/.

About A.R.T.I. (Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI):

The Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (ARTI) is a program of study offered by the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the School of Education and the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement using a multidisciplinary approach to “edutainment.” ARTI was developed to document and artistically reflect the history, cultural life, and politics of peoples of the African Diaspora. As a public arts initiative, ARTI has a deep commitment to and focuses on artistic and community engagement. The Office of Community Engagement and the Schools of Liberal Arts and Education are supporting this proposal because it advances the idea that learning in the arts is invaluable at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life may advance civic engagement while also creating a college and career pathway.

About IndyFringe:

The Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival (IndyFringe) founded in 2005 is a place, an event, a movement, an incubator for new talent and a magnet for imaginative and thoughtful people. IndyFringe established OnyxFest in 2011 to counter the lack of diversity both on stage and in audiences of Indianapolis theatre. The annual festival is a vehicle to expose theatergoers to new and emerging Black playwrights. IndyFringe is best known for the annual IndyFringe Festival that transforms Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis into a vibrant, eclectic and exciting festival avenue.

Original content by Nouri McLucas, TRIP

ABOUT THE CHARLES R. BANTZ CHANCELLOR’S COMMUNITY FELLOW AND SCHOLAR AWARDS

As Chancellor of IUPUI from 2003 to 2015 and founder of the IUPUI Center for Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP), Charles R. Bantz firmly believes in the power of community-engaged research and university–community partnerships that make lasting impacts on our lives and our city, state, nation, and beyond.

The Charles R. Bantz Chancellor’s Community Fellowship and the Community Scholar awards ensure Charles Bantz’s legacy endures through this unique funding opportunity for IUPUI community-engaged scholars. The Charles R. Bantz Chancellor’s Community Awards provide one-year of funding to address a pressing community issue in Central Indiana. Bantz Awardees work in collaborative research teams made up of faculty, staff, students, and community partners. The Bantz Awards are supported by donations, charitable gifts, and campus funding. Additional support for the awards is provided by the IUPUI Office of the Community Engagement and the IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 CHARLES R. BANTZ COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

Dr. Elizabeth Kryder-Reid and Dr. Laura Holzman are recipients of the 2023 Charles R. Bantz Community Fellowship for their collaboration on a traveling exhibit and series of public conversations aimed at deepening critical thinking about environmental injustice in Indianapolis.

Elizabeth Kryder-Reid is Professor of Anthropology and Museum Studies in the IU School of Liberal Arts. Co-Researcher, Laura Holzman, is Professor and Public Scholar of Curatorial Practices and Visual Art in the IU Herron School of Art + Design at IUPUI and Director of the Museum Studies Program in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. The $40,000 Charles R. Bantz Chancellor’s Community Fellowship award will support their work “Indy Toxic Heritage: Pollution, Place, and Power.” Community Partners include The Kheprw Institute, Indy Parks and Recreation, and residents of the Norwood and Riverside neighborhoods.

When asked what drove her interest in this research, Dr. Elizabeth Kryder-Reid stated, “Access to safe, healthy places to live is a human right, and the questions we’re addressing are central to that right. The burdens of living with pollution have been inequitably borne by economically disadvantaged and communities of color. This project explores the structural and systemic issues underlying our toxic heritage. It makes connections across what are sometimes seen as isolated, contaminated places to build a vision of Indy’s city-wide toxic heritage.”

Dr. Laura Holzman agreed, and added, “With support from the Bantz fellowship, we’ll be creating an exhibit that centers community voices, perspectives, and stories. We’ll be highlighting some difficult realities but also celebrating the way generations have fought to create safe, healthy neighborhoods.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 CHARLES R. BANTZ COMMUNITY SCHOLAR AWARD RECIPIENTS

Sophia Wang, Wesley P. Martin Scholar in Alzheimer’s Education and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in the IU School of Medicine, and Veronica Derricks, Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Purdue School of Science at IUPUI, received the 2023 Charles R. Bantz Community Scholar Award for research that educates minority communities about the value of early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease and offers free cognitive screenings to community members. The $25,000 grant will fund “A Pilot Study of the BE SMART (Brain Health Education to Promote Cognitive Screening in Minority Communities and to Increase Diverse Participation in Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Clinical Trials) Intervention.” This pilot project will be conducted in collaboration with Indianapolis partners: John Boner Neighborhood Center, the Edna Martin Christian Center, and the CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions Resource Center.

Dr. Wang, who has dedicated her career to preventing cognitive decline in older adults, stated, “On behalf of the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, we are delighted to be a recipient of the 2023 Bantz Scholar Award. This award will provide critical funding to do cognitive screening in the underserved, diverse communities in Indianapolis who are most at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. With a new era of novel Alzheimer’s disease modifying drugs, the need to ensure equity for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease is more urgent than ever. This award provides much needed support towards achieving this important public health mission.”

Dr. Veronica Derricks continued: “We are grateful for the 2023 Bantz Scholar Award to address this important social problem. Despite ongoing efforts to reduce racial gaps in Alzheimer’s disease rates, the ways in which scientists and researchers attempt to engage racially minoritized communities often ignore their voices and perspectives. We are excited to work alongside community members and our community partners to develop educational tools and materials to improve cognitive screening rates in Indianapolis.”

Thank you to Dr. Charles R. Bantz, TRIP, the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement, the IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, and the many public and private donors for supporting the Charles R. Bantz Chancellor’s Community Fellowship and Scholar Awards.

To learn more, visit the Charles R. Bantz Community Fellowship Awards page. To apply for the Charles R. Bantz Chancellor’s Community Fellowship or Scholar Award, visit the Charles Bantz Award webpage.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 BANTZ-PETRONIO TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE AWARD RECIPIENT

The 2023 Bantz-Petronio Translating Research Into Practice Faculty Award recipient is Holly Cusack-McVeigh, Ph.D. Dr. Cusack-McVeigh is an associate professor of Anthropology and Museum Studies in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI with an appointment in the Native American & Indigenous Studies Program. McVeigh’s scholarly research is deeply grounded in social justice and centered in an interdisciplinary, community-based collaborative approach to address real-world issues. Dr. Cusack-McVeigh and her research team work on toxic museum collections and the repatriation of Indigenous cultural heritage artifacts recovered from illicit collections.

For more information or to apply, visit the Bantz-Petronio Translating Research into Practice Awards page.

ABOUT THE BANTZ-PETRONIO TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE AWARDS

In 2013, former Chancellor Charles Bantz and Dr. Sandra Petronio established the Bantz-Petronio Translating Research into Practice Award to recognize and honor outstanding interdisciplinary and/or cross-disciplinary faculty research that positively impacts people’s lives within or beyond the State of Indiana. In addition to generating knowledge through scientific inquiry or humanistic scholarship, the award recognizes faculty who actively endeavor to transform knowledge into practices and solutions, demonstrating innovative ways to improve the lives of individuals and the communities in which they live.

Thank you to Dr. Charles R. Bantz, Dr. Sandra Petronio, and TRIP for founding and supporting the Bantz-Petronio Translating Research Into Practice Awards.

To apply for a Bantz-Petronio Translating Research Into Practice Award, visit the Academic Affairs page.