At F.C. Tucker we talk a lot about “paying our civic rent,” so for the month of November, we would like to express our gratitude to the many organizations and individuals who serve their communities tirelessly and make Indiana a better place to live and work. We obviously can’t highlight everyone, but we would like to salute these 30 organizations that are making a difference.
30 Days of Thanksgiving – Day 26: Indiana Black Expo
Indiana Black Expo (IBE) was established after the Civil-Rights movement as a positive structure in the local community that reflected African-Americans. The idea for the organization came after a group of religious and civic leaders attended an expo in Chicago, IL. These leaders saw a need to emphasize positive African-American ideas in the community and they decided to establish an Indiana based Black Expo. It was founded in 1970.
IBE has a mission to be “an effective voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-Americans.” It’s vision is that African-American youth and families achieve their highest potential and reflect pride in their ethnicity.
IBE has a goal to issues that face African-Americans and all people alike. It has garnered support from popular entertainers and political figures such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, and more. IBE has grown to be a major economic and social contributor to Indiana and African-American communities everywhere.
IBE celebrates cultural diversity for all races, ethnicities, nationalities, generations, socioeconomic levels and religious affiliations. The organization provides unique events and programs to reflect the changes happening here in Indiana and the world. IBE is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all.
The Youth and Family Programs Department at IBE serves to foster relationships between businesses, governmental agencies, educational institutions, youth service agencies, churches and other community organizations throughout Indiana. This department also ensures that IBE staff and volunteers stay current with issues and trends affecting African-American families and youth.
Some of these programs include the following: Education Day College Fair, Internship Program, MLK Essay Contest, IBE/CCC Scholarship, State of Our Black Youth, Youth Media Institute/360, and the Youth Leadership Summit. The State of Our Black Youth Report (SOBY) is an “assessment of the quality of life for African American youth living in Indiana” and offers promising ideas to address challenges and enhance strengths that are found from the data.
Education is also a primary focus for IBE. The education programs include the Indiana College and Scholarship Fair, the Circle City Classic® Scholarship Fund, the Youth Leadership Summit, and the IBAC College Fair. These programs help advance opportunities for education from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary learning.
IBE also emphasizes health programs such as the INShape Indiana Black & Minority Health Fair, the Statewide Anti-tobacco Initiatives and Campaign, and the Reverend Charles Williams Prostate Cancer Mobile Unit. For economics programs, IBE offers the IBE Business Conference, the Youth Entrepreneur Seminar, and the Employment Opportunity Fair.
Every summer, IBE hosts its Summer Celebration with consumer exhibits, entertainment, and more. In addition, the Circle City Classic helps to support youth initiatives in Indiana while awarding scholarships to deserving youth.
IBE is an organization that works with donations and volunteers to build the social and economic advancement of African-Americans in our local community. Find out more about IBE and how you can help at http://www.indianablackexpo.com.
