The 2022 Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration is back with all the familiar favorites from concerts to an education conference to a health fair that offers thousands of dollars’ worth of care and resources for free.
Now in its 51st year, Summer Celebration is one of the largest showcases of Black culture in Indiana. It will go from July 7-17.
This year marks the last for Indiana Black Expo’s president and CEO, Tanya McKinzie, who announced in April she will step down at the end of the year and open a consulting business. Alice Watson, currently senior vice president of operations and project management, will take over.
Below are highlights of Summer Celebration events. Find a full list of events and details at summercelebration.net.
Free Outdoor Concert
• When: 6 p.m. July 15
• Where: American Legion Mall, 700 N. Pennsylvania St.
• Cost: Free (VIP tickets available for $75 at summercelebration.net)
It wouldn’t be Summer Celebration without the entertainment. This year, the Free Outdoor Concert will feature Patti LaBelle, Monica and After 7.
All White Affair
• When: 10 p.m.-3 a.m. July 16
• Where: Egyptian Ball Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
• Cost: $50 general admission, $100 VIP (prices increase at the door)
Take the party late into the night at the 2022 All White Affair, featuring Chubb Rock & Kool Moe Dee.
Business Conference
• When: July 11-12
• Where: Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave.
• Register: Online
The 2022 Business Conference will feature keynote addresses from Mayor Joe Hogsett, Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indianapolis City-County Council President Vop Osili.
The conference comes at a time when corporations are making commitments in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion, including in hiring practices, pay and contract work. Business executives and owners will also share tips on how to get an upper hand in contract negotiations.
Highlights:
City of Indianapolis Project Pipeline — 2022 Opportunities and Beyond
This workshop will provide information on upcoming multimillion-dollar projects with contracting opportunities, including at Indiana University Health and Citizens Energy Group.
• When: 10:30 a.m.-noon July 11
• Where: Indiana Convention Center, Room 231
How to Exude Presence and Power — “Walk, Talk and Look Like a CEO”
This workshop will include a panel of business leaders who will share tips on how to exude power, lead with empathy, be perceived as a strategic thinker and other skills. The facilitator is Jean Poole, founder and president of E Cubed Performance.
• When: 12:15-1:30 p.m. July 11
• Where: Indiana Convention Center, Room 232
Finding State Contracting Opportunities
This workshop will teach participants how to get in on the millions of dollars in state contracts to meet the needs of government agencies. The event is meant to simplify the process, and a panel will discuss how to start finding contract opportunities.
• When: 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. July 12
• Where: Indiana Convention Center, Room 232
“Supplier Diversity Pulse Check! Higher Education Institution’s Business Opportunities!”
This workshop will bring together decision-makers and procurement officers from college and universities to talk about projects and procurement opportunities at their respective institutions. The facilitator is Richard J. Wise, director of supplier diversity at Indiana University.
• When: 1:15-2:30 p.m. July 12
• Where: Indiana Convention Center, Room 233
Education Conference
• When: July 13-14
• Where: Virtual and in-person at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave.
• Register: Registration for in-person events is $35 online (virtual events are free)
Robert Jackson, an educator in Indianapolis Public Schools and former NFL player, will be the keynote speaker July 14 at the 2022 Education Conference. Jackson is the author of six books, including “Becoming the Educator They Need: Strategies, Mindsets, and Beliefs for Supporting Male Black and Latino Students,” which won the Gold Excel Award for Technical Writing in 2020.
Jackson uses a “no more excuses” approach to teaching, which emphasizes not allowing his students to feel sorry for themselves or let their circumstances define their futures.
• When: 9:30-10:30 a.m. July 14
• Where: Indiana Convention Center
The closing keynote speaker will be Dr. Adolph Brown III, a businessman, investor, author and educator. Brown has researched and implemented strategies to enhance schools and businesses.
• When: 3:30-4:45 p.m. July 14
• Where: Indiana Convention Center
Other highlights at the Education Conference:
Cultivating Black Students’ Oppositional Consciousness and Success
Donté Miller, assistant director for the Hudson & Holland Scholars Program at Indiana University, will present on how students have cultivated oppositional identities to topics of interest, what organizations and programs supported their consciousness and what they do as a result of carrying oppositional identities.
• When: 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
• Where: Virtual
Putting the Pieces Together
De Meita Vincent will lead a workshop about how to help students after dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
• When: 10:45 a.m.-noon
• Where: Indiana Convention Center
Black & Minority Health Fair
• When: July 14-17
• Where: Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave., Halls J and K
The 2022 Indiana Black & Minority Health Fair will offer more than $2,500 in free health care, resources and education. That includes COVID-19 vaccines, HIV testing, vision education, dental screenings and clinical breast exams.
Back-to-school vaccinations and sports physicals will also be available.
