The 21st annual Black Male State Conference will feature a networking lunch, a discussion on the state of Black males, a criminal justice reform panel discussion and more.
The free conference, hosted by the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males, is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 2 at Indiana Government Center South, 302 W. Washington St. The conference will also be livestreamed online. Learn more and register online.
The theme for the conference this year is “Health is Wealth.”
Commissioner Kenneth Allen said the theme comes from how much the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed health disparities.
“Now more than ever, those disparities have been magnified and expanded in many cases,” he said.
The commission also hasn’t been able to host its annual statewide health events in Black barbershops, and Allen said the commission understands physical and mental health needs still exist for Black males.
Special guests this year include former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, Rep. Andre Carson, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears and county health Director Dr. Virginia Caine, along with local and state lawmakers.
The keynote speaker is Charles “Duke” Tanner, a former boxer from Gary who was granted clemency in 2020.
A panel of state lawmakers will discuss how the 2021 legislative session impacted Black males, and there will be a documentary and panel discussion about single fathers and fatherless sons.
Contact commission Executive Director James Garrett with questions at JGarrett@icrc.in.gov.
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
