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Page B5 Indianapolis Recorder Friday, January 31, 2025By CAMIKE JONES camikej@indyrecorder.com Witherspoon Presbyterian Church (WPC) will host the four-part Black Heritage Community Conversation Series each Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. during the month of February. The conversations will cover topics such as DEI, critical race theory, teaching Black history and youth literacy. %u201cBlack History Month is about more than just looking back and celebrating the past,%u201d said WPC Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Winterbourne Harrison-Jones. %u201cIt%u2019s about delving deeply into pressing issues that affect our community; it%u2019s about equipping ourselves with the knowledge to be able to understand the world around us, and it%u2019s about convening with others and strategizing about ways that each of us can make a difference in the world.%u201d Featured speakers include Director of the Office of Racial Equity and Inclusion Patricia Payne, Director of DEI at IU Indianapolis Ellise Smith, Director of Africana Studies Leslie Etienne and CRT scholar and professor at IU Indianapolis Cleveland Hayes. %u201cThis series of community conversations aims to inform, inspire, and equip the community with the tools necessary to be informed and active participants in their communities,%u201d Harrison-Jones said. The Black Heritage Month Community Conversation Series is free and open to the public. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. Witherspoon Presbyterian Church is at 3535 Kessler Boulevard North Drive, Indianapolis, 46222. For more information, call 317-251-2297 or visit wpcindy.org. By HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comThe Greater Indianapolis branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) released a statement in response to reports that Gov. Mike Braun%u2019s administration has directed providers to cease advertising of Medicaid programs.President of the chapter Chrystal Ratcliffe said, %u201cThe Indianapolis NAACP is deeply concerned by reports that the Braun administration has directed providers to cease advertising Medicaid programs. Medicaid is a critical lifeline for many Hoosiers, particularly in marginalized communities that already face significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Restricting information about Medicaid benefits undermines public health and equity, leaving some of our most vulnerable residents uninformed about their rights and resources. Access to healthcare should never be politicized or obscured, it is a basic human right. We urge state leaders to prioritize transparency and ensure that all residents are empowered to access the benefits they need. The Indianapolis NAACP remains committed to advocating for policies that promote equity, justice, and the well-being of our community.%u201dThe statement comes following a memo by Indiana%u2019s Family and Social Services Administration to Medicaid providers to cease all advertising of Medicaid programs. Braun%u2019s administration has already begun making changes to Indiana%u2019s Medicaid program since taking office, including how the Family and Social Services Administration checks eligibility. The Greater Indianapolis NAACP concluded their statement by urging the public and policymakers to join together to ensure Medicaid services remain accessible.This is an ongoing story and will be updated as new information comes to light. For more information about the Greater Indianapolis NAACP, visit indynaacp.org.This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. iaaqli.org.Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.By HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comThe Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, United Way of Central Indiana and Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence announced a new initiative to support policies for the economic security of families with children aged newborn to 3. %u201cEconomic support during the critical early years of a child%u2019s life benefits both parents and children, leading to improved health and economic stability throughout their lives,%u201d said Ryan Myers, government relations and public policy manager for United Way of Central Indiana.The 18-month project began in December 2024 and focuses on the benefits families see when supported by policies like paid family leave, child tax credits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programming.%u201cPolicies like child tax credits or paid family leave would demonstrate the depth of our commitment to our children and the generations to come, while also acknowledging the difficulties of raising a family during a cost-of-living crisis,%u201d said Olivia Smith, tax and budget analyst at the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute.$150,000 will be used from the Pritzker Children%u2019s Initiative to research barriers to economic security for families with young children and explore policy options, raise awareness and empower civic engagement.%u201cSupporting families in the early years will create brighter futures statewide,%u201d said Erin Macey, director of Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute. %u201cBy funding this opportunity, the Pritzker Children%u2019s Initiative is contributing to the evolution of an Indiana where all children can thrive, and we at the Institute are grateful they share our vision of this future.%u201dTo receive updates about the collaboration%u2019s efforts, reach out to institute@incap.org.This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights.%u00a0iaaqli.org.Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.Community conversation series to focus on Black heritageNAACP reacts to order to cease Medicaid advertisingThe Greater Indianapolis NAACP seeks to eliminate race-based discrimination across the state. (Photo/Indianapolis NAACP website)The collaboration will use the funds to explore policy options, raise awareness and empower civic engagement to aid families with children aged newborn to 3 years. (Photo/Jade Jackson)Indiana organizations launch prenatal and young child family security collaborationBy CHLOE McGOWAN%u00a0chloegm@indyrecorder.comIndy Pride announced its rebrand in a celebration of amplifying joy within the LGBTQ+ community.%u201cIndy Pride Calls Queer Joy Home%u201d was unveiled as Indy Pride%u2019s new identity following a comprehensive strategic planning process with Wilder Engagement in 2024. The organization, which is dedicated to curating and activating the creative energy of Hoosier communities, works to %u201cempower one another through glorious celebrations and deeply rooted support systems,%u201d according to a press release.%u00a0%u201cIndy Pride is more than an organization; it is a collaborative effort of joyful resistance,%u201d Jose Castillo Jimenez, Indy Pride Board President, said in a statement. %u201cOur bond with the community is essential. They nourish us, and we nourish them. Together, we celebrate the legacy of LGBTQ+ movements in our city, fostering connection and innovation that generates positive change.%u201dThe announcement comes just in time for Indy Pride to celebrate 30 years of connection, empowerment and joy within the LGBTQ+ community, according to a press release. The new identity aims to honor their legacy while boldly embracing the future.Included in Indy Pride%u2019s branding refresh is a new logo, which captures the organization%u2019s core values of belonging, community and inclusivity, joy, accountability and collaboration.The segments radiating from a central point suggest unity and gathering, reminiscent of a community coming together. Bold progress flag colors represent joy and how each segment can look as an exclamation point, and the central star %u2014 Indianapolis flag %u2014 acts as a beacon of leadership and guidance. The interconnected elements suggest a collaborative approach to achieving goals, according to a press release.Many of the key visual elements of the new logo pay homage to the previous logo, designed by AYOKAY in 2024, while modernizing the look to reflect Indy Pride%u2019s growth, such as including all progress flag colors, using the Raided Premises typeface which was created by Zac Neubieb and inspired by The Stonewall Inn, and the Central Star Motif connecting Indy Pride to the city and community they serve.Indy Pride is already looking ahead to 2025 and the launch of new programs and events to deepen community connections, foster inclusivity and celebrate resilience as well as create spaces %u201cwhere every LGBTQ+ Hoosier feels supported, empowered and celebrated.%u201dFor more information about Indy Pride Refresh or other initiatives, upcoming events or community resources, visit indypride.org/indy-pride-refreshed.Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.%u2018Indy Pride Calls Queer Joy Home,%u2019 new brand identity unveiled ahead of year of programing and eventsThe segments radiating from a Greater Indianapolis NAACP president Chrystal Ratclifi e. (Photo/Indianapolis NAACP website)