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A6 FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025 INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER(317) 924-5143P.O. Box 18499, Indianapolis, IN 46218-0499newsroom@indyrecorder.comIndianapolis Recorder Newspaper encourages short, concise letters to the editor and opinion articles from the public. Letters and opinion articles will be used at the editor%u2019s discretion and are subject to editing. We will not guarantee publication of material received. We cannot guarantee dates of publication. Letters containing libelous or untrue statements will not be published. All letters and opinion articles must include a verifiable full name, address and telephone number. This information will not be published at the request of the writer. Letters and articles should be typed but will be accepted if handwriting is legible.BUSINESSBusiness Office Manager..............Lystina JimenezBusiness Office/Legals..................CrystalDalton ADVERTISING/MARKETINGSenior Strategic Media Consultant......Rita J. Wise Sales Representative...................Michael FalkerPRODUCTIONProduction Manager..........................................................................................Jeana M. Lewis OuattaraGraphic Designer.............................Eryn ForrestGeorge P. StewartFounder-EditorPublisher1895-1924Marcus C. Stewart Sr.Editor-Publisher1925-1988Eunice TrotterEditor-in-ChiefPublisher1988-1990William G. MaysOwner/ Publisher1990-presentPresident/Chief Executive Officer................................................................................................Robert ShegogEDITORIALEditor-in-Chief.................................Camike Jones Copy Editor..................................Mandi PattersonTechnology Editor......................Rupal Thanawala Arts & Culture Reporter.................Chloe McGowanMulti-Media & Sports Reporter.........Noral ParhamHealth & Environmental Reporter.............................................................................Hanna RauworthIntern..............................................Kayla BarlowBy BEENA M. JOSEPHEvery child deserves to grow up in a safe, loving, and supportive environment. Yet far too many still face the painful realities of abuse and neglect.In Indiana, approximately 1 in 10 children experience some form of abuse before they turn 18. This statistic is startling, but it becomes even more concerning when we consider that many cases go unreported. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System estimates that for every case of child abuse that is reported, there are likely many more that remain hidden in the shadows.But we have the power to change this. Together, we can protect our most vulnerable children and work toward a future where every child has the chance to thrive.Strong families start with strong foundations, and that foundation begins even before a child takes their first breath. The path to healthy families begins with comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care. As a pediatrician, I have seen firsthand how health care providers, including obstetricians and pediatricians, are often the first line of support, identifying early signs of challenges. Simple conversations during routine check-ups can reveal underlying stressors that parents are facing, creating opportunities for support and intervention. When we prioritize early detection and care, we help create safe, loving environments where children can flourish %u2014 physically, emotionally and beyond.Access to mental health servicesMental health support is another critical pillar in our prevention efforts. Nearly 1 in 8 mothers experience postpartum depression, a condition that can profoundly impact both the mother and child if left untreated. Imagine a mother struggling with overwhelming feelings of despair %u2014 without access to proper support, she may face challenges in meeting her child%u2019s needs. By expanding access to mental health services, we empower families to seek the help they need.Families need more than medical careIn my experience, open communication with families is essential. A proactive approach goes beyond medical care %u2014 it means providing resources and support to families facing difficult circumstances. This holistic view is critical in preventing child abuse.Families need comprehensive support beyond just medical care. They require stable housing, reliable childcare, and social support. Programs like the Indiana Pregnancy Promise Program, Healthy Families and The Villages are invaluable resources that connect families with essential support. For every $1 invested in prevention, we save $7 in future social service, health care and criminal justice costs. More importantly, we change lives.Health care is just one piece of the puzzlePreventing child abuse is most effective when health care, social services, education and communities work together. Indiana is proving that a multi-sector approach makes a real difference. By collaborating across these vital areas, we strengthen families and ensure the safety and well-being of our children.This issue impacts our families yearround, highlighting the need for ongoing awareness, education and support to empower parents and caregivers in creating safe environments for their children, as the future of Indiana%u2019s children depends on our collective commitment to protect and nurture the next generation.Beena M. Joseph, MD, FAAP, is the Chief Medical Officer at CareSource Indiana, bringing over 25 years of pediatric experience and a commitment to improving child welfare and access to care for individuals with complex medical needs. A passionate advocate for community health, she focuses on empowering families through education and holistic solutions.By ANDRE CARSONOur history and our community are under attack.%u00a0President Donald Trump claims that there has been a %u201cconcerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation%u2019s history%u201d over the last decade.%u00a0Yet he is the one trying to erase our history with new executive orders to whitewash %u201cimproper ideology.%u201d All to strip away civil rights protections and cut programs our community relies on. We won%u2019t let him. The idea of %u201creverse discrimination%u201d has been around since the 1980s under the Reagan administration.%u00a0Notwithstanding passage of the Civil Rights Act, President Reagan and his administration condemned school integration busing, affirmative action and threatened to veto an extension of the Voting Rights Act. Sound familiar? Throughout American history, progress for our community has always been met with resistance from those who fear that fairness for everyone will mean less for them. They want to take our country back to mythical %u201cgood old days%u201d when segregation and discrimination were 100% legal.After electing the first Black president, America%u2019s reaction was Trump, whose history includes denying housing to Black tenants, referring to non-white countries as %u201cSh**holes%u201d and repeatedly failing to denounce white supremacists and their sympathizers, even appointing them to his cabinet. Donald Trump spent his first 100 days in office destroying due process, civil rights enforcement and diversity programs that remedy persistent and systemic discrimination. And he%u2019s determined to decimate programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, which millions of Black Americans rely on. This month, Rev. Amos C. Brown %u2014 a veteran activist of the Civil Rights Movement %u2014 said the Smithsonian Institution notified him that items he loaned to the National Museum of African American History and Culture would be returned in the new push to remove %u2018improper ideology%u2019 from Smithsonian museums. Trump wants to dismantle exhibits that document and teach the truth about America%u2019s painful past.The executive order aims to eliminate %u201cideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history.%u201d%u00a0 In other words, sanitizing our history. Black history is American history. It shows the violence committed against us %u2014 but it also shows our joy and unshakeable resistance in the face of unimaginable suffering. You don%u2019t have to take any one person%u2019s word for it %u2014 there is living proof in surviving civil rights activists. There is written proof in historical records. And there is physical proof in the Smithsonian%u2019s National Museum of African American History and Culture, which millions of people in our country and around the world visit each year to bear witness. Trump is trying to erase that proof. He claims that the millions of historians, civil rights advocates, academics, and even those of us who have personally experienced racism are trying to %u201crewrite history%u201d %u2014 but that%u2019s exactly what he is trying to do. The disconnect from reality, delusions and lies spread by Trump have infiltrated MAGA extremists right in our own backyard. Over the last few days, one of Trump%u2019s most ardent supporters, Indiana%u2019s Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith, claimed the Three-Fifths Compromise was a %u201cgreat move.%u201d %u201cGreat%u201d to only count Black men and women as three-fifths of a person %u2014 but only for purposes of property values to their owners. Despite outrage from local Black leaders, clergy and historians, Beckwith is doubling down. He has yet to walk back his comments. These actions aren%u2019t just revisionist history. It%u2019s a deliberate creation of false, national narratives to demonize some Americans and justify draconian cuts and policies that hurt Black communities.Since January, Trump ordered an end to civil rights investigations, prosecutions and settlement agreements in Civil Rights Offices across the federal government. More than 250 attorneys in the Department of Justice%u2019s civil rights division have either been fired, reassigned, or accepted deferred resignation offers. This division was created in 1957 to enforce U.S. federal civil rights laws and is meant to enforce civil rights %u2014 from voting, education, housing, disability rights, and police accountability. This administration is gutting civil rights protections by dismantling the Department of Education. This includes investigating cases, like one in California, where a parent said students called a Black child racial slurs and played whipping sounds from their cellphones during a lesson about slavery. Trump made a campaign promise to wipe out Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and unfortunately, that%u2019s one promise he%u2019s kept. Indiana educational institutions have been forced to close DEI offices or face loss of federal funding, reshaping private and public institutions across the country. He%u2019s set up a federal snitch hotline to report any suspected DEI activity. One teacher was reported for having a poster in her classroom that said %u201cEveryone Is Welcome Here.%u201d Teachers shouldn%u2019t be afraid to teach the truth and real history, not the whitewashed version Trump wants.I%u2019ve written in recent weeks about how cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare will disproportionately hurt our community. Our health and wealth are at risk. This is what we%u2019re up against. This is what we%u2019re fighting. In these confusing and chaotic times, the Trump administration wants us in chaos. They want us to not know where to look. They want us to lose focus and stop fighting. But we must never stop fighting. The path to freedom has never been easy. And it%u2019s a long way from over. But as we face these new threats to our civil rights and our democracy, we must stay strong and focused, and keep moving forward. Keep fighting. Keep speaking up. Keep resisting. Our history teaches us that we are smart and resilient. Let%u2019s lean on our ancestors, learn their wisdom, and be inspired to protect the future we want for our daughters and sons, and let%u2019s keep fighting together. By ERIN KELLEYSince its inception in 1996, the Spirit & Place Festival has been a powerful force in fostering civic engagement through the arts, humanities and religion. The Spirit & Place Festival is a one-of-a-kind celebration, blending arts, culture, spirituality and public discourse in an inclusive, community-driven environment. The annual festival, which takes place every November, invites participants to explore big ideas and reflect on them through creative expression, all while cultivating community bonds.The essence of Spirit & Place lies in its focus on community participation. Every year, individuals and organizations from diverse sectors and backgrounds across Central Indiana are encouraged to pitch their event ideas for the festival. Whether you%u2019re an artist, writer, poet, musician, religious leader, educator or social activist, your ideas and contributions are welcomed.The festival%u2019s open-call approach allows anyone with a creative and thoughtful event concept to participate. Each year, the festival focuses on a theme that serves as a lens through which events and discussions are framed. For example, in the past, themes have explored topics such as gratitude, nourish and change. The goal is to create a theme that is broad enough to encourage diverse interpretations.For the upcoming Spirit & Place Festival in 2025, the theme of NATURE invites participants to reflect on the world around us and the intricate relationship between humans and the natural environment. But the theme is not limited to environmentalism or outdoor experiences alone. It also invites deeper philosophical exploration into the %u201cnature of %u201d various societal and cultural issues. Event application processSo, how can you be a part of the Spirit & Place Festival? First, submit a proposal for an event that will engage the public with the festival%u2019s yearly theme of NATURE. Events can range from philosophical reflections on NATURE to immersive environmental experiences that invite participants to connect with the natural world around them.To submit an event proposal, you%u2019ll need to outline the experience you want your audience to have; how you%u2019ll explore the theme; how you will use the arts, humanities, and/or religion; and who your collaborating partners are. Every event must partner with at least one other community organization or individual to help bring the vision to life.For those considering applying to be a part of Spirit & Place Festival, the best advice I can offer is simple: meet with me! With over 20 years of event design and planning experience, I find joy in helping others create something special that gives back to the wider community. I love learning about the creative and compassionate work happening in our community, and I%u2019m always open to hearing ideas and brainstorming solutions. In the past 10 years, I have witnessed our festival event partners live into Spirit & Place%u2019s values and mission more deeply. There is a real commitment to designing events that bring people together, uplift traditionally undervalued voices, and strive to add a bit of goodness into the world. Artists, scholars, activists, congregants and others are a creative and moral force Spirit & Place is proud to support.%u00a0For those whose event proposals are accepted, the Spirit & Place team offers robust support to ensure the success of each event. This includes a $200 stipend to help cover event costs, as well as access to marketing materials, one-on-one event coaching, and additional training opportunities. The festival organizers are deeply invested in helping event partners succeed, providing guidance throughout the process %u2014 from idea generation to execution.Ready to get involved?If you%u2019re inspired by the power of community, creativity and connection, we invite you to take the next step and become part of the Spirit & Place Festival. Whether you%u2019re an artist, activist, educator or community leader, your voice and ideas are an essential part of what makes this festival special.Visit%u00a0Spirit & Place%u00a0today to learn more about how you can submit an event proposal, access helpful resources, and get involved in this year%u2019s festival. Together, we can create a space where ideas flourish, people come together, and community bonds are strengthened.EDITORIALWe won%u2019t let anyone take away our historyHealth care%u2019s role in preventing child abuseSpirit & Place Festival: A catalyst for community, creativity and connection