Northwest side church to host Black Heritage Month conversation series

Head to the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church for a free, four-part Black Heritage Month community conversation series.

The series will happen every week in February. The church is at 3535 Kessler Blvd. North Drive.

The conversations will deal with the importance of teaching Black history; identifying critical race theory; understanding the impact of diversity, equity and inclusion programs; and literacy and Black youth.

All the conversations will be 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays at the church’s Dr. Clinton Marsh Memorial Parlor. A coffee bar will be available, and light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, visit the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church’s Facebook page or call 317-251-2297.

“Why teaching Black history matters”

🗓️ 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 6
📍 Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, 3535 Kessler Blvd. North Drive

Guest speaker: Leslie Etienne, IU Indianapolis Director of Africana Studies.

“What is critical race theory?”

🗓️ 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 13
📍 Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, 3535 Kessler Blvd. North Drive

Guest speaker: Cleveland Hayes, IU Indianapolis Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

“Understand DEI and how it impacts our lives”

🗓️ 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 20
📍 Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, 3535 Kessler Blvd. North Drive

Guest speaker: Ellise Smith, IU Indianapolis Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

“Literacy and Black youth”

🗓️ 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 27
📍 Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, 3535 Kessler Blvd. North Drive

Guest speaker: Patricia Payne, Director of the Office of Racial Equity and Inclusion, Indianapolis Public Schools.

Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saenz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on Bluesky at @enriquesaenz.bsky.social.