Dear Indy,
Today we’re bringing you a beautiful story about female friendship — and how it helped two Black Indianapolis women navigate a rare, often misunderstood blood disorder.
I don’t want to summarize the article today. I want you to read it. So here’s how Lena and Jade’s story begins:
Lena Harvey lived in her bed.
The world kept moving as she sank beneath the weight of heated blankets, hazy from the pain of a rare blood disorder and the drugs meant to dull it. Her best friend, Jade Parker-Dinkins, would come by her Pike Township home with snacks and jokes. But it was getting harder and harder to sit up, even for her.
“It’s depression,” Lena said. “Realizing you’re being snuffed out by your own blood.”
That’s the reality for 100,000 Americans who live with sickle cell disease — a chronic blood condition that primarily affects Black people. Red blood cells become rigid, blocking blood flow to the rest of the body. The pain is excruciating. Left unchecked, the disease can cause complications like stroke, kidney disease, blood clots and organ failure.
At 31, Lena started drafting her will. What would life look like after she was gone?
Flowers, she decided. Her estate would send flowers to her husband and Jade for all the anniversaries and birthdays she missed. She would entomb her love in petals and voice recordings.
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In other news
- Yes, the NBA All-Star Game is over, but check out photos from the weekend’s music, arts and culture events — a reminder of Indy’s vibrancy (and ability to roll out the red carpet).
- Our latest Culture Journal comes from Boxx The Artist. She wrote about her experience being honored by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.
- Senate Bill 202 aims to reshape higher education in Indiana by limiting professor tenure and making conservative voices feel more welcome on college campuses. The bill is part of a national push, with similar bills appearing in Texas, Florida and Ohio. Learn more about the bill here.
- House Bill 1199, which aims to repeal the new downtown economic district that will fund a new homeless shelter, is set for a Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy meeting tomorrow morning. It’s scheduled at roughly the same time as Senate Bill 52, the Blue Line bill.
What’s going on around the city
- Wednesday, Feb. 21: Author Kirk Wallace Johnson will speak about his legal work as well as writing at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Herron School of Art and Design, 735 W. New York St. Johnson’s writing has appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times, and on This American Life.
- Thursday, Feb. 22: Aspiring and experienced photographers are invited for a night of learning and networking at Indy Art Center, 6798 Ferguson St. The photo studios will be open to guests, with lighting and models provided for practice. Workshops and conversations will also take place at the free event.
- Saturday, Feb. 24: “De Colores” means “of color” in Spanish and is also the name of Angelita Hampton’s solo exhibition of paintings inspired by her time living in Mexico. The opening celebration is at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St. from 1-3 p.m. with an artist talk at 2 p.m. Free.
— Jennifer Delgadillo, arts and culture editor
Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.
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What else we’re reading today
- Indianapolis Business Journal: Three new Democrats on the City-County Council are opting not to take on full-time employment elsewhere. They want to make sure they have time to serve as councilors.
- Indiana Capital Chronicle: Gov. Eric Holcomb’s decision to deploy 50 Indiana National Guard soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border is expected to cost about $7 million.
Reporter’s Notebook: Emily Hopkins
There’s a common phrase you hear around election coverage: horse race journalism.
It refers to a style of reporting on elections that centers political winners and losers over policy and impact on voters.
At Mirror Indy, we’re striving to achieve something different. We want to put Marion County residents at the center of our coverage. We want to make sure you know how to get registered, where to vote and who’s on the ballot — especially in races that you do not hear about elsewhere.
It’s why last week we published our first election story focused on the primary races where voters can make a difference. And it’s why I’m inviting you to tell us what you want to see from us.
What questions do you have? What stories do you want to see? What do you want to know about how democracy works in our corner of Indiana?
I want you to tell me. So send me an email! I can’t wait to hear from you.
— Emily Hopkins, data reporter
Have a question or suggestion for our reporters? Contact them here.
Notes from our Documenters
This week we have 12 meetings on our schedule.
On Tuesday, Feb. 20, we will cover meetings held by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, Marion County Commissioners, Indianapolis Animal Care Services Advisory Board, Indianapolis Community Land Trust and Perry Township Board.
On Wednesday, Feb. 21, we will cover the City-County Council’s public safety committee and the Wayne Township School Board.
And then on Thursday, Feb. 22, we will cover the IndyGo Board, Board of Business and Neighborhood Services, the City-County Council’s Ethics Committee, the Wayne Township Board and Pike Township School Board.
I’ll share what we learn in those meetings. What other meetings should we cover? Let me know.
— Ariana Beedie, community journalism director
Interested in being a Documenter? Here’s how.
Reflections
Do you follow us on Instagram? We posted a cool video about the making of the All-Star Mural Jam.
See you tomorrow.
Ryan
P.S. If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at ryan.martin@mirrorindy.org. It helps us serve you better.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
