Dear Indy,
When education officials and politicians talk about childhood literacy, they often refer to big, sweeping things. Think statewide policies and standardized testing.
What’s sometimes left out of the conversation, though, is the difference each of us can make in our own home. We have the power to inspire a love of reading in the young people in our lives.
That’s why I loved Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich’s new article today.
She wrote about Garfield Park resident Jessica Davis’ effort at home to not only acquire more than 200 books for her three kids but also to create a conducive space — with a beanbag chair and a crash pad for sensory learners, too.
“With their reading comprehension, it has made a difference for them to have stories that they’re really interested in,” Davis said.
Read more here.
Know someone who might like this newsletter?
Click here to forward this email to them.
In other news
- Indy Documenters don’t only cover government meetings; they also attend events across the community. Last week, Indy Documenters attended the “We Refuse to Be Enemies” event at the JCC Indianapolis, where two authors — one of the Muslim faith originally from Pakistan, the other Jewish — discussed how imperative it is to maintain interfaith dialogue. “We refuse to slink back into our respective tribal corners and demonize the other,” said Walter Ruby, an activist in Muslim-Jewish relations.
- High school seniors typically face a May 1 deadline for college enrollment. Some (but not all!) Indiana colleges are postponing that date, though, because of ongoing problems with the new FAFSA form. Learn more here.
What’s going on around the city
- Friday, Feb. 23: Musical Mayor of Indianapolis, Rob Dixon, will be joined by the Steve Allee Quartet and Amanda King for a night of live music at The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave. The 7 p.m. set celebrates their new album, “Standards Deluxe.” Tickets start at $15.
- Saturday, Feb. 24: White Rabbit Cabaret, 1116 Prospect St., hosts Indy’s Dark Alternative DJ dance night. Starting at 9:30 p.m., Annie and Andy Skinner and DJ Evil Twin will lead guests through more than five hours of dancing and alternative music. Tickets start at $10.
- Sunday, Feb. 25: Loudmouth Books will host former Texas U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke for a discussion about the importance of voting and civic engagement. The event begins at 5 p.m. at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St. Tickets are $22, which includes a signed copy of O’Rourke’s 2022 book “We’ve Got To Try.”
— Breanna Cooper, arts and culture reporter
Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.
Support Journalism
Be part of a local initiative to increase coverage of the
diverse needs of people living in our community.
What else we’re reading today
- Chalkbeat Indiana: Why are teachers quitting the profession? An Indianapolis nonprofit will be working with teachers and administrators in Lawrence Township schools next year to answer that question. The goal is to come up with solutions and improve retention rates.
Arts and Culture
The paintings in the show “Mirrors of Common Destiny” at the Indy Art Center are colorful representations of people, animals and cities. There’s action, with multiple realities in them: laughing, anger, suffering and the allusion of political protest. There’s a lot of joy, too.
Beyond the stories told in these artworks, there’s a story in how the paintings made it to the gallery walls of the Art Center.
That’s where Patchwork Indy comes in. The organization was founded for the purpose of improving the lives of refugees in Indianapolis, and the exhibit is part of that effort. Congolese artist Jean Claude Lofenia and Burmese artist Saw Kennedy, who arrived to Indy as refugees, are the co-curators of the exhibit.
Because it’s not often that we see refugee voices centered and empowered to tell their own stories, Mirror Indy invited the curators to respond to a short interview in their first languages.
If you don’t speak Burmese or Congolese French, no worries — Lofenia worked with a translator and Kennedy translated his Burmese to English.
Lisez plus / ပိုပြီးဖတ်နိုင်သည်.
— Jennifer Delgadillo, arts and culture editor
Want to explore more of our city’s vibrancy? Find more arts and culture coverage here.
Reflections
That’s it for today. 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.