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Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion focused on data centers Feb. 24 at 16 Tech. The event invited neighbors to talk data centers with Hoosier Environmental Council Environmental Justice director Paula Brooks, Ben Inskeep of Citizens Action Coalition, and Ashley Hooley of Protect Decatur Township.

Mirror Indy’s regular Chat N Chews, hosted by community journalism director Ariana Beedie, invite neighbors to share what they want from local news and foster conversation around issues affecting Indy.

Our next Chat N Chew will be March 4 at the AMP with westside reporter Enrique Saenz. Registration is not required and food is always provided.

Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy

Mirror Indy community journalism director Ariana Beedie facilitates a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy

Poynter Indianapolis public editor Tracey Compton takes notes during a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy

Mirror Indy westside reporter Enrique Saenz speaks during a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy

Ben Inskeep, of Citizens Action Coalition, speaks on a panel during a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Jenna Watson is art director for Mirror Indy. Contact her at jenna.watson@mirrorindy.org.

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Photos: Neighbors gather to talk data centers

by Jenna Watson, Mirror Indy
February 26, 2026

<h1>Photos: Neighbors gather to talk data centers</h1>
<p class="byline">by Jenna Watson, Mirror Indy <br />February 26, 2026</p>

<p>Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion focused on data centers Feb. 24 at 16 Tech. The event invited neighbors to talk data centers with Hoosier Environmental Council Environmental Justice director Paula Brooks, Ben Inskeep of Citizens Action Coalition, and Ashley Hooley of Protect Decatur Township.</p>
<p>Mirror Indy's regular <a href="https://mirrorindy.org/events/chat-n-chew/">Chat N Chews</a>, hosted by <a href="https://mirrorindy.org/author/abeedie/">community journalism director Ariana Beedie</a>, invite neighbors to share what they want from local news and foster conversation around issues affecting Indy. </p>
<p>Our next Chat N Chew will be March 4 at the AMP with westside reporter Enrique Saenz. Registration is not required and food is always provided. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW01-1024x664.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74304" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW03-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74309" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy community journalism director Ariana Beedie facilitates a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW16-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74311" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW17-1024x671.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74294" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Poynter Indianapolis public editor Tracey Compton takes notes during a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW14-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74306" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW26-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74291" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy westside reporter Enrique Saenz speaks during a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW19-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74314" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW06-1024x664.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74300" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy community journalism director Ariana Beedie facilitates a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW08-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74302" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW10-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74404" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ben Inskeep, of Citizens Action Coalition, speaks on a panel during a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CHAT-N-CHEW-DATA-CENTERS_JRW22-1024x670.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74315" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirror Indy hosted a Chat N Chew community discussion on data centers Feb. 24, 2026, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/photos-neighbors-gather-to-talk-data-centers/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org&quot;&gt;Mirror Indy&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p>
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