INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana Black Expo’s 46th annual Summer Celebration kicks off Thursday, July 7.
Plenty of fun and educational events are planned throughout the 10-day celebration.
Thursday, July 7
Ecumenical Service
- Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Location: Light of the World Christian Church, 4646 Michigan Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46228
- Description: Pastor Jeffery A. Johnson, Sr. of Eastern Star Church will serve as guest preacher.
Saturday, July 9
Dedication ceremony honoring Indianapolis’s first African American fire chief Joseph D. Kimbrew
- Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Location: IFD Station #1, 1903 W. 10th Street Indianapolis, IN 46222
- Description: The Indianapolis Black Firefighter Association invites everyone to celebrate and honor Chief Kimbrew, the first black Fire chief in Indianapolis. Join the Indianapolis Black Firefighter Association as we honor his legacy with a dedication ceremony. The ceremony will include an unveiling of a memorial and the renaming of Indianapolis Fire Department Fire Station 1. Historically, Station 1 was the only station that African Americans were allowed to go in the years of segregation.
Indiana Black Expo International Film Festival
- Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Location: IMA – Toby Theater
- Description: Independent filmmakers present uplifting and positive messages covering the breadth of the human experience. As one of the first venues of Summer Celebration, IBE audiences screen independent films produced by or written about African Americans and African culture. Several films are winners of nationally-acclaimed independent film festivals.
Monday July 11
IBE Business Conference (this is a two-day event)
- Time: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center
- Description: The goal of the Indiana Black Expo Business Conference Schedule is to provide a venue to empower minority- and women-owned business owners with information and resources that assist them in achieving financial stability and sustainability for their companies.
Tuesday, July 12
IBE Business Conference (this is a two-day event)
- Time: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center
- Description: The goal of the Indiana Black Expo Business Conference Schedule is to provide a venue to empower minority- and women-owned business owners with information and resources that assist them in achieving financial stability and sustainability for their companies.
Thursday, July 14
31st INShape Indiana Black & Minority Health Fair (this is a four-day event)
- Time: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall F
- Description: The goal of the health fair is to raise public awareness of the health issues that disproportionately affect minorities. There will be free health screenings on site.
9th Annual Education Conference
- Time: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Location: 200-level of Indiana Convention Center
- Description: IBE recognizes the need to prepare the teaching force to effectively work with a diverse student population. The purpose of the conference is to: 1. Increase cultural competency among educators, administrators and policy makers 2. Increase parental involvement 3. Raise awareness about relevant issues around education 4. Provide best practices for classroom instruction.
Employment Opportunity Fair
- Time: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center ballroom
- Description: More than 2,500 individuals seeking employment opportunities take advantage of speaking directly with multiple employers. This is one of the largest one-day job fairs in Indiana where you have an opportunity to meet employers face-to-face. Dress code is business casual.
Friday, July 15
31st INShape Indiana Black & Minority Health Fair
- Time: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall F
- Description: The goal of the health fair is to raise public awareness of the health issues that disproportionately affect minorities. There will be free health screenings on site.
Indiana Black Expo Youth Leadership Summit (this is a three-day event)
- Time: Friday 10 a.m. to Sunday 12 p.m.
- Location: Hyatt Regency
- Description: This event is for middle and high school student leaders who want to see and affect change in their community. YLS is a youth conference geared towards giving youth a platform to hear and learn from professionals regarding academics, decision making and advocacy. YLS is a conference where youth are engaged with plenary sessions and interactive workshops with knowledge that is transferable across home, school and community.
We Love Music Conference (this is a three-day event)
- Time: Pre-registration begins at 4 p.m.
- Location: Various locations including the Hyatt Regency, The American Legion Mall, and the Indiana Convention Center
- Description: Various concerts throughout the three days including a free concert by Blackstreet on Friday evening.
Cultural Arts Pavilion (this is a three-day event)
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Rooms 130-135
- Description: The Cultural Arts Pavilion is an exhibition that showcases the works of a collaboration of Indianapolis arts institutions. The exhibit will feature art from the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Harrison Center, the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, the Crispus Attucks Museum, Finger Creations and many more!
- Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Location: Convention Center Halls G, I & K
- Description: Certain exhibits include the Tech Zone (complete with a race car simulator sponsored by IMS, robotics demonstrations, gaming tournaments, coding games, and a tech bar sponsored by Microsoft), Colts Play 60, Fitness Clinic, Purdue University virtual moon/campus experience, performances on the Entertainment Stage and Cummins interactive engineering exhibit.
Pacers Sports and Entertainment Corporate Luncheon
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Halls D&E
- Description: Speakers include Dionne Warrick, Larenze Tate, Jim Brown, Chuck Pagano, Leroy Robinson
Music Heritage Festival I Free Outdoor Concert
- Time: 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Location: American Legion Mall
- Description: Al Hudson & One Way and The Original Lakeside perform free concert
Saturday, July 16
31st INShape Indiana Black & Minority Health Fair
- Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall F
- Description: The goal of the health fair is to raise public awareness of the health issues that disproportionately affect minorities. There will be free health screenings on site.
Indiana Black Expo Youth Leadership Summit (this is a three-day event)
- Time: Friday 10 a.m. to Sunday 12 p.m.
- Location: Hyatt Regency
- Description: This event is for middle and high school student leaders who want to see and affect change in their community. YLS is a youth conference geared towards giving youth a platform to hear and learn from professionals regarding academics, decision making and advocacy. YLS is a conference where youth are engaged with plenary sessions and interactive workshops with knowledge that is transferable across home, school and community.
We Love Music Conference (this is a three-day event)
- Time: 10:15 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center
- Description: Various concerts throughout the three days including a free concert by Blackstreet on Friday evening.
Cultural Arts Pavilion (this is a three-day event)
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Rooms 130-135
- Description: The Cultural Arts Pavilion is an exhibition that showcases the works of a collaboration of Indianapolis arts institutions. The exhibit will feature art from the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Harrison Center, the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, the Crispus Attucks Museum, Finger Creations and many more!
IBE Midwest Invitational Boxing Showcase (this is a two-day event)
- Time: 1 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall J
- Description: Boxers from Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, and Texas are competing
Real Talk Teen Forum – Black to the Future
- Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall G
- Description: IBE’s Youth Media Institute students will take you on a journey of the life of a teen in the 21st Century. While showcasing what they have learned, they will discuss their lifestyle, social media habits, technology choices and political views. Through a panel discussion, and using their broadcast media skills the students will take you on a time-travel journey, accelerating 1.21 Gigawatts into their future selves!
Fashion Show
- Time: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall G
- Description: Featuring celebrity designer Reco Chapple.
IBE Slam Dunk Contest
- Time: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall K
- Description: Featuring Porter Maberry, Champion of TNT’s Slam Dunk Contest
Amp Harris & Reggie Wayne Saving our Youth Celebrity Basketball Game
- Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall K
- Description: Featuring Flex Alexander, Lil J, Trevor Jackson, Robert Mathis, TY Hilton, Wesley Johnathan, Antwan Tanner, Adrien Broner, Christian Keyes, Pacman Jones, D’Qwell Jackson, Edgerrin James, Mike Adams, Pacers Players and more
- Time: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
- Description: New Edition, Kem and Dru Hill will be performing
- Time: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Location: The Pavilion at Pan Am Plaza
- Description: This is the after party for the Music Heritage Festival II. There will be performances by Kid Capri and Rico Love.
Sunday, July 17
31st INShape Indiana Black & Minority Health Fair
- Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall F
- Description: The goal of the health fair is to raise public awareness of the health issues that disproportionately affect minorities. There will be free health screenings on site.
Indiana Black Expo Youth Leadership Summit (this is a three-day event)
- Time: Friday 10 a.m. to Sunday 12 p.m.
- Location: Hyatt Regency
- Description: This event is for middle and high school student leaders who want to see and affect change in their community. YLS is a youth conference geared towards giving youth a platform to hear and learn from professionals regarding academics, decision making and advocacy. YLS is a conference where youth are engaged with plenary sessions and interactive workshops with knowledge that is transferable across home, school and community.
We Love Music Conference (this is a three-day event)
- Time: 10:15 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center
- Description: Various concerts throughout the three days including a free concert by Blackstreet on Friday evening.
Cultural Arts Pavilion (this is a three-day event)
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Rooms 130-135
- Description: The Cultural Arts Pavilion is an exhibition that showcases the works of a collaboration of Indianapolis arts institutions. The exhibit will feature art from the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Harrison Center, the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, the Crispus Attucks Museum, Finger Creations and many more!
IBE Midwest Invitational Boxing Showcase (this is a two-day event)
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall J
- Description: Boxers from Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, and Texas are competing
Gospel Explosion
- Time: 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Convention Center, Hall G
- Description: Featuring Eastern Star Main Campus Choir, Light of the World Choir, Demetrius West, Judah Band and Grammy Award winner Le’Andria Johnson.
