INDIANAPOLIS — The grassroots civic-focused initiative known as IndyTalks was founded with the goal of helping community members "converse, connect, and create."
This year's theme, "Indy's Kids," hopes to bring heightened attention to the things the community is doing to support, enrich, and empower youth. IndyTalks partners also plan to explore the things we can and should be doing better to improve the lives of young people.
"Whether you have children or not, celebrating the accomplishments of young people and acknowledging where we can do more is an important act of civic participation that strengthens our community," said Erin Kelley, IndyTalks program partner and director of education and community engagement for the Indiana Historical Society.
Programming for the first half of the year has been confirmed and IndyTalks will kick off 2013 with a special broadcast of "No Limits" on WFYI 90.1 FM at 1 p.m. Jan. 31.
Host John Krull will speak with leading education experts, Bob Balfanz of the Everyone Graduates Center and John Bridgeland of Civic Enterprises, to explore how Indiana can turn around the high school dropout crisis.
On Feb. 16, the Indiana Historical Society invites families to a free admission day at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center for "Love your Heart." In celebration of American Heart Month, families are encouraged to explore the healthy choices they can make together when deciding what to eat and when to exercise.
As part of the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI's 24th annual Joseph Taylor Symposium on Feb. 27, a special IndyTalks panel will focus on the problems of bullying and intolerance. Panelists will explore strategies for encouraging respect among young people.
On March 23, the International School of Indianapolis and Big Car will bring young people from around the globe together in conversation to share their stories of life in Indiana. On April 27, Marian University invites families to let nature be their teacher during a special program at the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab. INDYCOG rounds out the spring at the Platform (City Market) on May 15 in a program designed to explore how Indy can be a city where anyone from 8 to 80 will want to ride a bike.
For more information about IndyTalks, including complete program descriptions for the first half of this year, visit the website at www.indytalks.info.
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