Our City Our Voice

Today, if you stop by the area of West Vermont Street along the Canal Walk, you’ll see a Hampton Inn by Hilton, but long before the building was a hotel called Bethel A.M.E., the oldest African American church in Indianapolis. Built-in 1869, Bethel A.M.E. was situated in the heart of the African American community. Notable members include Madam C.J. Walker, Doctor Joseph Ward, Reverend Willis Reve...

A civil rights activist is using her voice to share how her experiences growing up in the South and West Coast inspired her activism and empowered her to write a children’s book and address issues facing the African American community. Nekima Levy Armstrong, a lawyer and activist, recently shared her thoughts on Black History Month and the fight for fairness, especially regarding race, poverty, an...

More than 90 years after his death, Marshall “Major” Taylor is still known by many as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. Today, many places honor his legacy outside the Major Taylor Velodrome, including murals and historical markers that you can find on Meridian Street and the Monon Trail. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri...

All month long, WISH-TV is highlighting people and places where you can celebrate Black History Month. Created back in 1998 by Gilbert Taylor and housed inside Crispus Attucks High School, Indianapolis’ first segregated black high school, the Crispus Attucks Museum took eight years to put together. At the time, it was more of a collection and it fit in a room not much larger than a closet. Today,...

A new Indiana House bill would replace instances of the word “gender” with the phrase “biological sex” in some state statutes. House Bill 1291 aims to remove the word “in certain statutes in which the term is used to describe the condition of being physically male or female.” Advocates against the legislation said it would dangerous for members of the LGBTQ+ community. See Privacy Policy at https:...

It goes without saying that Martin Luther King Jr. played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement, but so many more were involved. That message came during the holiday event Monday inside the Madam Walker Legacy Center . People who attended the center’s event say they want to continue King’s message of equality, justice and love. The center’s event was the 42nd annual MLK Day of Celebration at the...

Seeds of Caring is an organization that collaborates with over 15 local non-profit partners to empower kids and families to actively engage in community betterment. Unlike a typical volunteer network, Seeds of Caring goes above and beyond by crafting age-appropriate programs that include guided discussions, opportunities for empathetic reflection, and meaningful activities centered around service,...

In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, one woman in Indianapolis, Holly Loos, has taken it upon herself to offer a glimmer of hope to Afghan families facing unprecedented challenges. Loos, motivated by a personal mission beyond organizational affiliations, highlighted the perilous situations many Afghan families find themselves in after escaping to other countries. Despite facin...

he Umoja Village Celebration took place Tuesday afternoon for the first day of Kwanzaa at The Amp 16 Tech. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that celebrates seven principles: Umoja — meaning unity in Swahili, Kujichagulia or self-determination, Ujima translated as “collective work and responsibility,” Ujamaa principle refers to uplifting your community economically, Nia means purpose, Kuumba meaning “...

“I’m really excited about this!”With his first words in News 8 Daybreak’s “Morning Checkup,” WISH-TV medical expert and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams made clear his enthusiasm about two new gene therapies for sickle cell disease . The FDA just approved the treatments for people with severe forms of the disease , offering them the possibility of improved symptoms and potentially a cu...

The Multicultural Media Producing Program is the first of its kind, a 16-week course to help teach students from all backgrounds the ins and outs of producing the news. The program, created by WISH-TV owner and chief executive officer DuJuan McCoy, just graduated its first class Tuesday night. “We want to increase diversity in the newsroom in helping create content and influence the message going...

Tuesday marked the beginning of an extraordinary venture in journalism in central Indiana. Mirror Indy , the first newsroom launched in the state by Free Press Indiana, was created to be a reflection of Indianapolis, nodding to the past with an eye toward the future, and WISH-TV and its parent company Circle City Broadcasting are proud to be documenting partners with Mirror Indy. See Privacy Polic...

WISH-TV is proud to honor and recognize our veterans. Some come from across the Midwest to get a second chance at life thanks to some help from a Puerto Rican veteran. When Jesse Camacho isn’t at work, he’s helping countless veterans in need through a nonprofit that’s making a positive impact on the community. “We try to help everyone that we go and talk to,” he said. Camacho is a disciplined Army...

A 98-year-old Plainfield man is on a mission to educate and advocate for others about the issues Native Americans face in the United States. Jim Collins has spent the last few years researching and highlighting the disparities facing Native veterans and their communities. The World War II Navy veteran is equipped with only a pen and phone. He spends most of his time writing letters, making calls,...

Dr. Chris Williams is an Army veteran who serves as the performance and improvement consultant at Eskenazi Health. Dr. Williams retired from the military after serving twenty one years; most of his time in the military was spent in the active Indiana National Guard. Dr. Williams expressed how the transition from a service member to civilian life is not the easiest task. Even though many employers...

Kevin Lloyd is a paramedic working at the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center. Before starting his career at Eskenazi, Kevin spent years as a combat medic and Military police officer. Kevin is happy to be in a position to help when veterans come seeking for help after going through trauma or facing a particular situation in life. After letting several veterans know that he is a vet, Kevin is able...

Heading home from active service can be a difficult task for many veterans. Emmy Hildebrand, CEO of HVAF which stands for “Helping Veterans and Families,” started her organization on a goal to help veterans and their families receive the best possible quality of life. A lot of Indianapolis businesses offer help to HVAF, which makes it possible for them to continue provide services. HVAF has been s...

We are honored to have Dr. Conor with us today to shed light on a recent and crucial piece of research focusing on PTSD and veterans’ mental health, particularly addressing the issue of stigma. In a world where mental health concerns often go unnoticed or unaddressed, we must recognize the unique challenges veterans face and provide them with the support and understanding they deserve. Dr. Conor’s...

An Indianapolis-area group is supporting veterans with the help of four-legged friends. For veterans, dogs or cats can offer that unconditional love and companionship they need. Some are even transforming lives for veterans across central Indiana. It’s unconditional and comes with lots of hugs, a match made in heaven thanks to the nonprofit Veteran’s Best Friend Indiana Inc. The group focuses on c...

Arts and culture in central Indiana are experiencing a boom according to the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 report , raking in nearly $530 million in art spending in Indiana last year. The report took a look at nearly 400 communities. The Arts Council of Indianapolis led the charge in gathering data for Indy, finding that the arts generated money and jobs. Indiana is becoming a center for the arts...

Sickle cell is the most common inherited blood disease in the world, and people of African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent are most likely to get it. Sickle cell is invisible to the eye. But, many people can experience excruciating pain as a result. Experts hope to increase awareness of the disease through education and research. Today, college student Sarah Holdcroft is an advocate for...

Please join WISH-TV in celebrating Hispanic Heritage month by enjoying our special presentation. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month special is brought to you by Eskenazi Health . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

One woman is working to amplify the voices of Hispanic students across Indiana, and Rachel Santos isn’t someone who easily gives up when it comes to advocating. The woman who has a Doctor of Education degree helps lead the charge at the Indiana Latino Institute , a nonprofit that focuses on uplifting the Hispanic community. Santos is the director of education policy and strategic partnerships at t...

They say two brains are better than one. And in Indianapolis, a group of Hispanic women is making a positive impact on the Mexican Consulate through the arts. Local Mexican-American artists Joy Hernandez and Alejandra Carrillo are on a mission to paint a mural on the Mexican Consulate’s outside wall facing Lord Street. With every stroke of colorful paint, a formerly empty space on the consulate’s...

One woman is on a mission to help those new to the United States become first-time business owners. While immigrant entrepreneurs are a force in the economy, they often face unique challenges when starting a business. Luckily, in Indianapolis, there’s a Latina who’s helping to change that. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do...