2011 IndyTalks Explores “Indy as a Super City”

In 2010, more than a dozen community partners launched a year-long initiative called IndyTalks. The initial series encouraged Indianapolis residents to discuss – from a variety of perspectives – the future of Indiana in an era of globalization. In 2011, more than 20 local organizations will present a series of community programs exploring the idea of “Indy as a Super City” as part of IndyTalks, a collaboration dedicated to fostering a sense of community through respectful and creative civic dialogue. Indianapolis obviously has what it takes to host a Super Bowl, but how can the city and its citizens be and do more? This year’s IndyTalks programs will encourage and challenge Indianapolis residents to think about ways their hometown can build upon its strengths to be a “super city.” Participants will be encouraged to share ideas, information, experiences, and assumptions in a civic and civil manner that leads to learning and informs the public good. Program partners are organizations connected to the arts, humanities, history, religion, film, education, media and more.

IndyTalks will begin on January 13 at noon, when 90.1 WFYI-FM will air the conversation, “Indy as a Super City” on its program NO LIMITS. The conversation will include Mark Miles, president and CEO of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Inc.; Tamara Zahn, president of Indianapolis Downtown Inc.; and Gerald Bepko, Chancellor Emeritus of IUPUI and IU Trustee’s Professor. Listeners can call, tweet or talk with on-air participants as they talk about the past, present and future of Indy as a sustainable, livable community. 

The JCC, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the International Center of Indianapolis and the Immigrant Welcome Center will host the next program, The Indianapolis Immigrant Experience: Shaping our City, on February 22; and the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI’s annual Joseph Taylor Symposium about “imaging + imagining the city — perspective on Indianapolis” on February 24 will also connect to the IndyTalks theme. 

March 24 social thinker Emily Pilloton comes to the IMA to speak about Designing  Social Impact. Following up their wild ride “Seven Simultaneous Lecturers on Globalization” from the 2010 IndyTalks series, Big Car Collective and Know No Stranger return to the Central Library on April 6 for Indianapolis — Choose Your Own Adventure. May 17 IndyHub and the Indiana Historical Society team up for IndyTalks and Leaders Listen. The next week, May 21, dozens of neighborhood groups,churches, clubs, and businesses will come together to UIndy for NeighborPower!, a brainstorming conference to envirsion and realize a super future for the communities of Indianapolis.

Additional IndyTalks programs will take place throughout the year. For more information about IndyTalks, including a complete 2011 schedule, visit www.indytalks.info.

IndyTalks is a collaboration of the Athenaeum Foundation, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Humanities Council, WFYI, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Big Car, Christian Theological Seminary, EcoArts Connections, Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc., FLOW: White River Festival, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Herron School of Art & Design, Immigrant Welcome Center, Indianapolis Coalition for Neighborhood Development, Provocate, Indianapolis International Film Festival, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center, IndyHub, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, JCC, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc., Know No Stranger, LISC, Making Connections Indianapolis, Marian University, Mary Miss Studio, and Spirit & Place.

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