Indiana Black Caucus Set For Virtual Town Halls, Starting June 3

The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus’s upcoming town halls will provide an update on the past legislative session and gather input on what the focus should be next year.

The annual community meetings will start June 3.

Typically, the IBLC town halls are held in person, in at least three communities around the state. Last year, because of the pandemic, they went virtual. And Caucus Chair Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) said they’re virtual again this year because they have a bigger reach.

“When we were doing it in person, we were only reaching about 100 people per location that we went to," Shackleford said. "We learned last year with the virtual that we were able to reach almost 10,000 people.”

Shackleford said the last of this year’s three town halls is later than usual, in October.

“That one will focus on redistricting and where we are with redistricting and the census and everything,” Shackleford said.

A new feature of this year’s town halls: each will be moderated by a Black journalist. Shackleford said it will help make the meetings better organized.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.