Claudia Polley was around 10 years old when her parents brought her to the Fall Creek YMCA in Indianapolis to hear a speech from Martin Luther King Jr.

One year ago Indianapolis lost a beloved figure, Richard “Coach Nell” Hamilton Sr. More than just a football coach, Coach Nell was a mentor, father figure and pillar of the Butler Tarkington and Crown Hill community.

Written by African American playwright Cheryl L. West, “Fannie” tells the powerful story of Fannie Lou Hamer and her struggles and victories in the fight for Black voting rights.

“Samia Halaby: Centers of Energy,” was canceled Dec. 20 after a two-sentence letter from the museum’s leadership, said Madison Gordon, a board member of the Samia Halaby Foundation. Gordon said Halaby’s team was told the exhibition was canceled for security reasons.

Indianapolis’ airwaves dimmed Jan. 8 with the passing of radio legend Jerry “The Loverman” Wade. For nearly four decades, Wade’s velvet voice serenaded numerous souls as host of WTLC’s “The Quiet Storm,” weaving a tapestry of smooth grooves and gentle wisdom that became the soundtrack to countless lives.

In a nearly forgotten area along the banks of the White River in downtown Indianapolis lay buried gems of the past. These gems are the human remains of notable leaders who lived extraordinary lives, including the first Black landowner in Indiana.

Setting the tone for the new year looks different for everyone; however, a tradition that many practice is setting a New Year’s resolution. Dating back 4,000 years, ancient Babylonians have been said to be the first to practice the tradition, according to the History Channel.