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.

Hayes was the director of CBLC since 2017. She was appointed as the interim CEO of the library in 2022.

Mothers Against Violence Healing Ministry orchestrated their annual Christmas toy giveaway Dec. 12, offering comfort to those grappling with the repercussions of violence.

There are various local organizations that seek to brighten the season for struggling families by providing much-needed services and gifts.

Nonprofits Hands of Hope and The Contingent, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Child Services, announced their new initiative Every Child Indiana Nov. 28.

Republic Services and Blue Polymers broke ground on a new Indianapolis plastics recycling complex Nov. 9. The complex will contain a Republic Services Polymer Center and a Blue Polymer advanced polymer production facility, which will improve plastic circularity production and supply recycled materials for sustainable packaging and other uses. Both of these facilities are expected to open in late 2024.

Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Mayor Hogsett joined community partners and the Indy Peace Fellowship to launch the citywide campaign #IChoosePeace

Pipkin’s bookstore provided more than 500 books to the church for a book fair held Saturday in the Martindale-Brightwood community. The bookstore has been online since 2020, and she launched their mobile bookstore on Juneteenth 2022.

The food pantry is open 18 hours per calendar week and serves approximately 3,653 families from Marion and surrounding donut counties, said Paul Ainslie, president of the Indianapolis Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.