Indianapolis, IN
HBCU All-Star Experience takes over Indianapolis – Indianapolis Recorder
College Access • Culture • Community Impact • Championship Energy
The 5th Annual HBCU All-Star Game Experience will bring a high-impact lineup of events to Indianapolis, connecting students, families, and the community to HBCU opportunities, while celebrating Black excellence during college basketball’s biggest weekend. Scheduled events are as follows:
TOP MEDIA MOMENT (FRIDAY):
WHAT: Kickoff Press Conference & Official Game Ball Presentation
WHO: Travis L. Williams, Founder & CEO, HBCU All-Stars, Mayor Joe Hogsett, Indianapolis City-County Councilor Keith Graves and members of the Indianapolis community.
WHEN: Friday, April 3 | 2:00 PM
WHERE: Corteva Coliseum, Indiana State Fairgrounds
KEY EVENTS FOR COVERAGE:
HBCU Awards Ceremony & Reception
📍 Madam Walker Legacy Center
🗓 Thursday, April 2 | 7:30–9:00 PM
➡ Honors local community leaders and top HBCU student-athletes, coaches & leaders
College Admissions & Scholarship Fair (VISUAL + COMMUNITY IMPACT)
📍 Corteva Coliseum
🗓 Friday, April 3 (9 AM–1 PM, FREE)
🗓 Sunday, April 5 (12–4 PM, ticket required)
➡ Students meet HBCUs, explore scholarships and attend panels
➡ Friday includes Pro Day Viewing + Meet & Greet
Friday Fun Day (Community Outreach) (STRONG VISUALS)
📍 Sankofa School of Success + Windsor Village Park
🗓 Friday, April 3 | 4:00–6:30 PM
➡ Student-athletes mentoring youth + food distribution
Social Justice & Civil Rights Panel
📍 Madam Walker Legacy Center
🗓 Saturday, April 4 | 11:30 AM–2:00 PM
➡ Panelists include Sean Johnson & Dr. Heather Savage
Black Business Vendor Showcase (VISUAL + ECONOMIC IMPACT)
📍 Corteva Coliseum
🗓 Sunday, April 5 | 12:00–5:00 PM
➡ Black-owned businesses + community marketplace
🏀 HBCU ALL-STAR GAME (MAIN EVENT)
📍 Corteva Coliseum, Indiana State Fairgrounds
🗓 Sunday, April 5, 2026
Game Time: 1:00 PM EST
Doors Open: 12:00 PM EST
Location: 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205
Parking: $10 per vehicle at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
➡ Featuring top HBCU senior student-athletes from across the country
➡ High-energy, nationally recognized showcase of men’s basketball’s biggest weekend.
➡ Includes fan experiences, vendor activations, and community engagement
WHY THIS MATTERS:
Expands college access for local students
Showcases HBCU excellence nationwide
Drives economic impact + Black entrepreneurship
Combines sports, education, culture, and community
SOUND BITE:
“This is a can’t-miss moment for Indianapolis and for our future leaders. We’re bringing together the full power of HBCU excellence—education, opportunity, culture, and community—under one roof.”
— Travis L. Williams, Founder & CEO, HBCU All-Stars
🎤 MEDIA CREDENTIALS & ACCESS
MEDIA CREDENTIALS REQUIRED for access to:
HBCU All-Star Game
Courtside coverage of events at Corteva Coliseum
Press conference and select VIP programming
Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting the 2026 HBCU Experience. For more information about the HBCU All-Star Game and Experience, visit www.hbcuallstargame.com or follow @HBCUAllStars on Facebook and Instagram.
For more HBCU All-Star coverage, visit Indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
Forty-one names comprised the 11th layer of Springer’s “The Forgiving Sea VI,” an interactive painting that invites people to wr
Elizabeth Gabriel, Mirror Indy
(MIRROR INDY) — The Garfield Park Conservatory will host multiple family-friendly events throughout June. The events include plant shows, kid’s story time and Dollar Menu Night, which allows residents to harvest and eat veggies from a community garden.
Events at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, range in price and some require advance registration.
The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will have displays and answer questions about a variety of bonsai. Vendors will have items for purchase.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6, 1-5 p.m. June 7
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Preschoolers ages 2-5 can participate in nature-themed storytime and crafts.
🗓️ 10-11 a.m. June 9
🎟️ $6 per child
Residents of all ages can harvest and eat veggies from Blakes’ Garden. Advance registration is preferred.
🗓️ 6-7 p.m. June 10
🎟️ $1 per person
Focused on ages 2-8, participants will listen to a nature-themed story and explore Blakes’ Garden. Attendees will relocate to a classroom if there’s inclement weather.
🗓️ 10 a.m. June 12
🎟️ Free
Up to 15 neighbors ages 10 and up will learn to ferment kimchi. Registration is required.
🗓️ 1-2 p.m. June 13
🎟️ $15 per person
Kids ages 2-5 can plant and harvest crops in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required.
🗓️ 11 a.m. to noon June 24
🎟️ $6 per child
The Indiana Insectivores will display tropical and native Indiana predator plants. Plants will also be available for purchase. Those who attend the plant show will also have free entry to the Predatory Plants Presentation 1-2 p.m. June 27.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, 1-5 p.m. June 28
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Community Love Fest 2026, an initiative happening over four days, will start on Wednesday at an Indianapolis church.
The STR8UP Mentoring Foundation, touted as an Indianapolis-based nonprofit to help at-risk urban youths, aims for the event to be a safe and productive start to summer for Indianapolis youth and families.
The kickoff rally will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 4958 Ribble Road. That’s off East 30th Street west of its intersections with Massachusetts Avenue and Emerson Avenue.
A community cleanup day will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at 3036 N. Sherman Drive, just north of East 30th Street.
A basketball tournament and a health and resource fair will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Washington Park, 3130 E. 30th St.
STR8UP programs include educational partnerships that support students from kindergarten through young adulthood, and intramural sports to encourage teamwork and healthy competition.
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