Indianapolis, IN

Stanley Strader Park naming honors southeast side advocate who lifted his community

Published

2 years ago

January 16, 2024

Press Room

Stanley Strader Park naming honors southeast side advocate who lifted his community

Stanley Strader was all about service.

He served in two branches of the U.S. military.

He had a career focused on serving youth, founding or advancing many community organizations.

He served as a city-county councilor, representing his southeast side community.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024, Indianapolis celebrated Strader’s life and contributions by officially naming a newly renovated park after him.

The Indy Parks and Recreation Board authorized the name change of the former Bethel Park last year to honor Strader, a former City-County councilor.

On Monday, Mayor Joe Hogsett presented a proclamation designating Jan. 15, 2024, as Stanley Strader Park Day in the city of Indianapolis.

Who was Stanley Strader?

A lifelong resident of the southeast side, Stanley P. Strader was born in 1939.

At 17, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After that, he served in the Air Force.

He studied urban affairs at Lane College and worked at Indianapolis Public Schools in the Human Resources Department, and at Camp Atterbury as the recreation program director.

In 1969, Strader began working with the Community Action Against Poverty and the United Southside Community Organization. He founded the nonprofit organization Watoto-Wa-Simba (The Young Lions) Inc. in 1971, initially with a youth advocacy focus, but going on to serve senior citizens as well.

He was elected to the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council in 1980, delivering city funding for improvements to Bethel Park, the restoration of the fountains in Fountain Square, and the Bean Creek drainage project.

He started after-school programs and raised money to take busloads of youths on field trips and to amusement parks out of state.

“Stan was a visionary,” said his brother, Kenneth Strader. “Job well done, big brother. I love you, man.”

What else is new at the former Bethel Park?

Citizens Energy Group and its more than 30 partners contributed about $300,000 in money and in-kind donations to make improvements to the park at 2850 Bethel Ave., including the family center and football field.

“We hope that our time spent painting, fixing, and upgrading facilities and equipment here at Stanley Strader Park means that staff, neighbors, and visitors alike will enjoy safer, cleaner, and more efficient and comfortable spaces for community events and recreation,” said Jeffrey Harrison, president and CEO of Citizens. “Parks across Indianapolis are the sites of such sweeping family and significant community conversations.”

The city and other entities also have contributed for a combined investment of more than $1 million, Hogsett said. The $796,000 football field renovation is scheduled to be completed this summer.

South side champion

Strader was all about bringing resources to the community.

“I can’t tell you how much love is still out on the southeast for the work that Stanley Strader has done,” Terry Gingles Sr. told the city parks and recreation board at the 2023 meeting in which the name change was approved. “What Stanley did was bring attention to the needs of the south side. Before Stanley we didn’t have a voice. But after Stanley stood up and started working in the community, things began to change.”

“And when he stood up to be an advocate for the people on the south side, he got support from about 40 Black men. I’m not talking about people who were well known. They were just everyday people. And it still serves as an inspiration to us all and to continue that work that he’s done.”

Donnetta Strader, who works in special education at Arsenal Tech High School, told the board Stanley Strader positively impacted her life even before he became her brother-in-law. He brought resources to the community that she and her children used, including sickle cell anemia testing at the clinic he helped to start and dances the children attended at the Bethel community center.

“I can’t begin to tell you how the roots that Stanley planted on the south side have influenced my family,” she said. “I even learned how to split my vote, and I’d been voting for years.”

Stanley Strader, who died in 2020, was the only Republican candidate elected to represent an inner-city district, the Indianapolis Recorder reported in 1987. His constituency was 70% Democrat.

“Stanley was love,” said Jesse Bingham, pastor at Our Hope Community Church, 835 St. Paul St. “On the south side we have a really rich history. We always ride for each other. We always supplied for each other. We’ve always been there to pick each other up. We were, and we are still, our own community. We don’t necessarily wait for outsiders to come to do a lot for us. But we take care and look after ourselves. And Stanley embodied all of this.”

“Stanley was just instrumental in the community with the clinic and the men’s assembly and also he helped a lot of people get jobs. When some other people weren’t hiring some of us, Stanley would step in and do what he does.”

Former councilor and parks committee chair William “Duke” Oliver was one of the forces behind the park-naming honor.

“The image of this person is one that many will point to and say that’s the kind of person we want our sons to grow up to be, “ he told the board.

In addition to Stanley Strader’s wife, Diana Strader, other presenters Monday included City-County Councilor Frank Mascari.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita was among those in the audience to help celebrate Strader on the King holiday.

“I thought even though my staff and I had been celebrating at different events last week and into the weekend, we had to do something on the day itself,” Rokita said. “I just want to come and have my own private celebration and remembrance of a great man who reached across all the aisles and included everybody. And I wanted to remember him in my own way. And this event allowed me to do it.”

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com: @cherylvjackson.

Source link

Click to comment

Indianapolis, IN

Tony award-winning musical ‘MJ’ to stop in Indianapolis

Published

2 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Tony award-winning musical ‘MJ’ to stop in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — One of the most famous Hoosiers of all-time, Michael Jackson, really is coming back to Indiana! Well, through a Tony award-winning musical anyway.

The world-wide touring musical, MJ, will play from Jan. 13 – Jan. 18, 2026, at the Old National Centre.

The show will center around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, and while it will feature dancing and singing, it looks to further explore Jackson’s creative mind and collaborative spirit.

To learn more about the show, and purchase tickets view here.

Source link

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation empowers youth through comprehensive jazz education

Published

14 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation empowers youth through comprehensive jazz education

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Jazz Futures program, organized by the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, aims to inspire high school musicians through a comprehensive curriculum more than 22 sessions spanning seven months. Classes are held Sundays from 3 to 5 PM at the Luddy School of Informatics, 335 West Michigan St.

Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)(three) organization, the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation promotes jazz heritage in the community. One of its flagship events, the Indy Jazz Fest, celebrates the city’s historical contributions to jazz, featuring legendary artists like Cole Porter and Wes Montgomery who shaped Indianapolis’ vibrant music scene.

The Jazz Futures program focuses heavily on education, providing young musicians with training in jazz repertoire, improvisation, history and more. “Well, that’s one of the pillars of the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, you know, the education part of it,” said Pavel. “We have legacy and other things, but the education is like, okay, let’s get, you know, the young musicians interested early enough so they can develop a career.”

The program not only nurtures musical talent but also instills valuable life skills. Local jazz legend Rob Dixon noted, “Yeah, I mean, it’s a program that I think we’ve had great results with a lot of the students. And one of the things about it, too, is they get to understand that jazz is an American art form and it educates them in a way that I think a lot of the past Jazz Futures students, even though they don’t go into music, they become successful in life.” His perspective highlights the broader impact of music education on personal development, with alumni achieving success in various fields.

Pavel and Rob were excited about the current cohort of students, emphasizing the importance of bringing jazz to a younger audience, particularly those who may not have access to small group combos.

Their work with the students represents a culmination of years of effort to improve access to jazz education throughout Indianapolis, especially in underserved communities.

The foundation aims to reverse negative effects caused by urban development, which has fragmented traditionally Black neighborhoods and marginalized their rich cultural history.

The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation is committed to advancing artists of color through education and performance opportunities. They strive to ensure that the legacy of influential artists is not only preserved but also celebrated through ongoing community engagement at events like the Indy Jazz Fest.

The Jazz Futures program will continue through its seven-month curriculum, offering performances and learning experiences for the students. The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation plans to maintain its commitment to jazz education and community involvement with various events throughout the year.

Source link

Indianapolis, IN

If Anthony Richardson Can’t Beat Out 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers, That’s A Big Problem

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

If Anthony Richardson Can’t Beat Out 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers, That’s A Big Problem

Indianapolis’s playoff chances collide with player development as Rivers challenges a cleared Richardson for QB1.

PublishedDecember 15, 2025 2:55 PM EST•UpdatedDecember 15, 2025 2:55 PM EST

After Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles, the Indianapolis Colts turned to 44-year-old Philip Rivers. Rivers, who hadn’t taken an NFL snap since January 2021, immediately stepped into the team’s starting lineup and nearly led the team to a shocking upset over the Seattle Seahawks.

But there’s a new wrinkle. Anthony Richardson, the quarterback the Colts selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was cleared to return to football activities. Richardson suffered a freak pregame orbital fracture on Oct. 12.

Now the question for the Colts is simple: Who starts at quarterback when Richardson is healthy enough to play? The decision would be easy if the Colts were out of playoff contention. They would start the young quarterback and hope he shows some of the flashes he displayed during his very short rookie season.

But the Colts are still very much in the AFC postseason picture, currently sitting at 8-6. They are one game behind the Houston Texans for the seventh and final playoff spot with a game against Houston scheduled for Week 18.

They are also two games behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South lead, and the two teams meet in Week 17. The Colts don’t control their own postseason destiny; even if Indianapolis wins out, the Texans would get in over the Colts if Houston wins its other two remaining games.

Still, the first step is to win the final three games. That starts with a Monday Night Football matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. Rivers is going to start that game, according to head coach Shane Steichen.

This isn’t surprising news, since Richardson hasn’t practiced yet. But there’s going to be a decision between the two starters soon. Who gives them the best chance to win once both QBs are healthy?

Richardson vs. Rivers for Colts QB1

If the answer is Rivers, that’s a death knell for the career of Richardson. Losing the starting job to Daniel Jones was one thing, but failing to start over a 44-year-old QB who spent nearly five years out of the NFL is another matter entirely.

With Anthony Richardson cleared for football activities, the Indianapolis Colts are likely to have to make a decision between the young quarterback and the recently-signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers.

(Imagn Images)

Despite going 6-5 as a starter last season, Richardson completed less than 50% of his passes and threw more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (8). Of course, Richardson does a lot of his damage on the ground, rushing for 499 yards and 6 touchdowns in his 11 starts in 2024.

Rivers didn’t light up the Seahawks’ defense on Sunday, but he was efficient. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. The interception came on a desperation heave on the team’s final possession with the game virtually out of reach. Rivers got the ball out quickly, taking only one sack against a very good Seattle defense.

Head coach Shane Steichen was hired prior to the team drafting Richardson, so he has some motivation to ensure Richardson succeeds in the NFL. But he’s not going to put that above the team’s short-term future, which includes an opportunity to reach the playoffs.

Ultimately, Steichen is going to start the quarterback he believes gives him the best chance to win the next three games. If that quarterback is Philip Rivers, it means Anthony Richardson’s NFL future is very, very bleak.

Source link