Indianapolis, IN

Stop the Violence Indianapolis celebrate 11 years of ‘The Talks’ – Indianapolis Recorder

Published

2 years ago

June 17, 2024

Stop the Violence Indianapolis celebrate 11 years of ‘The Talks’ – Indianapolis Recorder

“The Talks – Identifying the Mirror in Me” is a summer camp program dedicated to coaching 24 girls of color, ages 12-16 in potentially high-crime areas. (Photos provided/Stop the Violence Indianapolis)

For the last 11 years, Stop the Violence Indianapolis has been helping young girls work on self-image, self-worth and self-respect.

Created in 2009 by Anthony and Beatrice Beverly, Stop the Violence Indianapolis is a community organization that aims to be a catalyst for social change. The organization is completely run with the help of volunteers and focuses on programming surrounding prevention, intervention and recovery for kids and teens in high-crime areas, Anthony Beverly said.

“Most of the work we do is on the preventative end,” Anthony Beverly said. “We work with youth and families, and we have programs like ‘The Talks’ and life coaching… We also do work in the intervention world, and we try to go deep … it’s called the Violence Intervention Process.”

“The Talks — Identifying the Mirror in Me” is a summer camp program dedicated to coaching 24 girls of color, ages 12-16 in potentially high-crime areas, Beatrice Beverly said. “The Talks” aims to fill the gaps by including support in areas that are overlooked or misunderstood. Workshops are focused on self-worth, self-image and self-respect to help educate the girls on the importance of mental health and healing traumas, conquering inequities faced in the education system and growing statistics of gun violence.

READ MORE: Drowning Disparities: Indy Water Safety Festival aims to address issue

“We go in and we have real conversations,” Beatrice Beverly said. “We have conversations that include control and how sometimes it was taken away and sometimes it was given away, right? We have conversations about our educational system and how young girls are being pushed out at a higher rate than young men. We have conversations around gun violence, how the number of girls starting to carry weapons is starting to increase.”

Many of these topics are discussed in workshops with guest speakers, in healing circles, over meals and group activities such as crafting, Beatrice Beverly said. These workshops are often supplemented with outdoorsy activities — such as kayaking and canoeing — to introduce the girls to new experiences.

Each of the girls can return to camp for two years, and after they age out, they are always welcome back as interns, Beatrice Beverly said. Following the camp, the girls are invited back for different activities throughout the year as a reminder to continue giving back to their communities.

Having hosted this camp for 11 years — and Stop the Violence for 15 years — Anthony and Beatrice Beverly said the highlights are when they can see the difference, they have made in someone’s life and reinstill one’s confidence in themselves.

“When we talk about sustainability, people put that down based on the program being sustainable over time,” Beatrice Beverly said. “A program is built up to dollars, and when the dollars run out, programs cannot be sustainable over time. But what is sustainable over time is relationships: authentic, intentional, respectful and trustful, and that’s what makes it work.”

“The Talks” has had more than 250 girls go through the program, none of which have touched the juvenile system since, Beatrice Beverly said.

Stop the Violence Indianapolis aims to go deeper and build relationships with the community, including churches, nonprofits and community leaders. That way they might better help the kids and teens who go unseen, Anthony Beverly said.

Each of the programs offered through Stop the Violence Indianapolis is free, and the organization is entirely run through volunteer efforts. For more information or to register for “The Talks,” visit stoptheviolenceindy.org or call 317-692-9929.

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.

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Indianapolis, IN

When is Indianapolis Colts first pick in 2026 NFL draft?

Published

8 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

When is Indianapolis Colts first pick in 2026 NFL draft?

Without a first round selection, when is the Indianapolis Colts’ first pick in the 2026 NFL draft?

Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL draft, what selections do the Indianapolis Colts have this year?

With a record of 8-9, the Colts finished the 2025 season with the 16th-best record. However, they won’t be picking at 16th overall in the first round.

In order to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets, the Colts traded away their 2026 and 2027 first-round draft picks to New York.

So the first time that the Colts will be on the clock come April is in Round 2 and with the 47th overall pick, according to Tankathon.

In total, the Colts currently have five draft picks in 2026. Along with trading away their first-rounder, GM Chris Ballard also traded the Colts’ sixth-round draft pick as part of the trade that brought Mekhi Blackmon over from Minnesota.

Round 2, pick 47
Round 3, pick 78
Round 4, pick 113
Round 5, pick 154
Round 7, pick 230

Now, the Colts are projected to receive two compensatory picks in the sixth and seventh rounds. This would bring the Colts’ total number of selections up to seven.

According to Over the Cap, those picks will be awarded to the Colts for EJ Speed and Joe Flacco leaving in free agency last offseason.

At this time, however, those compensatory picks have not yet been made official by the NFL.

NFL.com lists quarterback, linebacker, defensive linemen, and offensive tackle as the Colts’ biggest offseason needs.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indiana lawmaker proposes state takeover of public safety downtown

Published

20 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Indiana lawmaker proposes state takeover of public safety downtown

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana General Assembly returned to session Monday, and one bill filed by an Indianapolis Republican aims to address crime in downtown Indianapolis. The bill would allow for the state to step in to address violent crime in the downtown area.

“We have had people from Sweden who were killed that were in the military,” State Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, said. “We’ve had hotels shot up from outside. People killed on the street, especially on the canal. It’s a beautiful place, but people are scared.”

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Indiana lawmaker proposes state takeover of public safety downtown

Young filed Senate Bill 145, which would give the governor authority to provide adequate law enforcement services within downtown starting in 2027. Young said he would first try to negotiate with the mayor, but if no agreement is reached, Indiana State Police would assume all law enforcement services within the district. The district would include the Mile Square, Victory Field, Lucas Oil Stadium, Military Park, American Legion Mall, the U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial and related facilities such as parking lots.

“Now we are not doing this as a state on the taxpayers’ dime. Since the city won’t be paying as much, they have law enforcement duties. We are going to use some of the tax dollars that the state would send to Indianapolis, and we will hold those back for the cost we have. And hopefully it will be even cheaper,” Young said.

The bill would also allow the governor to appoint a special prosecutor for crimes committed downtown, taking that authority from the Marion County prosecutor.

Photo Courtesy: Downtown Indianapolis Inc.

WRTV reached out to several downtown organizations, the city and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

The Downtown Indy Alliance was unavailable for an interview but provided a statement:

“Public safety is critical to the continued success and vibrancy of Downtown, and we believe this work is best accomplished when partners are working collaboratively. Over the last several years, we have seen great strides in increased cooperation and communication, thanks in part to the work of the Marion County Crime Reduction Board, as well as the leadership of state and local law enforcement officers.
The results of such efforts are clear — in December, IMPD reported that violent crime was down nearly 8% and overall crime down more than 9% in the Downtown District. As conversations continue at the Statehouse, our focus remains on supporting collaboration and data-driven strategies that contribute to a safe and welcoming Downtown for residents, workers, and employers.”

The mayor’s office also issued a statement:

“This is not the first time we’ve seen an extreme proposal pointed at Indianapolis. And while the City is always happy to collaborate with the Governor and the State to improve Indianapolis, the notion that the State would take over public safety responsibilities Downtown is a step too far.”

Keeping downtown Indianapolis safe following second stabbing in a week

IMPD said they will follow the legislation closely and continue to operate as usual. Young said the proposal reflects what constituents want.

“They want to be safe when they come to our capital city and downtown,” Young said.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond before our deadline. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Courts and Criminal Law, where it awaits a hearing.
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Indianapolis, IN

Farewell to Circle Centre and more: See what opened, closed to end 2025

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Farewell to Circle Centre and more: See what opened, closed to end 2025

As the year came to an end, so did the annual carousel of stores opening and closing around Indianapolis.

Multiple beloved shops, including a giftware store in Fountain Square and a local bookstore near the Devington area, closed at the end of the year due to personal decisions or financial difficulties. Meanwhile, a streetwear shop opened in Castleton Square Mall, and the last tenants in Circle Centre Mall said their farewells before the shopping center closed for a yearslong redevelopment.

Here’s what retail stores opened and closed in December 2025.

Openings

Indianapolis Liberation Center

1619 Prospect St., indyliberationcenter.org, opened Dec. 5

The Indianapolis Liberation Center opened its permanent physical storefront last month to serve as a community space and organizing hub on the near southeast side. Founded in 2021, the Center brings together organizers and community groups to train activists and host events.

“With a physical store that’s a one-stop shop for organizers and activists — including a diverse range of hundreds of books, unique t-shirts, buttons, stickers, posters, and more — this marks a new chapter in achieving our mission of a city and world free of division, exploitation, marginalization, and oppression,” Dani Abdullah, a lead organizer with the Center, said in a press release.

The Center is run solely by volunteers.

Circle City Souvenirs

1 S. Capitol Ave., circlecitysouvenirs.com, opened early December

Longtime souvenir store Circle City Souvenirs closed up shop in the declining Circle Centre Mall, but the Indianapolis spot didn’t go far. Circle City Souvenirs is now open in the PNC Center. Owner Kim White told IndyStar the move was bittersweet, as her store had called the mall home since 2017, but she hopes to expand the business in the new location.

PRVT

6020 E 82nd St., Castleton Square Mall, shopatprvt.com, opened early December

Streetwear clothing store PRVT opened in early December next to the Foot Locker at Castleton Square Mall. Owner Daki Glumac also runs a PRVT location at Hamilton Town Center.

Closings

Tuggle’s Gifts & Goods

1029 Virginia Ave., closed Dec. 28

Tuggle’s Gifts and Goods closed in December after five years open on Fountain Square’s main commercial strip. At the store, Brooke and Ross Tuggle sold Indianapolis-themed gifts, creative works made by Indy artists and a variety of knick-knacks.

The Tuggles closed the business to move their family to Kentucky, per a social media post.

“This decision comes from a place of love and excitement,” the Tuggles wrote in an Instagram post. “We’re choosing to slow down, spend more time together as a family, and begin a new chapter as we move to Lexington, Kentucky.”

Red Dog Books

7115 E 46th St., Facebook, closed Dec. 31

Independent bookstore Red Dog Books closed at the end of the year after low sales, multiple moves and high rent made staying open in its storefront on 46th Street unattainable. Red Dog had just opened in the space earlier in spring 2025.

The nonprofit is preparing for a permanent shutdown, unless Red Dog can find a new space with affordable rent and gain support from the community through donations and purchases, a social media post said.

“This community has shown us time and time again that miracles happen when we stand together,” owners wrote in a Facebook post. “Please don’t just remember Red Dog Books. Help us keep it alive.”

WNS Apparel, Hot Topic, Aeropostale, Freestyle, the Collector’s Den, Indy Jewelers in Circle Centre Mall

49 W. Maryland St., Circle Centre Mall, closed end of December

At the end of December, Circle Centre Mall’s last tenants left, ending a 30-year run for the downtown shopping center.

A handful of stores — including WNS Apparel, Hot Topic, Aeropostale, Freestyle, Indy Jewelers, the Collector’s Den and Circle City Souvenirs — shuttered as a result. Hendricks Commercial Properties closed down the indoor portion of the mall, including the food court, to prepare for construction as the developer begins work on its $600 million redevelopment named Traction Yards.

Traction Yards will include an elevated outdoor retail experience with space for offices, apartments and potentially a boutique hotel. The overhaul is expected to be completed in phases, with the first section opening in 2029 at the earliest.

Know a store opening or closing in your neighborhood? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at amguffey@usatodayco.com.

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