Indianapolis, IN
Stop the Violence Indianapolis celebrate 11 years of ‘The Talks’ – Indianapolis Recorder
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.
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“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.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis City-County Council president explains her desire for a data center moratorium.
Council President Maggie Lewis wants to put a pause on new data center developments. The proposal comes after months of public pressure from residents and environmental groups who say the city needs stronger rules before allowing more data centers. Now, Lewis says it’s time to hit pause while those questions are answered.
“I’m not saying that we’ll never have a new data center in our community. That’s not what this is about. I understand the importance of economic development in our community, but it is important that we hit pause, do that deep dive, and allow the community and the experts to have an honest conversation about the topic,” Lewis said.
Lewis says she isn’t trying to stop economic development. Instead, she says the city needs more time to fully understand what data centers could mean for Indianapolis before approving additional projects. Lewis says residents have raised questions about the potential impact on utilities, the environment and quality of life, and she believes those concerns deserve a more thorough public discussion before the city moves forward with additional developments.
“The community really is feeling as if their voices haven’t been heard. I believe it’s important that we bring all the stakeholders to the table and have that honest dialogue,” Lewis said.
Councilman Ron Gibson, who supports bringing data centers to Indianapolis, and he says these projects can bring investment to neighborhoods when they’re built in the right locations.
“This land where they’re going to actually develop it has been vacant for more than 43 years,” Gibson said. “It’s zoned for industrial use. This is really going to enhance our neighborhood. It’s going to bring back life, create more businesses that want to move into our area, and create more opportunity.”
One of the biggest concerns raised by opponents is whether increased demand for electricity and water could create additional costs for taxpayers.
“I believe strongly that the data centers must uphold total costs. I made sure the developer, in writing, is responsible for all utility costs, so none of that rolls over to constituents,” Gibson said.
Across Indiana, at least 17 counties have approved temporary moratoriums on new data center developments. Marshall and Cass counties have gone even further, banning new facilities altogether.
The committee meeting begins Monday at 5:30 p.m. inside the City-County Building, where members will hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning rules and consider Lewis’ amendment for a temporary moratorium. If approved by the committee, the proposal would move to the full City-County Council for further consideration.
INDIANAPOLIS — An investigation is underway after a woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash in downtown Indianapolis Saturday morning.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, at around 3:15 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of East Maryland and South Pennsylvania Streets after hearing a loud crash in the area.
When officers arrived on scene, they were flagged down by several people stating a pedestrian had been struck. Officers located an adult female who had been on a scooter in the crosswalk of the intersection.
She was transported to an area hospital in critical condition but later died from her injuries, IMPD said.
Investigators said the striking motorist did not stay on scene.
Police are encouraging those with information on the crash to contact Detective Adam Jones at (317) 327-3475 or call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives on Friday afternoon asked for help in locating 14-year-old Kathya Rodriguez, last seen on Monday afternoon.
On Friday night, an Indiana Silver Alert was issued for the girl.
Described as 4 feet, 9 inches, and 99 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, Kathya was last seen on Monday in the area of 2100 Waterford Place. That’s at The Meridian apartments off Westlane Road/West 71st Street on the city’s northwest side.
She was last seen about 12:45 p.m. Monday. She was wearing a gray hoodie with white writing, blue jeans, and sandals with socks.
In a statement Friday, IMPD said early in the investigation, detectives had no information indicating she was in danger, but as the investigation continued, detectives found details that led them to believe Kathya might be at risk.
Detectives believe she may be with Victor Martinez, 15. IMPD described him as 5 feet, 5 inches, and 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen Monday near 7200 Knobwood Drive. That’s also at The Meridian apartments.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts was asked to call 911, contact the IMPD missing persons unit at 317-327-6160, or call Crimestoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
This story was updated from its initial post after IMPD corrected the last name of Kathya.
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