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Be Indypendent Kicks Off Next Phase

The Be Indypendent movement encouraging Indianapolis residents to buy locally created art celebrates its first anniversary this week during IDADA First Friday. Several local galleries will be open from 6-9 p.m. to welcome visitors before the night’s fireworks displays and unveil new Be Indypendent stickers making their debut that evening.

The anniversary is marked with a new alliance with area architects and interior designers, including creation of an “Art Swatch” booklet designed to make it easier for architects to incorporate locally produced art into their projects.

Since its birth on July 4, 2007, Be Indypendent has driven home the notion that by supporting local artists, art patrons benefit the entire community.

More information: www.beindypendent.org.

An audience with His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

World-renowned humanitarian His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will make a rare appearance in Indianapolis on July 8. Founder of the Art of Living Foundation, Sri Sri will offer “Practical Wisdom for Getting the Most Out of Life.”

Local Art of Living Foundation chapter president Shalin Desai calls the appearance a privilege, since the spiritual leader has never visited Indiana. Sri Sri travels to more than 40 countries each year to share his message of peace.

The chapter conducts regular workshops on the breathing techniques Sri Sri developed, teaching people to be more efficient and productive. “That’s something each one of us can use,” Desai says. Chapters are also active in service work across the country and worldwide, including in Iraq; locally, members have volunteered to help flood victims in Columbus.

The presentation is at 6:30 p.m. July 8 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Tickets are available in advance from www.artofliving.org.

Defending the Dogs Rally

Animal lovers will gather on Monument Circle July 9 at a statewide Defend the Dogs Rally to bring attention to the plight of puppy mill dogs.

Because Indiana does not regulate puppy mills, the state has one of the highest numbers of puppy mills in the country. Dogs in these situations live out their lives in small wire cages and are typically malnourished and dehydrated, with no exercise or attention. A billboard prominently placed on I-465 near the airport has helped raise awareness of the connection between local pet shops and puppy mills. The rally will give further voice to the cause, even as funds to keep the billboard in place are in jeopardy.

Co-organizer Terri Scott notes, “It’s time to put a stop to the horrors these animals endure at the hands of those only concerned with turning a profit.” The rally aims to connect animal advocacy groups, rescue groups and individuals concerned with animal welfare from all over the state.

The event starts at 11:30 a.m. and features  Rare Breed of Love author Jana Kohl as the guest speaker. Kohl is appearing at Carmel’s Barnes and Noble in the evening, and her dog Baby will be in attendance at both events.

To RSVP, e-mail DefendTheDogs@yahoo.com. For information about puppy mills or to make a donation to fund the billboard, visit www.petshoppuppies.org.

Also July 9, Indianapolis Animal Care and Control’s monthly board meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m. Interim board chair Warren Patitz says citizens are invited to express concerns in the public input session at the end of each meeting.

Honoring Humanitarians at the AFC Peace Award Dinner

The sight of Cambodian children living in squalor prompted a radical life change for former 20th Century Fox president Scott Neeson, who will be honored July 12 with the Ambassadors for Children Peace Award.

According to AFC’s Katherine Brooks, Neeson couldn’t stop thinking about the children he saw foraging in a dump during a trip to Cambodia. He left his Hollywood lifestyle to move to Cambodia, where he founded the Cambodian Children’s Fund. Some 300 children are now cared for in the organization’s orphanage.

The July 12 VIP dinner and reception at the Indianapolis Marriott downtown will honor both Neeson and Butler student Michael Hole, who will receive the Young Ambassador Award for his work raising money to building a school in Uganda.

“Our basic mission is short-term humanitarian travel to serve children around the world,” says Brooks of AFC. The Indianapolis-based nonprofit has “voluntourism” destinations in 19 different countries.

More information/registration: www.ambassadorsforchildren.org.

Growing smartly

Checking urban sprawl in favor of “Smart Growth” is the goal of a new group forming in Central Indiana. The project is the brainchild of Reid Litwack, a partner at Indy’s own green builder, Casa Verde. A kickoff meeting July 15 will bring together like-minded people to explore forming a Central Indiana Smart Growth chapter.

Smart Growth principles propose creation of walkable neighborhoods, preservation of open spaces, variety in transportation options, and more. Organizers of the meeting say Portland, OR Smart Growth advocates have slowed suburban sprawl and lowered residents’ automobile dependence.

Casa Verde’s Lori Ballard notes, “We are openly inviting whomever may have an interest to brainstorm and form something more formal to move forward in a positive action mode.”

The meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. July 15 in the Academy Building conference room, 429 E. Vermont.

RSVP to lori.ballard@yahoo.com.

Promoting cultural competence in education

Effectively educating youth of all backgrounds in a changing demographic landscape is the focus of a July 18 statewide conference sponsored by Indiana Black Expo. The Cultural Competence Education Forum will address ways to help all children succeed in the classroom, bringing a cross-cultural focus to educational systems.

According to IBE’s Vernon Williams, the forum was conceived in part as a solution-oriented response to the 2007 State of Our Black Youth report, with a goal of generating specific action items.

“The conference was organized to bring together educators and parents and the general public to create a dialog about the state of our youth,” he says. “We have an opportunity to determine where to go from here.”

Keynote speakers Ruby Payne and Jawanza Kunjufu will explore two “diametrically opposed” approaches to diversity in the educational arena, according to Williams.

The forum runs from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. July 18 at the Indiana Convention Center. Information/registration: www.indianablackexpo.com or 317-925-2702.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. appears at IHC

The History Makers Series at the Indiana History Center will feature preeminent African-American historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. on July 23.

Gates is noted for his work with African-American genealogy and PBS documentaries like African-American Lives. His presentation, “W.E.B. Du Bois and the Encyclopedia Africana,” will explore the history and impact of the African diaspora.

The center’s Erin Kelley says Gates’ appearance provides counterpoint to IHC’s previous Indiana town hall series on immigration. “With immigrant history, you’re considering people who chose to come here,” she points out. “Bringing Dr. Gates in will provide something of a counterbalance to that, because these are people who did not choose to come here, but came to this country by force.”

More information: www.indianahistory.org. Tickets: 317-232-1882.

Last chance for “My Tree and Me” coupons

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful has extended its “My Tree and Me” campaign, which offers $20 coupons for Indy area residents to use towards purchase of a tree at participating retailers. The program furthers KIB’s “Neighborwoods” goal of planting 100,000 trees by 2017.

According to KIB President David Forsell, many cities across the country are starting to focus on restoring tree canopy, because of factors like the heat island effect, climate change and the fact that “trees do just remarkable work for human beings.”

“Beyond cooling our city, which is really important for air quality and general quality of life, trees do other things,” Forsell says. From water filtration to boosting property values, an investment in trees has vast payoff — even reducing crime in one study. “Violent crime, domestic abuse and property crime in one study were reported to be significantly lower where the area had trees instead of barren blacktop. Crime was lower and people knew their neighbors better where trees existed.”

Noting that the trees on offer in this campaign are not tiny seedlings but 6- to 12-foot saplings that are being cared for by neighborhoods, schools and youth corps. Forsell emphasizes, “We’re into meaningful change.”

The pilot program, which kicked off on Arbor Day, was scheduled to be capped at 1,000 trees. That milestone was reached within the first two weeks, and KIB decided to extend the campaign to 2,000 trees or July 23, whichever comes first.

Download coupons at www.mytreeandme.org.

KIB’s recycling team to hit the Brickyard

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is looking for avid recyclers to join the July 24-27 Brickyard 400 Event Recycling Team. Volunteers will collect recyclable drink containers, monitor bins and offer interested race-goers recycling information — all while enjoying free admission to the event.

KIB’s Tammy Stevens says the recycling team’s goal is twofold. “We’re trying to raise awareness about recycling in Indianapolis and also divert recyclable materials from the waste stream at these events,” she says.

More information: www.kibi.org/event_recycling_team.