For Immediate Release

For Information Contact Katrina Owens

Monday, April 23, 2023

The Legendary O’Jays, Grammy Award-Winning Stephanie Mills, Dru Hill, and Howard Hewitt Announced as Indiana Black Expo’s Free Concert Lineup

Last Stop on The Love Train. The O’Jays’ final tour.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Indiana Black Expo announced its lineup for the Summer Celebration Outdoor Concert during the weekend of Black Expo’s 53rd annual Summer Celebration, July 14th – July 16th. The outdoor concert will take place on Friday, July 14, at American Legion Mall and will be headlined by R&B Legends the O’Jays, Grammy award-winning singer Stephanie Mills, R&B group Dru Hill, and legendary R&B crooner Howard Hewett. “This year, we are excited to celebrate 53 years of Black culture and entertainment, and we want to ensure that our audience and community witnesses the O’Jays, one of the greatest R&B groups, during its final tour,” said IBE President Alice Watson. The outdoor concert, free to the public, will begin at 6:00 p.m. For complete details and access to VIP tickets, visit www.SummerCelebration.net or call 317.925.2702.

About The O’Jays

After more than 60 years of electrifying people all over the world, the mighty, legendary R&B/Soul kings, the O’Jays, are set to embark on their final tour! Featuring original members Eddie Levert Sr. and Walter Williams Sr., who have been singing together since they were kids. The O’Jays are touring history, a connection to an era, and a sound that formed the soundtrack for the lives of several generations. In 1972, Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters with whom the O’Jays had been working for several years, signed the group to their Philadelphia International label. With this magic formula, often called The Sound of Philadelphia, The O’Jays scored their first number 1 and million-selling song, “Backstabbers, followed by more chart-topping pop and R&B singles, including “Love Train,” “Put Your Hands Together,” “For The Love of Money,” “I Love Music,” “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love),” “Livin’ For The Weekend” and “Use Ta Be My Girl.” Throughout their career, The O’Jays have achieved 10 Gold albums, 9 Platinum albums, and 10 #1 hits. It’s been a long journey, but thanks to the fans, the LOVE TRAIN is still going strong! The O’Jays were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005 and honored with BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. In 2013, they were inducted into The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame.

About Stephanie Mills

Stephanie Mills is a Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, and Broadway star. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she started singing at the age of three. Stephanie won the competitive Amateur Hour at the Apollo for six straight weeks and made her Broadway debut at a young age starring in the musical “Maggie Flynn.” Ms. Mills attended the prestigious private children’s school, Lincoln Square Academy. This New York native rose to stardom and became a household name as “Dorothy” in the original Broadway run of the hit musical, “The Wiz.” The song “Home” from the show later became a Number 1 U.S. R&B hit. In 2015, Stephanie was cast as “Aunt Em” in the NBC live musical “The Wiz, forty years after her initial Broadway appearance in the production. Ms. Mills is the recipient of countless number-one hit records, including “I Have Learned to Respect The Power Of Love,” “I Feel Good All Over,” “You’re Putting A Rush On Me,” “Something In The Way You Make Me Feel,” and “Home.” She has won multiple awards, including a Grammy Award, Tony Award, NAACP Image Award, and American Music Award, just to name a few. Recently, Ms. Mills made her feature film debut in Lifetime’s “Pride: A Seven Deadly Sins Story.”

About Dru Hill

Founded in 1992 as “14K Harmony,” the group, discovered by manager Kevin Peck, evolved to become “Dru Hill” in 1996, engraving itself into the legacy of R&B music and bringing a dynamic sound to the ever-changing industry. Known for hits like “Tell Me,” “In My Bed,” “Never Make a Promise,” and “How Deep Is Your Love,” the group has given the world music for the ages. Over the last 25+ years, Dru Hill has sold over 40 million records worldwide. Recording new material and continuously performing at sold-out venues around the globe, Dru Hill continues to solidify its legacy as one of the greatest groups of all time. In honor of their 25th Anniversary in the music industry, Dru Hill is featuring all members of the group, past and present, to give fans an experience they will never forget. Alongside founding members SisQo, Nokio, Jazz, and the latest additions Smoke and Black from the R&B group “Playa,” former members Scola and Tao rejoin the dynamic lineup. The group has exciting surprises in store for its expanding fan base everywhere.

About Howard Hewett

Howard Hewett is one of the most gifted vocalists in the post-Marvin Gaye era of pop R&B. Hewett got his mainstream break as the male vocal lead in Shalamar, a centerpiece of Dick Griffey’s SOLAR (Sound of Los Angeles Records) label. The group gave the world feel-good dance favorites, The Second Time Around and A Night to Remember, For the Lover in You, as well as a number of beautiful B-side ballads like You Can Count On Me and Somewhere There’s a Love. In the mid-eighties, Howard sets out on his solo career, releasing I Commit to Love in 1986 on Elektra from the first single, Hewett made magic, giving his amorous voice and whimsical lyrics to Stay, I’m For Real and the title track. Most beloved track on this freshman release would be his spiritually grounded Say Amen. This single soared on the Inspirational charts and has enjoyed the status of a modern gospel classic. Subsequent projects have solidified Hewett’s place in the high ranks of R&B balladeers by writing and collaborating and lending his voice within an intimate group of crooners, including George Duke, Quincy Jones, James Ingram, Anita Baker, Prince, and Stanley Clarke. With Elektra, he released Forever and Ever (1988- Once, Twice, Three Times), Howard Hewett (1990- Show Me), and Allegiance (1992- Can We Try).

For more information about Summer Celebration, visit www.SummerCelebration.net.

About Indiana Black Expo, Inc.

Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) statewide organization with 12-chapter affiliates. The mission of IBE is to serve as an effective voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-Americans. IBE is known for its two major events, Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic, and provides year-round youth and family initiatives, including its Education Conference, Black Business Training Institute, Performing Arts Academy, Community Learning Hub, Education Day (college fair), Summer Internship Program, Scholarship Fund, Statewide Anti-Tobacco Initiative, Youth Leadership Summit, Employment Opportunity Fair and Business Conference.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Junely 3, 2022

Media Contact:
Bryan Kelley, Vice President
bkelley@indianablackexpo.com
(317) 925-2702

Actor and Director Blair Underwood Announced as

Recipient of Lifetime Screen Image Award

Indianapolis, IN – Today, Indiana Black Expo announced that it will honor Blair Underwood with the Lifetime Screen Image Award at the Pacers Sports & Entertainment Corporate Luncheon presented by Indiana University. The luncheon will take place on Friday, July 15 at 11:00 AM in the Sagamore Ballroom at the Indiana Convention Center. Doors open at 10:00 AM.

The Lifetime Screen Image Award is presented to celebrate an artist who has made historic contributions to the film and television industry. It also recognizes exceptional performances and achievements in the arts by people of color.

Blair Underwood currently filmed a starring role in the new Showtime series, Three Women, alongside Shailene Woodley, DeWanda Wise and Betty Gilpin.

Underwood recently directed Viral, a feature in which he will also play the lead, opposite Sarah Silverman and Alfre Woodard. He can currently be seen playing Vernon Jordan, opposite Clive Owen, Edie Falco and Beanie Feldstein, in megaproducer Ryan Murphy’s Impeachment for FX, as well as the role of William Jackson Harper’s father in the second season of Love Life on HBO Max. Underwood co-starred in the Netflix limited series, Self-Made, opposite Octavia Spencer. His performance earned a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series for the NAACP Image Awards, as well as a Black Reel Award. While audiences were streaming that performance, Underwood was onstage, starring on Broadway opposite David Allen Grier in the Roundabout Theatre revival of A Soldier’s Play at the American Airlines Theater. His performance garnered accolades and was recently nominated for a Tony Award, as well as a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award.

In 2019 he recurred on the Netflix comedy series, Dear White People, and in Clark Johnson’s Juanita, opposite Alfred Woodard, also for Netflix. He spent two years as a series regular on the ABC drama series, Quantico, while also recurring on another hit ABC drama, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He also had a co-starring role in The After Party, from writer/director Ian Edelman, which Netflix released late in 2018. He can be seen co-starring in Justin Simien’s horror comedy, Bad Hair, which premiered on Hulu in October 2020.

Past television credits include series regular roles on Dirty Sexy Money, The New Adventures of Old Christine, In Treatment, L.A. Law and The Event. Film credits include Rules of Engagement, Madea’s Family Reunion and Full Frontal, for director Steven Soderbergh. Underwood co-starred opposite the late Cicely Tyson in the Lifetime telefilm, A Trip To Bountiful, based on the Tony Award-winning play. In 2012 he made his acclaimed Broadway debut in the iconic role of “Stanley” in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he earned a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nomination.

“We look forward to honoring Mr. Underwood for his dynamic performances and work in the television, film and theater throughout his decades-long career, said IBE President Tanya Mckinzie. “In addition to his work on the screen, Mr. Underwood has also used his platform to advocate for civil rights and advance our communities,” added Mckinzie.

To purchase tickets for the luncheon, visit indianablackexpo.com.

About Indiana Black Expo, Inc.

Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) statewide organization with 12-chapter affiliates. The mission of IBE is to serve as an effective voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-Americans. IBE is known for its two major events, Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic® and provides year-round youth and family initiatives, including its Education Conference, recent Black Business Training Institute, Performing Arts Academy, Community Learning Hub, Education Day (college fair), Summer Internship Program, Scholarship Fund, Statewide Anti-Tobacco Initiative, Youth Leadership Summit, Employment Opportunity Fair, and Business Series and Conference.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 23, 2022

Media Contact:
Bryan Kelley, Vice President
bkelley@indianablackexpo.com
(317) 925-2702

GEO Academies Announced as Recipient of 
Rev. Charles E.  Williams Excellence Award  

Indianapolis, IN – Today, Indiana Black Expo announced that it will honor GEO Academies with the Rev. Charles E. Williams Excellence Award at the Pacers Sports & Entertainment Corporate Luncheon presented by Indiana University.  The luncheon will take place on Friday, July 15 at 11:00 AM in the Sagamore Ballroom at the Indiana Convention Center.  Doors open at 10:00 AM. 

The Rev. Charles R. Williams Excellence Award is given to those who have helped shape, contribute, or strengthen IBE’s vision of promoting African-American achievement in academics, athletics, business, education or the arts.  The recipient must be a leader who has demonstrated courage, vision and dedication to diversity in the community.   

GEO Academies currently serves 3500 students in eight schools located in Gary, Indianapolis and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  The student population served is 99% African-American and 100% low-income.  Nearly all schools are led by minority leaders and more than 80% of GEO Academies’ staff is African-American.  21st Century Charter School in Gary is its flagship school that serves 1300 students.  21st Century Charter School regularly posts high school graduation rates of 90% or better and has one of the highest college and career readiness ratings in the state surpassing several of our state’s richest communities. The school focuses on college immersion and regularly graduates students having earned two full years of college, an associate degree, while in high school. These students earn these degrees at no cost to them. 21st Century Charter School has the only student in Indiana history to earn a full bachelor’s degree (from Purdue University) while in high school and has two more students in the pipeline who will accomplish this goal in 2024. It has had 16-year-olds earn associate degrees and this year, a 13-year-old earned his associate degree when he should be in 7th grade.  

Due to its success in Gary, GEO has been invited to start schools in Indianapolis and Baton Rouge and has the highest performing charter schools serving their demographics in Baton Rouge.  

GEO’s work and student success has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Fox News, USA Today and many other news outlets.  

“This year, IBE has been intentional in its efforts to uplift our educators and a battered and undervalued profession that is needed to advance our youth and families academically, socially and economically.  We are providing a vehicle, cash awards and other tokens of appreciation to educators at our statewide Education Conference as a small gesture of how we appreciate their contributions to our youth and community.  This honor is no different,” said IBE President & CEO Tanya Bell Mckinzie.  “At a time when African Americans and low-income families continue to face the consequence of income inequality and lack of access to affordable higher education, the work of GEO Academies supports the upward mobility of economically disadvantaged and underserved African American students and, as such, contributes to the wellbeing of our state and country,” added Mckinzie. 

“I’m grateful to Indiana Black Expo for recognizing the work of our staff and our families at GEO Academies over the past 20 years. We firmly believe students are capable and want to do so much more than tradition expects. Our staff works hard to support our students and their aspirations every day.  This award recognizes their efforts and hopefully will inspire others to consider doing the same for their communities,” said Kevin Teasley, Founder & President of Geo Academies.  

 
About Indiana Black Expo, Inc. 

Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) statewide organization with 12-chapter affiliates. The mission of IBE is to serve as an effective voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-Americans. IBE is known for its two major events, Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic® and provides year-round youth and family initiatives, including its Education Conference, recent Black Business Training Institute, Performing Arts Academy, Community Learning Hub, Education Day (college fair), Summer Internship Program, Scholarship Fund, Statewide Anti-Tobacco Initiative, Youth Leadership Summit, Employment Opportunity Fair, and Business Series and Conference. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2022

Media Contact:
Bryan Kelley, Vice President
bkelley@indianablackexpo.com
(317) 925-2702

Indianapolis, IN – Today, Indiana Black Expo and Delta Faucet Company announced their collaboration to help advance IBE’s economics equity work to build the capacity and growth of Black and minority-owned businesses in Indiana.  As part of the partnership, Delta Faucet Company will serve as the presenting sponsor of this year’s Business Conference that will occur on Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12.  The conference includes workshops geared towards certification and procurement opportunities for businesses.  The conference also includes networking opportunities, the Mayor’s Breakfast hosted by Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Governor’s Reception hosted by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb.  Conference workshops are free and will return in-person inside the Indiana Convention Center.   

“IBE is excited to grow its relationship with Delta Faucet Company in the economics equity space and looks forward to partnering on this year’s Business Conference,” said IBE President & CEO Tanya Mckinzie.  “The goal of the business conference is to provide a venue to empower diverse business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals with information and resources that will assist them in building their capacity and ability to access procurement opportunities and capital,” added Mckinzie.     

“We’re excited to once again work with Indiana Black Expo,” said Ken Roberts, President, Delta Faucet Company. “Diversity, coupled with a mindset of equity and inclusion where we welcome different ideas and opinions, drives how we win at Delta Faucet Company. Our collaboration with IBE is more than a great opportunity to pair our passion and resources with this critically important organization; it also fully aligns with our internal priorities, including attracting and retaining diverse talent.”  

IBE is also conducting its Black Business Training Institute with more than 120 Black business owners.  The training is supported by a three year grant from KeyBank, the former presenting sponsor of the Business Conference.  More than 100 business owners that are currently participating in training are expected to be present at the Business Conference presented by Delta Faucet Company for additional opportunities.  IBE will present a $5,000 cash award to its top business and honor its businesses at this year’s Mayor’s Breakfast on July 11.   

 
About Indiana Black Expo, Inc. 

Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) statewide organization with 12-chapter affiliates. The mission of IBE is to serve as an effective voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-Americans. IBE is known for its two major events, Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic® and provides year-round youth and family initiatives, including its Education Conference, recent Black Business Training Institute, Performing Arts Academy, Community Learning Hub, Education Day (college fair), Summer Internship Program, Scholarship Fund, Statewide Anti-Tobacco Initiative, Youth Leadership Summit, Employment Opportunity Fair, and Business Series and Conference. 

About Delta Faucet Company 

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Delta Faucet Company is a leader in faucets, bath and shower fixtures, and related accessories. The company manufactures Delta®, Brizo®, Kraus®, and Peerless® branded products. Combining design and innovation, Delta Faucet Company’s extensive product line suits both residential and commercial buildings. 

Delta Faucet Company exists to transform experiences with water. From inspiring kitchen and bath environments to smart and simple water usage, Delta Faucet Company innovates living and workspaces.  

Delta Faucet Company is a place where passion flows from employees and comes to life in products. For more information about Delta Faucet Company, visit deltafaucetcompany.com. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2022

Media Contact:
Bryan Kelley, Vice President
bkelley@indianablackexpo.com
(317) 925-2702

Indianapolis, IN – Today, Indiana Black Expo announced that it will present a new vehicle to the top finalist and four additional cash awards to deserving Indiana educators during the Indiana University Education Conference that will take place on Wednesday, July 13 and Thursday, July 14th. The sessions on Wednesday will occur virtually while the sessions on Thursday will take place from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM inside the Indiana Convention Center.

“For nearly 15 years, IBE has partnered with school districts across the country to ensure that our educators receive quality and culturally competent professional development to effectively teach children of diverse backgrounds. With the support of the philanthropic community, corporations and universities, we have provided training to more than 15,000 educators,” said IBE President Tanya Mckinzie. The keynote speaker for this year’s conference is Dr. Adolph Brown, III, the world’s greatest Edu-tainer, full tenured university professor, university dean, former urban and rural school educator, recognized Master Teacher and credentialed administrator in Virginia that has researched, field-tested and implemented strategies to support and enhance schools around the world.

“Over the past few years, our educators have faced some of the toughest challenges due to the effects of COVID-19, racial unrest, teacher shortages, high stake testing, and burnout. No other job, besides that of a parent, has as much impact and influence on the life of an individual than that of an educator. On July 14th, we are going to let every educator know how much they mean to us” added Mckinzie.

The awards will be presented following Dr. Brown’s keynote on Thursday. We have asked our district partners to nominate educators. Educators can be nominated by a teacher, support staff, administrator, or other school personnel. They must be an Indiana educator and be in attendance at the Education Conference on Thursday, July 14th inside the Indiana Convention Center to receive the award.

Nomination Instructions

Register to attend the Education Conference here!

About Indiana Black Expo, Inc.

Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) statewide organization with 12-chapter affiliates. The mission of IBE is to serve as an effective voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-Americans. IBE is known for its two major events, Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic® and provides year-round youth and family initiatives, including its Education Conference, recent Black Business Training Institute, Performing Arts Academy, Community Learning Hub, Education Day (college fair), Summer Internship Program, Scholarship Fund, Statewide Anti-Tobacco Initiative, Youth Leadership Summit, Employment Opportunity Fair, and Business Series and Conference