Also, Williams wins a TAFfy; Creation Care learns about pollinator pathways
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Mayor Tyler Moore has been asked to take part in a panel discussion at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies on Friday, April 5 as part of the America’s Role in the World Conference. The annual nonpartisan event brings together diplomats, journalists, politicians and scholars to offer expert insight on critical global affairs topics. Mayor Moore will take part in “Indiana and the World: Making the Local Global.”
“I am honored to be asked to participate on this distinguished panel,” said Moore. “I look forward to the opportunity to share Kokomo’s recent story about how we are quickly becoming a greater part of the global market with the arrival of StarPlus Energy and other international companies.”
Moore will be joined on the panel by John Fernandez, former Mayor of Bloomington; David Rosenberg, Indiana Secretary of Commerce; and Vanessa Sanders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The panel will be moderated by Blair Milo, founding director of the Sagamore Institute Center for Talent & Opportunity.
More information about the conference, including livestreaming the day of the event, go to https://hls.indiana.edu/arw/index.html
Williams wins a TAFfy
The Arts Federation's (TAF) Annual Celebration was held on Monday, March 25 at 5:30 PM at the Wells Community Cultural Center. Esteemed storyteller and TAF Board Member, Jos N. Holman emceed the evening leading attendees through the accomplishments and successes of The Arts Federation over their last fiscal year.
To begin the evening, guests were invited to grab refreshments and a seat as local musician, Sam Bennett, played original music. Once all were seated, Mr. Holman kicked off the 46th Annual Celebration by briefly speaking about what makes The Arts Federation a successful regional arts council that serves 14 counties, and over 500,000 Hoosiers. Following Mr. Holman, Christopher Munt (TAF Board President), led the presentation of the business portion of the evening. Among the various decisions made, new board members were voted in in by the current board in an official election.
Tetia Lee, TAF’s CEO, reported on program highlights of TAF's fiscal year 2023. The report showed The Arts Federation ending the fiscal year in a net positive while growing its program impact throughout North Central Indiana. An astounding 116,868 people directly benefited from the programs The Arts Federation offered. This number includes 22,380 youth participants that were able to participate in the arts programs provided through The Arts Federation.
TAF awarded $295,588.50 to fellow nonprofits through their partnership with the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). These dollars provided grant funding for operational and project costs to 43 entities regionwide. In addition to the IAC grants, The Arts Federation was the recipient of the American Arts Rescue Plan Grant through the National Endowment for the Arts. The Arts Federation received a record dollar amount of $500,000.00 that they in turn regranted to 44 Arts Organizations and 19 Individual Artists.
After the business portion of the evening, the staff of The Arts Federation presented the TAFfy Awards. These awards highlighted individual and organizational members of TAF and their excellence. See the full list of winners below:
- Gallery Staple - Chris McCauley
- Wells Community Cultural Center Enthusiast - Nancy Van Doren
- Outstanding Arts Advocate - Robin Williams
- Social Media Maven - Scott Greeson & Vickie Maris
- Arts Intersect Champions - Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society
- Lifelong Learner - Wyndham Traxler Carter
- Outstanding Instructor - Jennifer Hoewe
Following the TAFfy Awards, Sam Bennett returned to the stage and closed out the evening. The Annual Celebration reinforced TAF's ever-growing prominence as the leader of the arts in North Central Indiana.
Creation Care learns about pollinator pathways
Did you know …
Providing pollinator friendly habitat can be as simple as growing two pots of the right types of native plant for food?
The Monarch butterfly population has declined 90 percent in the last 20 years?
The North American bumblebee population has declined 96 percent in the last 20 years?
There has been a 76-percent decrease in the flying insect biomass in the last 27 years?
One third of all the food we eat is made possible by insect pollination?
On Mon., April 8, Master Gardeners Marian Cable and Carol Reed will explain the program “Pollinator Pathways” at the monthly meeting of Kokomo Area Creation Care. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 3401 S. Dixon Road.
The Pollinator Pathways program began in 2017 in Connecticut and New York and is spreading across the country. It focuses on establishing pollinator-friendly habitats and food sources for birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects and wildlife along a series of continuous corridors. This increases the likelihood that pollinators are able to find the food and shelter they need to survive within their foraging ranges.
Those in attendance will learn about the types of plants and landscape suitable for the local area as well as other ways residents can support pollinators, preventing an “Insect Apocalypse.”
The meeting is hosted by Kokomo Area Creation Care, an organization focused upon ways to be better stewards of the Earth by using resources wisely for future generations to enjoy. Meetings are open to all. Fellowship and light refreshments will be available at 6:45 p.m.