Divalicious Desserts Bakery & Cafe located at 4144 Broadway in Gary, IN is home to “delectable desserts” and “scrumptious food.” The bakery and cafe serves a variety of desserts like cupcakes, cheesecakes and food options. The menu changes every day, but great food is always guaranteed.
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F.I.T. with Renee is a remarkable fitness program that offers a unique approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The program is led by the experienced and knowledgeable fitness coach Renee Pillow, who has a passion for helping people become the healthiest versions of themselves.
Fit with Renee offers a broad range of activities catering to different levels of fitness and skill. For both the beginner or the experienced athlete, there is a program that is excellent for everyone.
The designed programs challenge patrons and aid them in achieving their fitness goals while ensuring that people have fun and enjoy the experience.
One of the key elements of F.I.T. with Renee is the personalized approach to fitness. Pillow takes the time to understand an individual’s fitness goals, lifestyle and priorities and then designs a tailored program for their needs. This approach ensures that each individual can achieve the best results.
Another great component of F.I.T. with Renee is the supportive and optimistic environment it offers. Pillow and her team are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment that motivates individuals to push themselves to new heights.
Positive sporty millennial black lady in beautiful sportswear and white sneakers sitting on fitness mat with bottle of water and smiling, having break while exercising at home (Photo/Getty Images)
Fit with Renee also offers a variety of fitness classes that cater to different interests and preferences. Whether someone prefers yoga, pilates, strength and conditioning, or cardio, there is a class that is perfect for them.
The classes are led by experienced and certified instructors who are passionate about fitness and helping individuals achieve their goals.
Pillow and her team understand that fitness is not just about exercise but also nutrition. Through nutrition coaching, she works closely with everyone to develop a customized dietary plan designed to support their fitness goals.
Offering a unique and supportive path to fitness, F.I.T. with Renee has a wide range of programs and classes, experienced instructors and personalized nutrition coaching. F.I.T. with Renee is the place for anyone looking to achieve their fitness goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
F.I.T. with Renee is located at 3309A W. 96th St. Prospective patrons can contact F.I.T. with Renee at (317) 345-5570.
Whiskey & Rhythm is a popular bar and restaurant located in the heart of Downtown Indianapolis. This establishment is well known for its delicious food, extensive drink menu and lively atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a place to grab a quick bite or spend a night out with friends, Whiskey & Rhythm has something for everyone.
One thing that sets Whiskey & Rhythm apart from other bars in the area is its focus on live music. The bar hosts a variety of local and national acts throughout the week, ranging from rock and roll to country and blues. The stage is set up in the back of the bar, and the acoustics are excellent, which makes for a great listening experience for music lovers.
Of course, it is not just the music that draws people to Whiskey & Rhythm. The food is also a major attraction. The menu features classic bar fare, like burgers and wings, but with a twist.
For example, the burgers are made with locally sourced beef and come with unique toppings, like fried pickles and jalapeno aioli. There are plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Whether you are in the mood for a hearty meal or just a snack, you will not be disappointed by the food at Whiskey & Rhythm.
Couple Enjoying Night Out At Cocktail Bar (Photo/Getty Images)
And then there are the drinks. As the name suggests, Whiskey & Rhythm specializes in whiskey-based cocktails, in addition to a wide selection of beer, wine and other spirits.
The bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly, and they are happy to help you find the perfect drink to suit your tastes. If you are not sure what to order, try one of their signature cocktails, like the Old Fashioned or the Whiskey Sour.
The atmosphere at is warm and welcoming, with rustic decor that includes reclaimed wood and exposed brick. The bar is spacious but cozy, with plenty of seating options whether you are looking for a high-top table or a spot at the bar. There are more than 40 TVs throughout the bar so you can catch the game while you enjoy your food and drinks.
Whiskey & Rhythm is a great spot for anyone looking for a fun night out in Indianapolis. With great music, delicious food and a friendly atmosphere, it is no wonder this bar is such a hit with locals and tourists alike. Whether you are a whiskey aficionado or just looking for a good time, Whiskey & Rhythm is worth a visit.
Whiskey & Rhythm is located at 2536 S Meridian St. They are open throughout the week; they are closed Sunday and Monday. Prospective patrons can contact them at (317) 602-7104.
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What started off as a trip to the doctor’s office six years ago has turned into a Black-owned juicing company promoting wellness and health.
James Long was dealing with high blood pressure and was diagnosed as prediabetic when his doctor suggested juicing as an option to improve his health.
“Doctors usually push medicine on you. My doctor said I should try juicing. I didn’t know what juicing was. I just needed to change my diet and do things to change everything all together,” said Long.
He started researching the benefits of different ingredients. Long experimented with blending different fruits and recipes to create something that tastes good and is good for you.
At the time, he was an educator, and when sharing his juice creations with coworkers, they started encouraging him to sell it to others.
Live Project Juice Company
Live Project Juice Company travels around Central Indiana with their products for customers to buy. (Photo/Jade Jackson)
“Things started snowballing after that. I was selling out of my truck at first. Then I landed at one farmers’ market; one turned into five. Then five farmers’ markets turned into seven gas stations, and now we’re online,” said Long.
He called his business Live Project Juice Company to promote healthy fresh juice with no added sugar and original ingredients.
Talia Bynm has been a loyal customer for a few years. She works Downtown and looks forward to seeing him serve his juices at the Indianapolis City Market.
“He just offered us a tasting, and my hair flew back and everything. So, I was like okay this is my favorite new thing in the world. It’s the taste. It’s the fact that even though it’s healthy it tastes so good, and that’s so hard to find. That’s what I love about it,” said Bynm.
Live Project Juice Company recipes
Live Project Juice Company consists of five main juices:
There are five current juice flavors to choose from with Live Project Juice Company. (Photo/Jade Jackson)
Grandma’s Iced Tea features honey, lemon, orange, iced tea and elderberries. It promises to boost your immunity. Some of its benefits include stress relief, heart health and fighting off a cold and flu, with vitamin C and antioxidants.
Purple Reign features peach, mint, mango, grape, green tea and stevia. Some of its benefits include improved bone health, reduced allergies, fat burning properties, decreased blood sugar and a memory boosting ingredient, with vitamin K.
Sweet Nectar has no added sugar. It uses ginger and turmeric, which provide healing properties. These antioxidants promote eye health and offer benefits against heart disease, Alzheimer’s, depression and muscle pain.
Honey Moon utilizes ingredients that consist of sea moss, raspberries, blue berries, lemon, lime, honey, watermelon juice and spirulina.
Fountain of Youth contains kale, cucumber, spinach, green apples, pineapples, lemon, ginger and orange juice. The healthy green juice serves as a meal supplement, providing great benefits for weight loss and for individuals with diabetes or asthma.
Long said he is going to continue to grow and scale his business, with secret plans for what is to come in the future.
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Chef Tawana Gulley of Healthy Soul is on a mission to provide the community with food for the soul and the youth with essential learning experiences.
Gulley is the self-taught executive chef and owner of Healthy Soul, a “globally inspired eatery” focused on pesticide-free and organic foods in an Afro-Asian hibachi style, located at The AMP at 16 Tech. Gulley’s journey to become a restaurant owner was not an easy one — especially as the pandemic threw a major wrench or two in her plans — but now she is thriving and passing her successes on. Catering is something that Gulley has always done, although she said a diabetes diagnosis in 2017 drove her to change her diet and lifestyle entirely.
“That’s when it really dawned on me that you really are what you eat, and so I started looking for ways to recreate my favorite things but make them healthier,” Gulley said. “Before, I never really ate a lot of vegetables, I never really ate what a balanced meal would look like. It was always carb-loaded and learning what carbs really do to your body … and processed sugar, I just started removing those things.” She began meal prepping breakfast and lunch for 25 of her coworkers — she used to work an office job as a supervisor in the VA health system — hired a personal trainer and started exploring how to recreate her favorite foods in a healthier way.
“I just turned 48-years-old, and I just got the best second wind that I could ever get, and I’m so blessed and I’m glad that I get to share that with as many people who will allow me to share it with them,” Gulley said.
One thing led to another, and Healthy Soul Meal Prep and Catering was born with diabetic-conscious, balanced meals with no processed sugars at the center. Gulley was also operating Black Bowè Bistro & Bakery as a ghost kitchen — which won $25,000 in Discover Eat it Forward during the pandemic — and decided to combine the two businesses.
Although Gulley’s catering business was becoming successful, she said the pandemic took a lot from everyone — including her. After being laid off from her job, Gulley said she had $500 to her name and no choice but to make it work. She decided to renovate her home kitchen into a commercial kitchen, complete with stainless steel tables and industrial appliances, and continue running her business. She gave away the first $250 worth of food — including her signature shrimp fries — to draw clients to her.
“That’s how everybody who didn’t eat a meal prep found out that I could cook other things, and I literally sold, I know, about 50 of those things,” Gulley said. “I started a menu every week, and then I would post it on social media, and if you knew, you knew. Then it just started to spread like wildfire. So, I started to just incorporate the healthy stuff that I learned how to cook on just about everything.”
Gulley did a lot of “plug and play” where her clients — sometimes celebrities — would give her an address, she would show up, they would go over a menu, then she would cook in real time.
That is when her signature spice blends and international culinary influences began to shine through. Gulley said she came up with a fusion dish that combines the spices of Nigerian jollof rice and the protein and variety of Asian fried rice dishes. The dish is inspired by family recipes and her own international travels. It is also her most popular menu item (that is not always on the menu but easily requested) at her brick-and-mortar at The AMP at 16 Tech.
“After going through so many ups and downs and people saying ‘no,’” … I just got out of my own way, stopped doubting myself, stopped doubting my skills,” Gulley said. “I may not be where everybody else is or trying to compete with somebody else. I’m just doing me, and it works.”
But finding success for herself is not enough; Gulley said she wants to give others the opportunities she was not afforded growing up by partnering with TeenWorks to offer classes in culinary arts. Gulley also said her daughter helps with Healthy Soul, and her son works as a chef in another city.
“If someone had just done something like this when I was younger, and I saw someone like me, that looks like my aunt, my uncle, my sister, I probably would have been like, ‘I want to do what she does,’” Gulley said. “If someone had told me that I would make more money working for myself doing what I have a passion for versus going into school doing something I hate and ended up spending my life miserable and not really fulfilled, then I would have never taken that route.”
Students enrolled in the program spend time with Gulley in the kitchen at Healthy Soul — some for a 6-week summer program, others year-round — following a curriculum that includes financial literacy, food scarcity, food origin, basic culinary arts skills, customer service and food handling, which they will be able to use to test for their food handling certificates after 60 days.
“Once you go through the program, after the 60 days, then we kind of test you on what you’ve learned from the start to the finish,” Gulley said, “hoping that when they finished that we’ll be able to get them ready for the food handling certificate so that they’ll be able to use those skills whether they want to be to start their own business or actually have those skills to go into higher food service.”
At the end of the day, Gulley is just happy she gets to not only share her passion with anyone who will let her but pass it on to the next generation. In the meantime, Gulley is cooking her way through Carla Hall’s Favorite Chef competitionand is currently in the top five. Chef Tawana Gulley can be found at Healthy Soul, located at The AMP at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd, and on all social media platforms @healthysoulindy.For more information about Gulley’s restaurant and any upcoming special events and programs through Teen Works, visit healthysoulindy.com
If you have a minority owned and operated business you’d like to be featured in the Indiana Minority Business Magazine Directory, visit Indiana Minority Business Directory.
Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.
The Indianapolis Recorder is proud to announce that it has been selected for Cohort 3 of the Knight x LMA BloomLab.
The BloomLab is a three-year program that provides Black-owned local news outlets with the resources and training they need to thrive in the digital age. The Recorder is excited to be a part of this program and to learn from the other participating outlets.
The BloomLab will help the Indianapolis Recorder improve its digital infrastructure, develop new revenue streams, grow its audience and strengthen its relationships with the community.
Photo provided/BloomLab
The Recorder is confident that this endeavor will help it to become a stronger and more sustainable news organization.
The Recorder is grateful to the Knight Foundation and the Local Media Association for this opportunity and is excited to share more about its progress with BloomLab in the coming months.
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Indianapolis-based education nonprofitThe Mind Trust announced two new executive positions alongside four promotions on July 10.
The Mind Trust has been committed to making an “indelible impact” on the Indianapolis community by not only ensuring students retain access to high-quality schools but also bringing talented educators to the city and championing imaginative solutions to improve the education system, Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust, said in a statement.
“These organizational shifts reflect our deep commitment to continuing that work in Indianapolis and beyond,” Brown said. “We have a team full of leaders who embody our enduring belief that every student, no exceptions, deserves access to a great education.”
The two new roles include Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, which aim to establish an executive leadership structure in response to The Mind Trust’s increasing development in its growing priorities in addition to its continued commitment to students and families in the community.
Shannon Williams will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President. In her new role, Williams will oversee the organization’s impact on education in Indianapolis. Serving alongside The Mind Trust’s CEO, Williams will “ensure the success of various local and statewide initiatives that accelerate student learning.”
However, Williams will continue leading all external affairs by managing The Mind Trust’s community engagement, communications and development teams while also assuming management of The Mind Trust’s school support teams, overseeing local and statewide efforts driving student achievement.
Kristin Grimme will take on the role of Chief Strategy Officer, which will have her oversee the implementation of The Mind Trust’s strategic plan by ensuring strategic coherence across the organization. Grimme will also manage the organization’s programmatic and geographic expansion efforts as it pertains to its impact.
In this role Grimme will supervise The Mind Trust’s school incubation, leadership development, research and policy priorities in addition to managing investments and relationships “with a robust network of education nonprofit organizations, many of which launched with support from The Mind Trust.”
The newly created role of Vice President of Expanded Impact was filled by Porsche Chisley, who will now manage the expansion of The Mind Trust’s programmatic work outside of Indianapolis.Chisley will take charge of The Mind Trust’s efforts in bringing its organizational experience, knowledge and results to regions beyond the city that are seeking a collaborative partner to drive academic outcomes for students.
Madeline Poulakidas received a promotion to Senior Director of Finance and Operations, where she now serves as the organizational lead on risk management and contracts for The Mind Trust in addition to executing critical financial management and accounting duties. Poulakidas will also work to provide strategic operational support to the organization’s growth and expansion opportunities beyond Indianapolis.
“The Mind Trust is a national leader in creating solutions that make a real difference in the lives of students and families,” Jim Schumacher, board chairman of The Mind Trust, said in a statement. “I am excited to see the organization’s work deepen in our state and grow to serve additional communities.”
The promotions stand to elevate leaders within the organization who are dedicated to educational equity, programmatic and operational excellence and offering innovative solutions to generate transformational impacts for Hoosier students and families.
Established in 2015 by Joycelyn Wilson, Stepping Stones Therapy Center offers diverse services in Indianapolis. These services include child welfare, family preservation, counseling, supervised visitation, casework, and self-referred services in Indianapolis.
Stepping Stones Therapy Center collaborates with DCS to provide counseling, supervised visitation, casework, and wrap-around services for the Marion County Coroner’s office.
The dedicated team at Stepping Stones conducts clinical interviews to assess clients’ current challenges, strengths and functioning levels. They do this in order to determine the most effective evidence-based treatment.
They offer personalized care and unique treatment plans tailored to meet each client’s needs. The goal is to promote long-lasting mental wellness and building confidence.
In partnership with the City of Indianapolis, Stepping Stones Therapy Center is currently in the process of launching the Clinician Led Community Response Team.
Stepping Stones Therapy Center partnered with Indianapolis to launch the Clinician Led Community Response Team.
Stepping Stones Therapy Center
This initiative aims to address mental health calls received through 911, with the goal of reducing the number of incarcerations and hospital admissions for individuals with mental health needs or substance use disorders.
Mayor Joe Hogsett recognized Stepping Stones Therapy Center as July’s Vendor of the Month, emphasizing their status as a valued local minority-owned business and critical partner to the City of Indianapolis.
Their involvement in the clinician-led 911 response team demonstrates their commitment to assisting the city in effectively responding to mental health crises.
The Vendor of the Month program is an ongoing collaboration between the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Development in Indianapolis. It aims to bring attention to certified businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and disabled individuals (XBEs).
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Plans for a rooftop space at the Madam Walker Legacy Center are officially underway.
The Madam Walker Legacy center unveiled plans for a newly renovated outdoor rooftop venue on June 23 during the second annual Legacy Fest. The outdoor venue will be repurposed as an “economically viable and sustainable” concert and community gathering space as part of the soon-to-be-announced 2023 strategic plan, Kristian Little-Stricklen, president of the Madam Walker Legacy Center, told the Recorder.
“Our goal is that as a building and as an organization, everything that we do was first and foremost to preserve Madam Walker but then to also make sure it was sustainable,” Little-Stricklen said. “And while we know that we are an intimate space, we know that we need to be relevant, and we want to make sure that we’re doing that by being an option and provide and offer similar things that you can find, you know, in other areas.”
The rooftop concert venue and community gathering space has been a goal of the Madam Walker Legacy Center since 2020 and was included in the strategic plan for that year, Little-Stricklen said. However, the $10 million the center received from the endowment for renovations went entirely to the building’s structural repairs, and she said they ended up having to put the rooftop renovations on hold.
Now that the Walker Legacy Center has been fully up and running on the other side of the pandemic, Little-Stricklen said it was the perfect time to revisit the rooftop space, as having indoor and outdoor options for guests and community members is imperative. Little-Stricklen said the Walker Center applied for a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and was awarded $250,000 as a seed fund.
Of course, rooftop venues are not new, Little-Stricklen said. But coming out of the pandemic, having the option for an accessible indoor and outdoor space that includes a rooftop space is not only convenient but becoming wildly popular.
“What we’re doing is very similar to what other venues around the city, but specifically in Downtown Indianapolis, are doing, and we are the only Black-owned venue in Downtown Indianapolis — like, historic venue,” she said. “There’s been a lot of conversation over the last several years around revitalizing, specifically even the Indiana Avenue; we have the Cultural Trail that is in its final stages, and … we want to be able to offer cultural opportunities, open this up to the community as well as it being an additional rental option.”
Plus, everything the Walker Center offers is cultural, Little-Stricklen added. Being a historical Black-owned business, Stricklen said the center should provide “those same kinds of high-quality options” to the Black community that the businesses downtown do.
However, the first step in bringing the roof of the historic building into the 21st century is making sure it is safe and that the roof can sustain having people on it, Little-Stricklen said. They are currently finalizing the feasibility study and are in the initial phases of design plans. Even though they have secured the $250,000 seed fund from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Fund, Stricklen said additional funding will be needed to complete the project.
Concept art for the upcoming rooftop renovation for the Madam Walker Legacy Center. (Photo provided/Madam Walker Legacy Center)
Once the funding is secured, Little Stricklen said the project would likely take about six months to complete.
Nichole Wilson, chairman of the board of the Madam Walker Legacy Center, said so much was lost on Indiana Avenue, and while what once existed cannot be recreated, they can make a commitment to continue to elevate the spaces they have left on the Avenue.
“It’s not sufficient for Madam Walker Legacy Center to simply survive, the building and the organization must thrive,” Wilson said. “Having the rooftop space will be a representative of the organization and the building thriving and using all aspects of the assets that we have to bring Black culture and gathering spaces for our community.”
Wilson said plans for the rooftop space include an area for programming and events as well as a space where the community can gather together and host their own events for family and friends.
“We are really focused as a board with trying to bring back the life that used to be within the building and all the avenue. The building is open to the public for people to use, as well, and we’re just excited that we have worked through the past several years to make sure that the Madam Walker Legacy Center continues to be a thriving pillar on Indiana Avenue, representing Black culture, representing all that Madam stood for.”
Beyond the Walker Center is the recently announced redevelopment of Indiana Avenue through Reclaim Indiana Avenue, Urban Legacy Lands Initiative and Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD). The City of Indianapolis acknowledging the value in not only the Walker Center but in Indiana Avenue as a whole is exciting and brings hope about what could be, Little-Stricklen said.
Mayor Joe Hogsett even referred to the Walker Center as the “Crown Jewel” of the avenue, and Little-Stricklen said anything that comes alongside the Walker Center to help “revive some cultural relevancy” is a positive thing.
“We are being very intentional in what and how we move forward so that we can ensure the sustainability of this business, of this organization, so that we can also make sure that we’re making a true impact, you know, here in this community,” Little-Stricklen said.
However, coming up in the near future, the Madam Walker Legacy Center will be hosting its annual Summer Institute beginning July 10, Jazz on the Ave on July 28, its Quarterly Art on the Ave on Aug. 8, and an open house on Oct. 20. For more information about these events and the rooftop renovations, visit madamwalkerlegacycenter.com.
How many times have you been interested in a job – knew in your bones you could do it – but didn’t even apply after reading “bachelor’s degree required”?
Four-year degrees have been the litmus test in hiring talent for far too long. Many people of color may struggle to find family-sustaining jobs because they don’t have the right degree, and they may not have the right degree because of systemic barriers to degree completion. It’s a vicious cycle often perpetuated by racism.
As a medicine company, we employ thousands of people with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. But our company, with over 39,000 employees around the world, is powered by many other skillsets and experiences that all contribute to innovation.
Companies must rethink how we hire. If a bachelor’s degree is the default for most jobs, that eliminates 76% of Black adults and 83% of Latino adults in the U.S. from our candidate pools.
As a Black man, I have witnessed firsthand how lack of a degree reinforces inequities when it comes to jobs. While I hold two advanced degrees and have ample opportunity to thrive at Lilly, I fully recognize this great privilege and the opportunities I have been afforded.
In my day-to-day role leading the Racial Justice Commitment at Lilly, I work to decrease the burden racial injustices enact on Black and other historically marginalized communities.
As part of this work, I’m particularly proud to drive progress across five areas: internal people development, health equity, social impact, diversity partners and family-sustaining jobs.
Over the last few years, Lilly has removed barriers by implementing a skills-first hiring approach for certain professional, craft and trade roles. We joined the One Ten Coalition in 2020. This organization aims to connect one million Black individuals with family sustaining careers over ten years – championing a “skills-first” approach to hiring.
Skills-first hiring or promoting focuses on the specific skills, experience and competencies a candidate needs to be successful in a role. This method can improve job performance outcomes, increase employee satisfaction, and expose companies to more competitive and diverse talent pools that led to better retention of skilled and qualified candidates.
We established Skills First @ Lilly, an initiative made up of three programs: the Professional Apprenticeship, Craft Pathway Apprenticeship, and Technical Pathway Apprenticeship. The Professional Apprenticeship in particular focuses on providing individuals without college degrees access to roles at Lilly that they may not have had through traditional recruiting means.
Since 2020, more than 120 individuals have been hired into apprenticeships and the majority of them now have full-time jobs with Lilly.
The solution to achieving equity in the workforce and beyond must be multifaceted and sustainable, and it will require focus from companies across industries. Efforts to remove barriers to entry into family-sustaining jobs should go beyond diversity, equity and inclusion, and be grounded in addressing the underlying systemic inequity that cuts off career pathways for qualified candidates.
There is much work to be done to create opportunities for everyone, but it’s possible and will take recognition and drive from many, not just a few, to progress forward.
Guest contributor Terry J. Morris is currently Head of Eli Lilly and Company’s Racial Justice Commitment
