Barnes' last mile
Also, Holocaust exhibit coming to KHCPL; governor signs anti-human trafficking bills
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David Barnes was many things: a journalist, educator, and a long-distance running athlete. So it was fitting that a large crowd gathered on May 19 at Walter Cross Field on the Kokomo High School Campus to honor him by walking some laps around the track.
Despite the rain and the fact that graduation activities were ongoing at KHS for the Class of 2023, many people took time to come out, walk, and reminisce about the long-time Kokomo High School Communications Director who passed away May 12.
On a sunny day just a few weeks earlier on April 29, Barnes had been out in his traditional, colorful knit cap walking around working with KHS and other school’s athletes on that same track for the 99th consecutive Kokomo Relays. And for those on Dave’s beloved track Friday night, a little rain wasn’t going to keep them from showing up to walk with Dave one last mile.
Americans and the Holocaust exhibit coming to KHCPL
The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library is one of 50 U.S. libraries selected to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.
The touring library exhibition — based on the special exhibition of the same name at the Museum in Washington, D.C. — will travel to U.S. libraries from 2020 to 2023.
“We are so proud to be chosen from a large pool of applicants to host this powerful exhibition,” said KHCPL Director Faith Brautigam. “We invite everyone in our community to explore and experience the exhibit, which will challenge people to ask ‘what would I have done?’ and ‘what will I do?’”
Americans and the Holocaust will be on display at KHCPL, along with a series of related special events, from July 12 to Aug. 17. KHCPL was chosen out of a pool of more than 250 applicants. The exhibit will be open to the community and for school visits.
Based on extensive new research of that period, Americans and the Holocaust addresses important themes in American history, exploring the many factors — including the Great Depression, isolationism, xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism — that influenced decisions made by the U.S. government, the news media, organizations, and individuals as they responded to Nazism. This exhibition will challenge the commonly held assumptions that Americans knew little and did nothing about the Nazi persecution and murder of Jews as the Holocaust unfolded.
Drawing on a remarkable collection of primary sources from the 1930s and ’40s, the exhibition focuses on the stories of individuals and groups of Americans who took action in response to Nazism. It will challenge visitors to consider the responsibilities and obstacles faced by individuals — from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to ordinary Americans — who made difficult choices, sought to effect change, and, in a few cases, took significant risks to help victims of Nazism even as rescue never became a government priority.
In addition to the traveling exhibition on loan, KHCPL received a cash grant to support public programs. The grant also covered one library staff member’s attendance at an orientation workshop at the Museum.
For more information about Americans and the Holocaust and related programming at KHCPL, or to schedule a tour, visit https://aath.khcpl.org/index.php. To learn more about the exhibition, visit ushmm.org/americans-ala.
Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries is an educational initiative of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association.
Americans and the Holocaust was made possible by the generous support of lead sponsor Jeannie & Jonathan Lavine. Additional major funding was provided by the Bildners — Joan & Allen z”l, Elisa Spungen & Rob, Nancy & Jim; and Jane and Daniel Och. The Museum's exhibitions are also supported by the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund, established in 1990.
Additional programming support was made possible, in part, by the Friends of the Library, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to support the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library.
Anti-human trafficking bills signed into law
New bills that support survivors and prevent sexual assault and human trafficking will be signed into law this week, the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking (ICESAHT) announced.
Senate Bills 158 and SB 161 were signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on May 22. Sponsored by Sen. Michael Crider, SB 158 provides additional protections for victims by ensuring a person arrested for certain crimes committed against a family or household member may not be released on bail for 24 hours. SB 161, also authored by Sen. Crider, strengthens penalties when perpetrators use tracking devices to stalk victims.
On May 24 at 10 a.m., Gov. Holcomb will sign HB 1196. Sponsored by Rep. Wendy McNamara, HB 1196 requires everyone who gets a CDL license for the first time to be trained on human trafficking awareness.
“Every step we take as a state to proactively address sexual violence and human trafficking is a step forward in preventing Hoosiers from becoming victimized,” said Beth White, president and CEO of ICESAHT. “I’m grateful to the many legislators and their staffs, our partners and survivors, for coming together to pass legislation that will make a difference. We made significant strides this session, and I look forward to us accomplishing even more in future legislative sessions.”
During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly also significantly increased the annual investment in the Sexual Assault Victim Assistance Fund (SAVAF) to $4 million, as part of the State’s budget for the coming biennium. SAVAF is administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and assists in providing a coordinated statewide response for victims of sexual assault, including maintaining and enhancing the work of new and established Rape Crisis Centers, and expanding trauma-informed support services for survivors.
ICESAHT will receive $400,000 each year through the SAVAF, which is ten percent of the total annual contribution to the fund. The increase will help ICESAHT, its partners, service providers, and the 15 Rape Crisis Centers across the state create sustainable initiatives to support survivors and boost prevention efforts. The increase in SAVAF funding will help non-profits like ICESAHT replace annual grants from federal Victims of Crime Act funds that, for a number of reasons, have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
One in three Hoosier women experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Indiana high school girls have reported a high rate of sexual assaults, and at one time, Indiana ranked second in the nation for girls who are raped in high school. Nationally, one in seven women who are raped become pregnant.