Kokomo NAACP launches two-city conference
Also, Historical Society gets a new director; Tuesday@TheTech features technology careers
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Kokomo NAACP launches two-city conference
The Kokomo Branch of NAACP will host the NAACP State Conference Religious Leader Summit on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. at the Elite Banquet & Conference Center in Kokomo. The event kicks off the annual three-day NAACP State Conference. The theme for the program is “Social Justice as a Movement of Faith and Power.”
The state conference is being hosted jointly this year by the Kokomo and the Lafayette/West Lafayette branches of the NAACP. There is no charge to attend the event; lunch will be provided at a fee of $25.00.
The conference will explore many topics including present day separation of church and state and the intersection of religion, politics, and legislation. Information will be shared across denominational and ecumenical lines.
The keynote speaker at the luncheon is renowned educator and administrator Dr. Charlie Nelms who served as the 10th chancellor of North Carolina Central University. Dr. Nelms is a contributing writer to the Huffington Post on educational issues and founded Destination Graduation, a non-profit organization focused on increasing retention rates at the nation’s historically black colleges and universities.
The Kokomo branch 3055 was founded by Hollis King in 1940. The grandson of slaves; King was born April 13, 1899, in Tennessee. His family moved to Kokomo in 1915 to work in the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Industries. His stated goal for the branch was to extend human respect and decency to all citizens.
Shaw to lead Historical Society
Historic preservation professional Anne Shaw of Kokomo has been named executive director of the Howard County Historical Society and will take over the reins of the organization Nov. 1.
Shaw was selected by the HCHS Board of Trustees based on her educational, professional, and volunteer credentials. She is coming to HCHS from her most recent position as a principal investigator at Clark Dietz, Inc., a civil engineering services firm in Indianapolis.
“We are very excited to be welcoming Anne into the position of executive director,” said HCHS board president Linda Ferries. “We look forward to working with her to move the HCHS forward in our mission of ‘collecting, preserving and sharing the diverse history of all peoples of Howard County.’"
Shaw has been involved with the historical society as a volunteer since she and her family moved to Kokomo five years ago, including service on the HCHS Board of Trustees from 2019 to 2021. As a volunteer, Shaw has helped to create the Hall of Legends videos for the past two years and helped write the successful grant that funded $50,000 of the cost of restoring the Seiberling porte cochere.
Appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2019, Shaw serves as a member of the Indiana State Historic Preservation Review Board. She is president of the Kokomo Historic Preservation Review Board, has served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Archaeology Council since 2013, and was secretary of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum Board of Trustees in Crawfordsville from 2013 to 2018.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Archaeology from the University of Indianapolis in 2003 and a master's degree in Historic Preservation (cum laude) from the University of Kentucky in 2008.
“I am humbled and excited to be chosen as executive director of the historical society,” Shaw said. “Following in the footsteps of amazing previous directors is a privilege and I am looking forward to guiding the organization forward as we continue working to tell Howard County’s diverse history.”
‘Tuesday@theTech’ to focus on technology careers
Prospective students are invited to explore the many opportunities offered in Ivy Tech Kokomo’s School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science when the next “Tuesday@theTech” focuses on technology careers. This is one of a series of monthly events aimed at sharing Ivy Tech’s high-tech facilities and broad range of programming in Kokomo with prospective students of all ages. This event is set for 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the campus at 1815 E. Morgan St.
“We are excited to focus on the broad range of programs offered in this area – everything from precision agriculture to advanced manufacturing to automotive technology to building construction to welding,” said LaTonya Armstrong, the new dean of the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science for the Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area.
“Participants at the Oct. 25 event will be able to tour our new state-of-the-art campus, see our high-tech labs that simulate real-world work environments, and learn about the many doors these programs can open into high-demand, high-wage jobs. Counselors will be on hand to talk about the many opportunities available that can make this education very affordable, including state funding that can cover all costs for qualified students.”
For more information about how to register, go to ivytech.edu/tuesday or email Kokomo-enrollment@ivytech.edu . Walk-ins are welcome. The program will begin at 6 p.m. in Hingst Hall in Ivy Tech Kokomo’s new Health Professions Center.