Darian Benson

Indianapolis

Eastside Reporter at Mirror Indy (US)

Eastside @mirrorindy•Formerly: @SideEffectsNews @WFYINews @IPBS_News•@IUIJournalismPR•Indy Native•DM tips or [email protected]•Views=mine•she/her

Featured in: Favicon

wfyi.org

npr.org

wbur.org

khn.org

mprnews.org Favicon

wgbh.org

indianapublicmedia.org Favicon

poz.com

whyy.org

wosu.org (+1) + 105 more

Articles

Get free groceries at giveaway in Lawrence

1 week ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

Lawrence residents can receive free groceries at a giveaway June 4. The giveaway is 4-6 p.m. at Lawrence Community Park, 5301 N. Franklin Road. The giveaway is a partnership between the Indianapolis Division of Community Nutrition & Food Policy and the Lawrence Police Department. Groceries will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is not required. For more information, contact Lisa Harvey at 317-281-6390.
Marion County health department offers free diabetes classes

1 week ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

The Marion County Public Health Department hosts a series of diabetes education programs for adults each month. The June classes are 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Martindale Brightwood library branch, 2434 N. Sherman Drive. The ABCs of Diabetes program is a four-part program accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. The program will cover a number of topics, including medication, nutrition and exercise.
Lawrence wants to improve relations between residents and police

1 week ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

Lawrence plans to implement a community-led critical response team this summer. The team will consist of two community members from each of Lawrence’s eight neighborhoods. The team members will be trained to assist in critical situations, a term that’s still being defined. Lawrence Police Department Chief Curtis Bigsbee said details of what the team’s assistance will look like are still being figured out.
Indianapolis libraries to host Geology Rocks kids fossil workshop

2 weeks ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

Kids interested in geology are invited to a series of free workshops from the Indianapolis Public Library. Children can create their own fossil impressions at the Geology Rocks workshop, which will be held at library branches across the city. The first events will be next week at two eastside locations. Workshops are scheduled for 2-3 p.m. May 28 at the Glendale Branch, 3660 E. 62nd St., and 4:30-5:30 p.m. May 28 at the Martindale Brightwood Branch, 2434 N. Sherman Drive.
Indianapolis family farm wants to ‘bring the country to the city’

2 weeks ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

Broganville Farm is an unexpected sight on the far east side. Nestled in behind a neighborhood near 30th Street and Cumberland Road, the farm has horses, goats and miniature cows. You won’t find any corn or soy beans, but there is a large vegetable garden. But then, the unexpectedness is the whole idea behind the Black-owned family farm. “You see sometimes people say Black people don’t do this or you can’t have a farm in the city,” said owner Kadeem Brogan.
Indy Parks opens city’s largest playground, new nature center on far east side

2 weeks ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

The far east side is now home to a new environmental center and the city’s largest playground. On May 20, Community leaders celebrated the opening of Grassy Creek Environmental Community Center and its on-site nature playground. The environmental center and playground are additions to Grassy Creek Park, 10510 E. 30th St.Grassy Creek is the city’s fourth park that focuses on nature and the environment, joining Holliday, Southeastway and Eagle Creek.
What does risk and resilience look like? These eastside photos give some ideas

3 weeks ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

Risk and resilience on the east side. That’s the theme of “Portraits of Resilience,” a photography research project out of IU Indianapolis. The project uses the photovoice methodology — a research method that uses photography and narrative storytelling to capture the lived experiences of participants. Four eastside artists participated in the project and made more than 200 photographs in Indianapolis’ eastside neighborhoods. The project ran in March and April.
IndyGo plans to open eastside transit hub near Cumberland

3 weeks ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

IndyGo plans to build a mobility hub on the east side near Cumberland. The hub will serve as a transfer station for several routes. That includes the $387 million Blue Line — which will link the Indianapolis International Airport with the town of Cumberland along Washington Street, I-70 and Holt Road. Carrie Black, chief public affairs officer for IndyGo, said the transit hub will serve a different purpose from the Julia M. Carson Transit Center downtown.
Mike Epps talks with Indy teens about preventing gun violence

3 weeks ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

Music. Social media. The need for support. Those are some of the topics that four local students talked about with Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears and comedian Mike Epps at a roundtable discussion on gun violence prevention May 13. The conversation was recorded and will be produced into a podcast episode in early June. It’s part of a series that the prosecutor’s office plans to have with kids around the city.
Celebrate different cultures at free festival in Lawrence

1 month ago | mirrorindy.org | Darian Benson

Celebrate different cultures at Lawrence’s International Festival. The festival is from noon to 4 p.m. May 10 at the Lawrence Civic Plaza, 5710 Lawrence Village Parkway. The event will feature live music, dance performances and art. There will also be food trucks, games and crafts. The family friendly event is free. More information can be found online. Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.