WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, February 24th, 2022.
Later in the program, WFHB News spoke with Shatoyia Moss, Safe and Civil City Program Director, about this weekend’s upcoming Black History Month Gala Celebration. More in the bottom half of our program.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we have a new edition of Voices in the Street – a public opinion poll from members of the Black community in Bloomington done by WFHB’s Youth Radio. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines:
Bloomington City Council
On February 16th at the Bloomington City Council meeting Mayor John Hamilton spoke in favor of incentivizing Catalent to invest in the Bloomington community.
Director of Economic and Sustainable Development Alex Crowley recommended the council approve a tax abatement which would encourage Catalent to choose its Bloomington facility over other sites.
Council member Kate Rosenbarger brought up concerns about the housing crisis and increasing population density.
Crowley said that the Urban Development Organization is looking into the housing situation, and rethinking some aspects of the UDO to encourage more affordable housing in the future.
Council member Steve Volan asked why Bloomington is being asked to be the sole provider in the tax abatement when surrounding counties would benefit from the additional income tax.
Crowley said that the company is located within Bloomington’s jurisdiction, and he did not think it would be feasible.
Volan responded saying that the City of Bloomington would have to pay for the infrastructure needed to make this expansion possible.
Council member Sue Sgambelluri explained that she grew up in Gary, Indiana and saw the effects of the steel mills shutting down. However, she said that Catalent has “consistently under promised and over delivered in what they have done.”
Council member Jim Sims said that he would support the abatement. He was in favor of dealing with the issue of growth rather than the issue of decline.
The city council will have a public hearing on the tax abatement at the next meeting on March 2nd, and will then have a final vote following the hearing.
The City Will Host Black History Month Celebration This Weekend
The City of Bloomington will host the 2022 Black History Month Gala Celebration on Saturday, February 26th at 6 p.m.
According to Shatoyia Moss, Safe and Civil City Program Director for the Community and Family Resources department, the event will be held over Zoom video conference with e-reservations available in advance through the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
In a phone interview with WFHB, Moss discussed the role she played in the organization of the event.
“My role is to focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, cultural events for the city and also the community,” says Moss. “So I get to partner with local organizations as well as look nationally at what other communities are doing for Black History Month, and bring some of those celebrations to our own community.”
Moss walked through what event goers can expect at the upcoming gala celebration. She says it may look different than years past.
“They’ll be able to tune in at 6 p.m. where we’ll be featuring our outstanding Black leaders of tomorrow, which is an award that is given out by the Commission on the Status of Black Males, as well as our 2022 Living Legends recipient this year. We’ll also be having some trivia, some music or some options, we’ll have a live DJ and host so it’s going to be a really great time,” says Moss.
As Moss outlined, the theme for the event is “Black Health and Wellness.” She explained what that theme means to her.
“Black health and wellness is very crucial, especially in this state,” she said. “There’s just so much history there. And it’s gotten overlooked, obviously, through the years, and this year, we were able to really shine a light on some of those, those black contributors.”
Again, the gala will take place on Zoom. Moss touched on how the virtual, video-conference aspect of the event will change how it normally unfolds.
“We are fortunate enough to be able to do something like this over zoom conferencing where we can record the entire event and let it live on as a legacy for those who want to go back and view it at another time.
In light of the upcoming event celebrating Black history, Shatoyia Moss described what Black History Month means to her.
“I am a black woman. So black history, to me, is my lifestyle, my ancestors. And then also there’s going to be those who come up behind me,” she says. “It’s more than just a month-long celebration. I like to talk about Black history and beyond, because Black history happens every single day. It doesn’t happen in just a singular month.”
Lastly, Moss offered some concluding thoughts ahead of this weekend’s 2022 Black History Month Gala Celebration.
“There’s a lot that this community gives us, and there’s always going to be something to do for all ages. So we hope that our community did enjoy this Black History Month but really remember to continue to celebrate beyond February,” says Moss.
For more information, you can visit the Buskirk Chumley Theater’s website at bctboxoffice.org.
Featured Reports:
Up next, we have a new edition of Voices in the Street – a public opinion poll from members of the Black community in Bloomington done by WFHB’s Youth Radio in honor of Black History Month. We turn to Youth Radio’s Wilder Mouton and Marty Abaddi.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider and Kade Young, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Wilder Mouton and Marty Abaddi.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
