CHERYL MCELROY

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Indianapolis affords a rich history of African American culture that commemorates the essential role that African Americans have played in the growth of Indianapolis. IndyGo is privileged to be an agency that has experienced growth alongside our city - and we take pride in knowing that as IndyGo continues to improve access opportunities and provide reliable mobility options, we do so through an outstanding team of employees offering diverse skills, backgrounds, cultures, and heritages.

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In commemoration of February’s Black History Month, we are excited to spotlight a few co-workers. . We showcase how Indianapolis Local ATU 1070 Financial Secretary Rachel Hill makes a difference in our community; we share how Public Affairs Community Outreach Coordinator Molly Oliver teaches her children about their heritage; and we hear thoughts of CEO and President Inez Evans from her personal interview with Operator Nathan Barnes, Sr.

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Rachel Hill

Indianapolis Local Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 1070 Financial Secretary
For the past 4 years, Rachel Hill has established and maintained partnering with the United Steelworkers of America (USW) 1999 to help the local community. They serve a hot meal, provide hygiene kits, and IndyGo day passes to Horizon House individuals and families annually. They also raise funds to purchase coats for kids in the winter and backpacks for kids in the summer. “There is a time when others need your help, I look at people as I am you and you are me. If I was in a situation, I wish someone would help me in my time of need. It’s these little things that can mean a lot. You have to give back every day. It is my goal to try to give more than I did the year before,” stated Rachel. Rachel recruits friends and co-workers to help, including Indianapolis Local ATU 1070 President/Business Agent Roy Luster, Jr. as well as IndyGo Professional Coach Operators, General Laborers, and Union Representatives Darryl Carter, George Evans, Robbie Waggoner, Joyce Ledell, Diane Johnson, Arthurene Thompkins, Otha Dugan, Calvin Cargile, and many more.

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Molly Oliver

Public Affairs Community Outreach Coordinator
“My children are both still babies so my husband and I are just beginning to teach them about their two heritages,” shared Molly Oliver. “We prefer to do this as a common, daily approach.” Molly is cognizant of everyday experiences, “I do my best to be mindful of how the people who look like my kids are represented - be it in books, tv shows, their doctors, events we attend. I don’t want my children to ever feel like they don’t belong – and that can too easily happen when you don’t see people who look like you.” Molly explained that having a close relationship with extended family seems like a natural way to develop ethnic identity, “My husband’s aunt has helped me learn how to care for and style my daughter’s hair. This seems very simple, but a woman’s hair is like her personal crown – and I want my daughter - and my son - to be proud of who they are and where they come from.” In regards to celebrating Black History Month with her family, Molly was excited for her children to experience the celebrations held at church, “We are members of Christ Missionary Baptist Church Indy, which has been around for over 100 years. Each Sunday in February, something special was planned to celebrate Black History Month.” During one of the Sunday services, the congregation dressed in Afrocentric attire for church, “Witnessing and dressing in such beautiful clothing honored African American heritage and played a huge role in how my children are able to see themselves and celebrate who they are.”

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Inez Evans, IndyGo President and CEO
- Interviewed by Operator Nathan Barnes Sr.

"My thoughts on black history month?” Inez Evans repeated the question posed from her interviewer, Operator Nathan Barnes Sr., as she considered her reply, “I appreciate the fact that we have a month that helps bring forth the accomplishments of African Americans.” Inez continued, “I would add, though, that a month isn’t enough time to talk about it. We should look to talk about the accomplishments and struggles of those who have helped to build this country. Those who helped shape this country are in all colors of the rainbow and deserve to be recognized and celebrated.”

 

When Nathan asked Inez to name her heros, she noted, “I don’t necessarily refer to them as heros, but rather, folks who have inspired me: Harriet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, the Obamas, Langston Hughes, and Mahalia Jackson is a good sampling.” Inez explained her view that such individuals defied the “box” that society placed around African Americans, “These inspiring individuals refused to be boxed in - harrowing as if there was no box and allowing a higher power to drive them.” 

 

“I agree with Miss Inez 100%,” Nathan wrote from his interview, “I am most inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion. Johnson defied the box that society placed on African Americans in the early 1900’s.” Nathan concluded his writing with, “To be recognized as a country of greatness, we have to acknowledge that people of all colors contributed to building it.” Very much the same way IndyGo continues to grow and succeed -  through an outstanding team of employees offering diverse skills, backgrounds, cultures, and heritages.

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WHAT’S YOUR STORY?
Most of us don’t walk around thinking we have a story to share, right? We have ordinary, uneventful lives. Wrong.  We each have different experiences – those experiences make up YOUR story! A story that may be interesting, inspiring, heartwarming, funny, relatable – and most of all, authentic. We encourage you to become engaged and think how your story can be a part of the IndyGo employee newsletter.

 

Please contact Cheryl at cmcelroy@indygo.net or 317.559.4407 with your ideas!