In 2021, Pam Ross (then represented the Central Indiana Community Foundation), reached out to Alan and I at GANGGANG - the Indy-based arts advocacy org we’d recently launched - and said she had an idea she could not shake. She called GANGGANG because we were the ones saying to value and name the contributions of creators accurately. I cried as she was telling us her vision. It was our work to name Black people as artists. Pam coming to GANGGANG was affirming of the mission. She told us about her vision to have a family reunion style experience that was all day and that brought Black people together in the name of Joy.

BLACK: A Festival of Joy returns for its fourth iteration on September 13, 2025, to Taggart Memorial Amphitheater in Riverside Park, with free festivities taking place in the park from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.