Darian Benson
@darianbenson.bsky.social
East side Indy native covering the east side for Mirror Indy. Tips or wanna chat? darian.benson@mirrorindy.org
New community computers on the east side! This will go towards supporting the nearly 1 in 20 Marion County households who have no access to the internet. @darianbenson.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/john-boner-n...
Boner Center wants to improve east side internet access
The Indy community center is upgrading its computer lab and helped 130 families get laptops.
mirrorindy.org
Before more is lost, Martindale residents want history preserved mirrorindy.org/martinale-hi...
A Historic District would capture some, not all of Martindale’s history
Indiana Landmarks is working on getting the eastside neighborhood listed as a National Historic District
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At the corner of 25th and Sherman where Martindale Brightwood residents are protesting a proposed data center.
Meet Lawrence’s new used bookstore (and bookstore dog) by @darianbenson.bsky.social #Indianapolis mirrorindy.org/red-dog-book...
Meet Lawrence’s new used bookstore
Red Dog Books is a nonprofit and used bookstore on 46th Street.
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Washing Park on the east side unveiled $3.5 million in upgrades this week. A new playground, splash pad, event lawn, covered shelters and improved parking lot. The upgrades are the latest improvements in the Indy Parks system funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. mirrorindy.org/washington-p...
Indy Parks unveils $3.5 million in upgrades at Washington Park
Changes include a new playground, splash pad and parking lot.
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The community recycling drop off site at Washington Square Mall has been removed. Officials say fires and illegal dumping have been a problem. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...
Indy removes eastside community recycling site
The Department of Public Works has removed the community recycling drop off site at Washington Square Mall.
mirrorindy.org
Cafe Oztara opened Friday. The coffee shop was created as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and surrounding neighborhood. Plus, the cafe will offer hands on hospitality training through Damien Center’s employment skills development program. mirrorindy.org/damien-cente...
Damien Center opens eastside coffee shop, training center
Cafe Oztara was created as a sober safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.
mirrorindy.org
In Indy, Black men born between 1951-1970 have died nearly 3 times the city’s rate and 10 times the national rate. But there are reasons to be hopeful. We spoke to men in recovery who are working to fight systemic barriers to help the next generation survive. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...
Why one generation of Indy Black men have been dying of overdoses for decades, and how survivors are fighting to help
In Indy, survivors are fighting to help the next generation.
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New resource in Lawrence Township: Residents can get free rides to two food pantries in the area. mirrorindy.org/lawrence-tow...
Lawrence Township residents can get free rides to food pantries
The Lawrence Township Trustee’s Office and Pathways Resource Center will offer residents free rides to food pantries.
mirrorindy.org
I love Indy. Midday countdown at the best (and largest) children’s museum. I’m back to work Thursday and have a few stories I’m really excited about publishing in the coming weeks. I promise I’ll use Bluesky more in 2025…
Public history and architecture buffs, this one's for you: Woodruff Place finds replacement statue in Germany for historic fountain cc @darianbenson.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/historic-woo...
Woodruff Place finds replacement statue in Germany for historic fountain
Only a dozen “Venus Rising from the Sea” statues are believed to have been created.
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I love all of the upgrades at Frederick Douglass Park, but this double swing is a personal favorite. A lifesaver for a mom of two toddlers.
The city’s first covered basketball pavilion features two full-sized basketball courts, two half courts, bleachers and lighting. And it’s on the east side! mirrorindy.org/indy-parks-r...
Indy Parks opens city’s first basketball pavillion
The eastside pavilion has two full courts, two half courts, bleachers and lighting at Wes Montgomery Park.
mirrorindy.org
New from me and @tyfenwick.bsky.social: Years of mismanagement has hampered the Indianapolis Housing Agency's ability to provide subsidized housing to low-income residents. We spent six months trying to understand why. mirrorindy.org/broken-housi...
Broken Housing: How Indy’s public housing agency fuels a crisis
The Indianapolis Housing Agency’s failures are leading to evictions and homelessness.
mirrorindy.org
