Indy's International Film Festival is Underway

Continuing through Saturday, the Indianapolis International Film Festival presents films that "inform, enlighten, and educate the community by providing a vivid reflection of the rich cultural diversity of Indianapolis and the world beyond its doors".

Now in its fifth year, the Film Festival "has expanded significantly, extending itself, and taking root in the Indianapolis filmscape".

Check out the schedule remaining and get thee to a screening!

The closing party will be Friday (2 May) at the Brazilian Grill Steakhouse, 2654 Lake Circle Drive, Indianapolis.

IU's McRobbie Plans Trip to Israel

Indiana University President Michael McRobbie will join a delegation of American university leaders on a trip to Israel 29 June to 7 July 7, according to the IU News Bureau.

The delegation is scheduled to visit several major universities in Israel, including Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Participants will also visit Al Quds University to discuss issues of Palestinian education and governance. The trip is sponsored by Project Interchange, an institute of the American Jewish Committee.

Food Buyers from Taiwan Visit Indiana

Following their attendance at the 2008 U.S. Food Export Showcase in Chicago, a delegation of food buyers from Taiwan came to Indiana this week, reports Inside INdiana Business.

Tomorrow (30 April), they will tour Caito Food Service in Indianapolis. Other stops have been the office of Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman, informal business meetings with several Hoosier food and agribusinesses (including Indiana specialty grain producers and wineries), Fair Oaks Farms dairy, and Purdue University's Food Science Laboratory.

Phoenix Schedules Performances in Spanish

Our Dad is in Atlantis/Papá está en la Atlántida plays at the Phoenix Theatre, 749 North Park Avenue, Indianapolis, 8 May through 8 June -- but the best news is that some of the performances are in Spanish! (If you'd like to see the Spanish language performances, check for available tickets on 22, 23, 29, 30 May, 1, 5, 6 June.)

The show, which will enjoy its Midwest premiere, stars Julio Chavez and Mark Presto. Others involved are Composer/Accordionist David Wierhake, Direction & Light Design by Bryan Fonseca, Set Design by James Gross, Technical Direction by Justin Kidwell, and Stage Managed by Dani Norberg.

Summary: Papa crossed the border for a better life...but what happens to the sons he left behind? Told through the eyes of the two sons, Our Dad is in Atlantis is a touching coming-of-age story. After being left behind to live with their grandmother in Mexico, the two brothers decide to go on a quest to find their father who has left for Atlanta (or Atlantis, perhaps, according to the younger brother). Follow their journey as they discover lessons in life, live, loss, death, and maturity in this immigration story about the people left behind.

Tickets for all Spanish language performances are $15 apiece. They range up to $25 for English-language performances. To order, call 317:635-7529.

Taste of Noble County Ethnic Festival

Ethnic festival season is off and running on 17 May with the "Taste of Noble County Ethnic Festival" on the grounds of the Noble County Community Foundation, 1599 Lincolnway South, Ligonier. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, email or call 866:894-6832.

Taipei DanceWorks Ensemble Comes to Indy

A spectacular performance is planned for 14 May to celebrate a double anniversary. The Taipei DanceWorks Ensemble presents Taiwanese folk and tap dance at 7 p.m. in the Shelton Auditorium of Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis.

This event celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Indianapolis-Taipei Sister City Relationship and Taiwanese Heritage Week. Co-sponsors are the City of Indianapolis, Telamon Corporation, Taiwanese-American Association of Indianapolis and the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Chicago.

Admission is free, although it would be helpful to the planners if you'd RSVP to Dr. Chinghai Kao.

37th Annual Children's Folk Dance Festival

More than a thousand children in grades 4-8 at Indianapolis Public Schools will participate in Saturday's 37th Annual Children's Folk Dance Festival at 2 p.m. in the Indiana Convention Center. The program, is part of an educational arts series teaching diversity through dance.

Canadian Meat Shop Chain Expands to Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne has been selected as one of two cities where Canada-based M&M Meat Shops Ltd. will open its first U.S. retail shops. Inside INdiana Business says that the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports that the company chose Fort Wayne after studying the demographics of numerous cities, although it has not selected a location for its store. The stores are expected to open in August under the name My Menu.

Evansville Welcomes Sister City Delegation

A delegation from Tochigi City, Japan arrived in Evansville yesterday to continue the relationship between the sister cities, reports Inside INdiana Business.

It is the first official visit to Evansville by a representatives from the Japanese city since 2002. The ten member group will be officially welcomed this morning during an event hosted by the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville and the Economic Development Coalition for Southwest Indiana.

Statewide MultiEthnic Conference

Indiana's first "Statewide MultiEthnic Conference" is set for 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (22 April) in the Sheraton Hotel and Suites, Keystone-at-the-Crossing, Indianapolis. Cost to attend is $60 per person. For more information, click here or contact Carmen DeRusha, 317:275-9253.

Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Celebration

Did you know that the Sister City partnership between Indianapolis and Cologne, Germany, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year? (That's the Cologne cathedral in the photo.)

Find out more about this cultural exchange group at its next meeting: 4:30 p.m. Monday (21 April) in the Max Kade Room of the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis.

If you'd like to know more about this meeting, the committee or the 20th anniversary celebration, contact the chairman, Sven Schumacher, 317:359-5467 x222.

PSST: the committee's annual "Taste of Germany" is set for 4 October!

Asian Festival Scheduled for 10 May

The Asian American Alliance, Inc., and Indy's Garfield Park will host the first-ever Asian Festival on 10 May. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can sample food and buy merchandise from vendors from all over Asia – China, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, India and Indonesia – all under one roof in Garfield Park.

Artwork of Asian artists in Indianapolis will also be on display at the Garfield Arts Center. Plus, cultural entertainment and activities will be offered throughout the day. Admission is free.

The festival is held in conjunction with the Asian Pacific-American Heritage Month, the month of May, as designated by the United States Congress.

Indiana Mayors Visiting Japan

Mayor Tim Armstrong, City of Madison; Mayor Doug England, New Albany; and Mayor Craig Leudeman, Seymour are leading a trade mission to Japan with the South Central Indiana Economic Development Group, according to Inside INdiana Business. Receptions have been held in Nagoya and in Tokyo.

Other Mission Members include: Kathy Ertel, Jennings County Economic Development Corporation; Matt Hall, One Southern Indiana; Corey Murphy, Madison, Jefferson Co. Economic Development Corporation; Jim Plump, Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation; Darrell Voelker, Harrison County Economic Development Corporation; Charles Corbin, Dunlap & Company; Gary Shelley, Duke Energy and Tamayo Fukumoto, Japan-America Society of Indiana.

Germany Arrives in Terre Haute

A good old-fashioned German-style "Strassenfest" is planned in downtown Terre Haute at Ninth and Cherry Streets the last weekend in April. Admission is free!

Music, food and drink are promised from 11 a.m. until midnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday (24-26 April). Jay Fox and the Bavarian Showtime Band and Steve Meisner's Band will be playing.

It's sponsored by the Terre Haute German Oberlandler Club, a non profit social organization that strives to preserve and perpetuate the customs, traditions, language costumes, and music of our German heritage.

Global Drug Reaction Research Involves IU

Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine will take part in a collaboration between American and Japanese scientists, according to Inside INdiana Business.

The National Institutes of Health has announced Professor of Medicine and of Medical Genetics Dr. David Flockhart will be part of the Global Alliance for Pharmacogenomics. Its aim is to use genetic information to better understand why patients react differently to drugs. Flockhart is also the chief of the division of pharmacology at the IU School of Medicine.

Hispanic/Latino Affairs Commission Gets New Director

Pat Sanchez has been named executive director of the Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, according to Inside INdiana Business. She replaces Amy Mendoza-Hernandez.

Sanchez, of Indianapolis, is a former teacher at the Indianapolis Public Schools, where she taught Special Education and English as a Second Language courses (ESL). Most recently, she was a special projects and events manager at the Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis. She has a Bachelor’s degree from IUPUI and is working on a second Bachelor’s degree in Spanish at IUPUI along with a Master’s degree in Special Education at Ball State University.

Established by the General Assembly in 2003, the Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs is a non-partisan state agency working toward economic, educational, and social equality, including promoting cooperation and understanding. The Commission identifies, measures and reviews programs, legislation and researches challenges and opportunities affecting the Hispanic/Latino community. The Commission identifies solutions and provides recommendations to the governor and legislature.

President Sirleaf Gets Honorary Doctorate from IU

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (pictured), the first woman elected as president of Liberia or of any African country, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Indiana University 3 May in recognition of her efforts to promote peace, justice and democracy, and of the close relations between her country and IU, according to the IU News Bureau.

Sirleaf will receive the degree during IU Bloomington's 2008 spring commencement ceremonies, which will begin at 10 a.m. in Assembly Hall. She also will join IU President Michael McRobbie and other IU faculty leaders at the afternoon commencement session beginning at 3 p.m.

Endangered Species Chocolate Heads to Africa

According to Inside INdiana Business, Indianapolis-based Endangered Species Chocolate will travel to the Ivory Coast and Nigeria next month to continue the company’s mission to produce ethically traded chocolate bars and help support humanitarian efforts.

Officials will visit cacao farms in two Ivory Coast communities and join Indianapolis-based Mercy Foundation on a medical mission in Uromi, Nigeria.

Current Themes in International Public Affairs

"Current Themes in International Public Affairs: an interdisciplinary look at
public policy issues" is the topic for the inaugural conference of the International Public Affairs Association scheduled for Friday (11 April) in the School of Public & Environmental Affairs at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Topics include the international political economy, global environment and conflict resolution. For additional information, email Nancy Meyer.

The International Public Affairs Association provides a forum for international public affairs issues within the local community, while helping graduate students achieve careers in this field. IPAA is based in SPEA at IU.

Cummins, Anthem Expand in China

Columbus-based Cummins has officially started operations at its new site in Wuhan, China, reports Inside INdiana Business. The Cummins Fuel Systems Wuhan Plant is the company's first fuel systems manufacturing site outside of North America. The facility will produce Cummins Common Rail fuel pumps and CELECT injectors/fuel pumps, primarily for the China market.

Inside INdiana Business also says that Anthem Insurance Co. Inc. has launched its first office in China. China Knowledge is reporting that the Anthem Insurance Co. Inc. Beijing Representative Office will work to improve medical care services in China.

Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Gets Gift

The estate of a University of Notre Dame graduate has given the South Bend institution a $20 million dollar gift, according to Inside INdiana Business. The donation from the estate of Frank E. Eck will support the Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, which will be remained for the Eck family. Frank Eck, who died in December 2007, was a 1944 graduate and was chairman of Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) of Columbus, Ohio.

Indy's Washington Township Links with Taiwan

"Two Washington Township principals are half a world away working to establish international partnerships for their schools," writes Gretchen Becker in today's Indianapolis Star

"Nora Elementary Principal Suzanne Zybert and Allisonville Elementary principal Mike Pomerenke left Friday [4 April] as part of the 2008 American Superintendents / Educators' Project on Chinese Language Teacher Recruitment and Sister School Partnerships [returning 12 April]....

"'Their travels are part of a township-wide goal to have global partnerships in all schools', said Marsha Reynolds, the school district's director of elementary education. Partnerships are in their sixth year and started at Crooked Creek Elementary when Reynolds was the principal.

"'Our goal is for each school to have a global partner in China or Taiwan', Reynolds said....Crooked Creek, Spring Mill and Greenbriar elementaries, Westlane Middle and North Central High schools already have established partner schools in China...."

Lilly's Forsteo Approved by European Commission

Eli Lilly and Company announced today that the European Commission has approved a new indication for FORSTEO(R) (teriparatide [rDNA origin] injection) for the treatment of osteoporosis associated with sustained, systemic glucocorticoid therapy in women and men at increased risk for fracture. Teriparatide stimulates new bone formation by increasing the number and action of bone-building cells called osteoblasts.

Lithuanian Educators Visiting Indiana

A three-member delegation from the Republic of Lithuania is spending this week visiting Indiana classrooms, the Indiana Statehouse and other places dealing with government and legal matters to learn more about civic education in the U.S., reports the Indiana University News Bureau.

Visiting are Giedre Kvieskiene (on the right, in photo at left), professor and director of the Lithuanian College of Democracy at Vilnius Pedagogical University; Elena Urboniene, who directs a school for children with disabilities at Vilnius University Hospital, and Alvydas Puodziukas, Lithuania's Secretary of Education and Science. Their visit is part of a continuing exchange between the IU School of Education and the state of Indiana with Lithuania as part of the Civitas International Civic Education Exchange Program.

On 11 April, the School of Education and Indiana will send its own delegation to Lithuania to continue discussions. Gerardo Gonzalez, University Dean of the IU School of Education, Terry Mason, associate professor of curriculum studies, State Sen. Vi Simpson, as well as Batchelor Middle School social studies teacher Rebecah Boyle and Childs Elementary School social studies teacher Karen Johnson will spend a week discussing the importance of civic education for the young democracy, which broke from the Soviet Union in 1990.

The School of Education has participated in the exchange since 1995, when the U.S. Department of Education funded the Civitas International Program through its Center for Civic Education. The program pairs international educators from Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia and Latin America with partners in states throughout the U.S. Over the last decade, the IU School of Education has hosted and participated in the exchange yearly.

St. Benno Fest Celebrates Spring

The annual St. Benno Fest takes place at the Athenaeum/Das Deutsche Haus, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, from 6-11:30 p.m. 12 April. Admission at the door is $18 ($15 in advance).

The celebration marks the arrival of spring...and Bock Beer! (That's Herr Bockl and St. Benno in the photo.) Jay Fox and the Bavarian Showtime Band will play for dancing. There'll be entertainment by the Athenaeum Pops German Band, Maennerchor and Dans Norden plus a Polka Contest and Grand March. German food will be available a la carte from the Rathskeller Restaurant.

For information and reservations, call 317:655-2755. Proceeds benefit the Athenaeum Foundation.

Foreign Investments Creates Indiana Jobs

A new Indiana University report says Indiana will gain more than 5,000 jobs created by foreign direct investment that was announced last year, according to Inside INdiana Business. Most of that investment is in the automotive manufacturing industry. Indiana ranked 13th nationally for employment by majority-owned U.S. affiliates in 2005. Majority-owned U.S. affiliates are those in which a foreign investor or company has at least a 50 percent stake.