For as long as I have been a business owner, I have never made the correlation that National Small Business Month and Mental Health Awareness Month occur in May.  I don’t know how or even why I put it together this year, but I did. Being a business owner has placed so much stress on my mental health that at times I thought, “Denise, you may not make it out of this one.” The constant worries about staffing, payroll, business development, our reputation, competition – the list goes on and on. Yet through it all, like Elton John said, “I’m still standing – looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid.”

In April, Herd Strategies is celebrating National Volunteer Month by highlighting volunteer organizations and opportunities, showcasing ways we can use our time, talents and treasures to #giveback and uplift our communities. This week’s feature is Fred Payne, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana, a lifelong volunteer who helps remove barriers and provide resources so Central Indiana residents and communities can live out their true potential. 

In April, Herd Strategies is celebrating National Volunteer Month by highlighting local volunteer organizations and opportunities, showcasing ways we can use our passions, values and skillsets to #giveback and lift up our communities. This week’s feature is Darcie Kurtz, executive director of Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside (FIDO), who has improved the lives of thousands of local, outdoor pets since founding the animal welfare nonprofit.

In April, Herd Strategies is celebrating National Volunteer Month by highlighting local volunteer organizations and opportunities, showcasing ways we can use our passions, values and skillsets to #giveback and lift up our communities. Our first feature of the month is Caroline Durava, associate director of advancement for We Bloom, a local Indianapolis nonprofit focused on catalyzing health in communities.

April is National Volunteer Month, so the Herd team decided to spend the next several weeks celebrating the contributions of volunteers in our community and organizations that rely on volunteers for their success. Volunteering is something I am passionate about. I learned very early in my life about the impact of volunteering, just taking time out of your day to make someone else's day a little brighter.

This March, Herd Strategies has celebrated Women’s History Month by highlighting women who share stories, uplifting and amplifying the experiences of themselves and others. Our final feature of the month is Eunice Trotter, an awarded author, journalist, genealogist and storyteller of Indiana history.

Our Women’s History Month guest blogger is Lauren Briggeman, a local professional actor, writer and director. Named as one of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “Forty Under Forty” in 2019, she was recently recognized as one of Indy Maven’s “Women to Watch in 2023.” #SheSharesStories by amplifying the lives and experiences of women through her work as the founding artistic director of Summit Performance Indianapolis, a professional nonprofit theatre company. Since the company’s debut in 2017, Summit has continued to actively represent and provide creative opportunities for women through four fully mounted productions​, eight staged readings​ and six original community conversation one-acts​.

This March, Herd Strategies is celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting women who share stories, uplifting and amplifying the experiences of themselves and others. Kären Haley, executive director of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, is dedicated to providing a physical way for neighborhoods and communities throughout the city to connect and live shared experiences.

This March, Herd Strategies is celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting women who share stories, uplifting and amplifying the experiences of themselves and others. Faith Blackwell, photographer and mixed media artist, uses her art to boldly represent powerful women.

This March, Herd Strategies is celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting women who share stories, uplifting and amplifying the experiences of themselves and of others. Kelly Young, co-host of the podcast Badassery Life, uses her platform to help other women experience the strength that comes from expressing their unique perspectives.

In February, Herd Strategies celebrates Black History Month by amplifying Black artists, poets and historians. We seek to highlight people who are voices of the Black community today and share stories of the Black experience throughout history. Dr. Charlene Fletcher uses her extensive research on Black history to curate powerful exhibits for Conner Prairie, Indiana’s living history museum.

Whenever I watched videos by Black makeup artists, I began to notice how often they had to mix foundations to find their perfect shade. Often, the foundation brands they used were not brands I had ever seen in my local drugstore or makeup store. Scrolling through their comments, I saw other Black women sharing their own experiences and frustrations surrounding finding products that worked for them. Why weren’t accessible brands making foundations with them in mind? It wasn’t until I was in high school that the makeup industry started to address its inclusivity shortcomings, primarily thanks to one woman: Rihanna.

In February, Herd Strategies celebrates Black History Month by amplifying Black artists, poets and musicians. We seek to highlight creatives who are voices of the Black community today and share the stories of Black artists in history whose work paved the way for future generations. Rebecca Robinson, an Indianapolis-based mixed media artist, uses her art to share the Black experience and speak out against racial injustice.

One day while walking through a local bookstore, I noticed something that immediately brought a wave of emotions over me. I remember trying to recall all the books I read when I was a little girl that came close to what I was staring at, but the only books jogging my memory at the time were “The Baby-Sitters Club” series and “Charlotte's Web.” I remember feeling disappointed yet excited – although I didn't have what my kids will now have, I was excited for them to experience this revolutionary time in literature that would hopefully spark a passion for reading and boost their self-esteem.

In February, Herd Strategies celebrates Black History Month by amplifying Black artists, poets and musicians. We seek to highlight creatives who are voices of the Black community today and share the stories of Black artists in history whose work paved the way for future generations. One person who fully recognizes the impact of Black artists who have come before her is Dana Powell-Smith, an Indianapolis-based abstract artist who honors her family and lineage through her work.

For many things in life, you need to have faith. Put your trust in the bigger picture, in God, in the universe – whatever it is you believe in – so that you can live without being shrouded by fear. But as human beings with complex emotions, sometimes you need more than faith to make something seem feasible. Sometimes, seeing is believing.

As we kick off Black History Month 2023, Herd Strategies will highlight individuals and organizations for their artistic contributions both locally and around the world. But we ask that you remember these artists walk in their truth every day. Their Black is not a toy, and we should celebrate them 365 days of the year – not just in February.

In January, Herd Strategies is highlighting people and organizations who help others rediscover their purpose, passions and peace. Through her work as director of marketing and development at Dress for Success Indianapolis, Shayla Pinner champions women in Indy by empowering them to step into their innate inner strength.

We all know the saying "New Year, New You." A vision board helps you set goals and create a template for the upcoming year while discovering new motivations that will help you become a better version of yourself.

For the month of January, Herd Strategies is highlighting people and organizations who help others rediscover their passions, purpose and peace. Sara Feasel, director of development for Hope Center Indy, fulfills her calling to serve her community through the center’s life-changing work: empowering survivors of human trafficking on their journey to healing.