Civil Rights Heritage Center hosts Boosts and Blocks event

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- South Bend leaders are working to bring more racial equity to the city and improve generational wealth for people of color.

On Tuesday, The Civil Rights Heritage Center hosted a Boosts for Blocks event at the IU South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center.

The open house was centered on 150 years of difficulties and barriers faced by the local black community.

People attending the event were encouraged to share their stories and histories in South Bend.

 "We are actually as a city trying to explore how do we create financial empowerment. So, one of the first ways were going to do that is by, of course, connecting with our residents to understand the programs that they've worked with in the past as well as the programs they would like to see in their future." Said Assistant Director of Business Development for the City of South Bend and the Department of Community Investment, Antonius Norther.

The next event, the Racial Wealth Data Panel, will be on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Civil Rights Heritage Center, located at 1040 W. Washington St.

the Racial Wealth Data Panel will give residents the opportunity to speak with a panel of local experts about the current and past state of banking, housing, and the financial health of South Bend's Black community.