Some General Information About "IPA"

SCOPE

From the origin of the Indianapolis Professional Association (IPA) to the present, IPA has primarily directed its resources, programs and activities toward education, economic development and networking of African-Americans. As a result of these three main focus points, IPA has sponsored many outstanding programs such as its Annual Achievement Awards Breakfast to honor the local African-American Merit Scholars, special breakfast forums on doing business with the State of Indiana, and doing business with and among African-Americans. Also, IPA has given several successful business card exchanges to promote African-American businesses. Two of these events were jointly sponsored with the Indiana Business Network, a statewide majority networking organization. Additionally, IPA was one of the “Champions” for the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee Plan which was designed to promote and enhance economic development for ethnic minorities within the Indianapolis Community. IPA is proactive in its approach to finding possible solutions and alternate ways of dealing with problems in the areas of education, economic development and networking regarding African-Americans and/or the local community at large. IPA’s membership is always open to anyone who wants to assist in accomplishing its missions as stated herein. IPA has sponsored since 1988 an Annual Youth Empowerment Breakfast to recognize organizations, groups and individuals working with “at-risk” youth and certain outstanding youth who are achieving in spite of the odds or performing noticeable community service. Also, since 2004, IPA has sponsored an organizational networking luncheon.

HISTORY

IPA was founded in October, 1984 by six far-sighted attorneys and a judge who were members of the Marion County Bar Association, a legal professional organization, comprised of mostly African-American attorneys. The members were the Honorable Judge Taylor Baker, Jr., Attorneys Bernard Huff, Mae Jimison, Nora Peoples, Ted Wilson, Willard Ransom, and Coleman Moore. These seven legal innovators immediately organized a planning committee to arrange a breakfast meeting with invitations being sent to various African-American businesspersons and professionals. The first breakfast meeting was held on December 1, 1984, with forty-nine invited guests. The guests represented such professions and businesses as medicine, law, accounting, education, banking, engineering, printing, publishing, government, dentistry, public media, and others. This meeting was received with much enthusiasm and it was unanimously decided that a Black professional organization be established. On January 26, 1985, the official name, structure, and mission were established. Also, the first members of the IPA Board of Directors were selected and the proposed Articles of Incorporation and By-laws were adopted. Next, Attorney Bernard Huff was elected as Chairman of the IPA Board, Gwendolyn Williams as Secretary, and Dr. Willie Cochran as Vice Chairman. The membership body elected Dr. Percy Clark as President, Lee McKinney as Vice President, Kimberly Williams as Asst. Secretary, Juanita Demming as Treasurer, and Eunice Trotter as Director of Public Relations. IPA was incorporated in February, 1985.

MISSION

The Indianapolis Professional Association through its structured activities and persistent, proactive and beneficial efforts, has become a viable force in the Indianapolis Community and will continue to serve this community in fulfilling its four part mission which is as follows:

1. To promote and develop the education and economy of African-Americans and to encourage others to do so.
2. To be a network for African-Americans to gather information and to discuss and exchange ideas.
3. To afford assistance and training to African-Americans in various professions, businesses and occupations.
4. To act as role models and mentors for other African-Americans.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Currently, IPA has a thirteen member board directorship which is primarily responsible for its long range planning, finances, and other policy matters. The programming and routine administrative matters are handled by the seven officers of IPA’s membership body with assistance of the task force and committee members. IPA’s three standing task forces are education, economic development and networking. Its three standing committees are membership & dues, budget & finance, and programs. IPA publishes a quarterly newsletter which bears the title “Professionally Speaking.”