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HELP ON THE WAY Eli Lilly Releases Covid-19 Antibody Treatment TACKLING POSSIBILITIES Emil Ekiyor Works to Foster Innovation and Inclusion
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HELP ON THE WAY ELI LILLY RELEASES COVID-19 ANTIBODY TREATMENT Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
A
fter a year that feels like it’s been full of upsets and letdowns, news that Eli Lilly and Company has produced a COVID-19 antibody treatment, for which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency authorization, is a reason to celebrate. The treatment stems from one of the first coronavirus survivors from the Pacific Northwest.
What this treatment means for high-risk patients is significant. High-risk patients include those who are older, overweight, or have conditions that predispose them to suffer acutely after contracting COVID-19. The antibody is administered as soon as possible following a positive coronavirus test - within 10 days of developing symptoms.
“When your body has a virus that enters it, your immune system recognizes it and creates antibodies that help your body to rid itself of the virus,” says Janelle Sabo, Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 therapeutics platform leader. “We were able to isolate one of those antibodies and scale it up.”
“Our hope is that when this therapy is administered early on, those patients will avoid hospitalization and hopefully will be able to ease their symptomology sooner as well,” Sabo says.
When introduced to the human body, this antibody binds to the COVID-19 virus and helps neutralize it, so that it clears from the body. Once Eli Lilly was granted approval by the FDA, the U.S. government bought a supply that was shipped to Eli Lilly’s wholesaler. Every week, the U.S. government and state health departments across the country decide where the therapy should be shipped. Currently the therapy, called bamlanivimab, is at various locations across the U.S., including right here in Indianapolis. “We know bamlanivimab is in several hospitals in Indiana, and patients have already been dosed with it,” Sabo says.
If an individual is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, they should get tested. If they are positive and have symptoms, they may be a candidate for this drug if they are 55 or over, have a body mass index over 35, or have conditions like cardiovascular disease or an impaired immune system. It’s important to note that once patients are ill enough to be hospitalized, bamlanivimab is not the right treatment for them. “This is because at that point there are other biological things that are going on that may require a different set of treatments,” Sabo says. “This antibody treatment is targeted for that early-diagnosis, symptomatic, not-ready-to-go-to-the-hospital population.” Sabo says the virus has caused a strain on many hospital systems. “We are seeing fewer and fewer ICU beds,” Sabo says. “We are
4 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2021 / atBRip.com
also seeing busier and busier ERs. This is true here in Indiana and across the country.” When this treatment is administered in the right time period, it has the ability to help reduce that strain in hospitals and emergency rooms. “The data would suggest this antibody treatment could reduce [the virus] as much as 70 to 80% in this population,” Sabo says. “This is an opportunity not only to help patients feel better faster, but also to help the health care system to reduce some of the pressure of the hospitalizations and additional ER visits.”
Janelle Sabo, Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 therapeutics platform leader.
about you as it is about your neighbor, your best friend, your grandmother and your mother. It’s about protecting those with immune systems that are weakened, or have conditions that make it harder to fight these types of infection.” Sabo notes that “infection” is an interesting term, since many people who test positive for the virus never develop symptoms. “This new antibody treatment is not for them,” she explains. “This is about looking at patients who not only have the virus but now have started to develop symptoms. I think that’s an important distinction because there are a lot of people who have a positive test and no symptoms, and frankly those patients will likely go on to do just fine with very little treatment or intervention.”
Sabo’s biggest piece of advice to the community is to wear masks to reduce With vaccines developed that are reportedly 90 to 95% effective, Sabo believes significant progress can be made in fighting the the spread. pandemic in 2021. “I know that there is mask fatigue, but until vaccines “It’s important we recognize that there is much that we still don’t know [about the virus], so we shouldn’t be overly confident that become widely available just because we are [in a certain demographic] that we are always and there are additional treatments, we really need going to be okay,” Sabo adds. “Always is a big statement.” to wear them,” Sabo says. “Mask wearing is as much
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COOK SOMETHING 2020 could possibly be called the year of cooking for many. Still, take time in 2021 to try a new recipe or cook as a family. Try family pizza night, or if you’ve done that, go for something harder. Your kids will love trying to make macarons or some sort of festive cake. If you really want to have fun with it, create a little competition.
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With each new year, people often sit down and try to figure out resolutions. Last year was a tough one in many ways, and hopefully 2021 will hold many happy moments. Resolutions can sometimes feel overwhelming, and oftentimes disappointing. This year, let’s try a fresh approach. For 2021, create your own bucket list of things you can feel good accomplishing. Complete them any time during the year, at your own pace, and enjoy the moments when you are doing them. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
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VISIT SOMEWHERE Many people were stuck at home more than usual last year, exploring what’s available to them in their own backyard. Maybe it’s time to visit that state park you haven’t been to, or that new campsite. You can still travel and be safe, and it’s good for the soul - even if it’s just exploring a newly built park down the street. Get outside and visit somewhere new to you. Remember, it doesn’t have to be far.
TRY SOMETHING May I suggest yoga? Try something new that you haven’t done before, and maybe something that will help to alleviate stress and clear your head. It doesn’t have to be yoga - maybe try a new workout or starting a new routine. Think outside the box here, too. It could be a new game, a new sport or a new type of art. Whatever you choose, make it something you can continue to do throughout the new year and maybe longer.
WATCH SOMETHING Many of us have been binging on plenty of old and new TV shows lately. There’s so much out there to watch that sometimes it can be overwhelming. Take a minute to research documentaries online, and choose one that CLEAN SOMETHING covers a topic you know nothing about. All year long things can often get shoved into closets, and now is a great time to tackle Post on Facebook asking for suggestions them one by one. You can check this one off from friends for new shows to watch. Pick something and watch it from beginning to after you’ve cleaned up a room or a closet, end, even if it’s a seven-season sitcom. or maybe reorganized a pantry. Whatever it is, pick something you’ll feel good about when you are done.
CREATE SOMETHING Many homes were filled to the brim with artwork in 2020. Every year should be like that. Don’t always leave this to the kids, and remember, creating isn’t limited to painting or drawing a picture. It could be those mudroom lockers you’ve been meaning to build, or maybe it’s that backyard oasis that’s been on your list too.
MAKE A DONATION Choose a favorite cause, and donate or volunteer this year. There are many people and foundations in need of help after such a rough 2020, and this is the perfect time to get out there and help others. It’s never a bad idea to offer help to those in need, and you can do so in many ways. If you are very busy and can afford it, monetary donations can be helpful. If volunteering in person is more your speed, reach out to your local food bank, homeless shelter or other organization, and find out how you can serve as a volunteer. *** Hopefully these ideas have given you a start on how to rock your 2021. Wishing you the best in the new year - you’ve got this!
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MONON TRAIL GETS BRIDGE AT 38TH STREET Writer & Photographer / Michael Durr
Hannah Scott-Carter, public information officer with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works
A
s you drive down 38th Street past the Indiana State Fairgrounds, you may notice a new structure sitting atop the six-lane road. However, you can be certain that neighborhood walkers, runners and bikers have taken notice. The bridge that ramps up and over 38th Street is a new addition to a vast trail system that spans the entire city. The six lanes and high-speed traffic at this junction of 38th Street were considered by many to be unsafe for anyone looking to cross. “This project was created because we wanted to come up with a fix for that,” says Hannah Scott-Carter, public information officer with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW). The design was planned and executed by the DPW, and even has some details that pay homage to the history of the location, including a walkway that resembles railroad tracks. “It was a five-plus year project designing and getting funding, and we worked extensively with neighborhood and community organizations in the area,” Scott-Carter says.
The Monon was a north-south rail line that traversed the length of the state and provided a vital service to the United States military during the Civil War. In 1883, the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railroad initiated passenger service between Indianapolis and Chicago. In the 1920s, improvements were made including the construction of Boulevard Station, which connected five of the state’s universities - Purdue University, Wabash College, DePauw University, Butler University and Indiana University were all accessible through Boulevard Station. In 1996, the Monon Railroad began
10 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2021 / atBRip.com
transforming into a multipurpose trail system.
that,� Scott-Carter says.
The Indianapolis section of the Monon Trail starts at 10th street, near the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, and runs through commercial areas, historic districts, the Indiana State Fairgrounds, parks, and neighborhoods to a connection with the Monon Greenway in Carmel at 96th Street.
As the ice begins to melt and the cold begins to pass, you can look forward to utilizing this new structure. If you want to be an early adopter and brave the elements, the bridge will officially open in the coming weeks.
“We know greenways are good for connectivity, health and culture, and it is something that is important to the city, especially in a time when more people want to be outside - trails are a great way to do
For more information about the Monon Trail and the Indianapolis Greenways system, contact Indy Parks and Recreation at 317-3277275 or visit indy.gov. You can also follow updates on the bridge completion at instagram.com/broadripplemagazine.
11 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2021 / atBRip.com
Furniture Artist CeCe Hunt
The Makers’ Market MIDTOWN SHOP HAS A FRESH, FUN, FUNKY STYLE Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Michael Durr
In 2016, CeCe Hunt was expecting, and trying to put together a nursery on a budget. “I found something I wanted but didn’t want to pay that much for it, and I was like, ‘I can totally make that,’” recalls Hunt, who crafted her own version of a $1,200 chest for around $60. That initial creation arose out of financial necessity. Over time, however, she has grown to enjoy the process immensely. “I not only love seeing the transformation in the item, but I also love my customers’ reaction when they see their piece,” Hunt says. “It’s priceless. You can’t buy that kind of satisfaction.” Hunt, who has always loved refinishing old furniture, wanted to one day open her own studio space once her children were older and out of the house. Last year, however, fate intervened a tad earlier than expected. “I’ve always eyed this particular space because I loved the location and the size,” says Hunt, referring to her North College Avenue location. “When the opportunity came to get this space, I couldn’t pass it up.”
“I hope as they grow up and see all the effort I put into my work, it will teach them the importance of putting your heart into something,” I want them to do what fulfills them. If they have a dream, go for it. Whatever you can dream, you can do. Maybe it’ll work. Maybe it won’t, but you’ll learn a lesson.” - CeCe Hunt The location is actually two connected storefronts. The smaller side was ideal for the studio Hunt had always craved, but she wasn’t sure if she was cut out to run a store. “I like to work alone and paint furniture,” she says.
one-of-a-kind things from all over,” says Hunt, adding that people often describe her store as a hidden gem since it contains products that can’t be found elsewhere or even online.
a jewelry box workshop in which attendees start with a bare wooden jewelry box or a wooden wall panel.
She kept an open mind and thought about how she doesn’t just paint furniture, but also creates all kinds of unique items that, time and again, friends have appreciated. She decided it would be nice to have a place to sell those items as well. She also loves teaching workshops, and the space offered a place to do so. After revamping the place to give it a fresher, hipper style, she opened the Makers’ Market in January of 2020.
When it comes to pricing custom orders, she charges by the hour.
“I love teaching people,” Hunt says. “It’s really fulfilling for me, so I can’t wait until I can get back to doing that.”
“I am intentionally not expensive because I don’t ever want people to feel like they can’t come in and ask for what they want,” Hunt says.
Hunt is also a social media influencer in the furniture world, and has sponsors and supporters.
When many businesses shut down last spring, Hunt remained remarkably busy.
The retail side sells do-it-yourself supplies and paint. The store carries not just Hunt’s merchandise, but also items from 45 other vendors and crafters. Though she loves featuring local artisans, in the future she hopes to sell artisan goods from all over the country - items she calls “original, different and funky.”
“Turns out, people wanted furniture when they were stuck at home,” says Hunt, who sold 26 pieces in March alone, shipping to locations all across the county. “It was busy and stressful.”
“Everything that goes along with that style, I put in my store,” Hunt says. “People who like my style come in and see my stuff, and it just clicks with them and makes them happy.”
“I like to find small-batch or handcrafted,
During non-COVID times, Hunt offers weekly two-hour workshops on Saturdays that cover various painting techniques for art and furniture. For instance, she might offer
14 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2021 / atBRip.com
Some of her fun, funky items include what she calls “dessert shoes.” “People say, ‘You can’t wear those,’ but you can,” Hunt says. “Everything is functional.” She also creates dessert-themed jewelry and a candle line.
Hunt takes custom orders and can make just about anything, though she hesitates to call what she does “repurposing.”
Hunt’s children enjoy coming into the shop and assisting her from time to time. She’s happy to have the help, though the most important thing to her is to model a strong work ethic for her kids.
“I embellish things,” she says. “Yes, I might take an old hutch and turn it into a bookshelf, but mostly I paint things to make them look “I hope as they grow up and see all the cool. I don’t just paint and call it a day. I like effort I put into my work, it will teach them to make things extra and over the top.” the importance of putting your heart into something,” she says. “I want them to do
W E A RE O P EN. W E A RE SA F E . W E A RE CA RI N G FO R PATI EN TS .
During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have delayed seeking care. Eskenazi Health is open and here for you. Your health and safety remain our top priority. We’ve taken a number of precautions to ensure your well-being while at our facilities. Please don’t delay seeking care, even if you have concerns because your insurance may have recently changed. We have financial counselors available to help. In-person or e-visit appointments can be requested online at EskenaziHealth.edu or by calling 317.880.7666.
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what fulfills them. If they have a dream, go for it. Whatever you can dream, you can do. Maybe it’ll work. Maybe it won’t, but you’ll learn a lesson.” The Makers’ Market is located at 5208 North College Avenue in Indianapolis. For more information, call 317-426-2605 or visit makersmarketindy.com.
FRESH HOPE IU MEDICAL RESEARCHERS PRESENT PROMISING CANCER STUDY RESULTS
Zionsville residents and IU Medical researchers Dr. Bryan Schneider and Dr. Milan Radovich Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
Anyone who has beaten cancer likely often wonders, “What if it comes back?” Two Indiana University School of Medicine researchers, Dr. Bryan Schneider and Dr. Milan Radovich, have exciting new findings, however, that spell good news for cancer patients. Schneider and Radovich came up with a biomarker finding for women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer that is now being taught and used worldwide. This pioneering research is part of the larger IU Precision Health Initiative, which
received $120 million in funding from the IU Grand Challenges Program to also research diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Type 2 diabetes, multiple myeloma and pediatric sarcomas (childhood cancers). According to Schneider, breast cancer remains one of the most common cancer types for women in the U.S., with more than 250,000 women affected annually and approximately 40,000 dying of the disease. Triple-negative breast cancer tends to target young women and black women. Because it’s an aggressive form of breast cancer, even though it makes up a minority of cases, it causes a disproportionately high rate of mortality. 16 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2021 / atBRip.com
“Women with triple-negative breast cancer who had Stage 1 through 3 disease are treated with chemotherapy followed by surgery,” says Radovich, noting that there are two post-surgical outcomes. Either chemotherapy melts all of the tumor away (this occurs in approximately one-third of patients), or patients have residual disease post-surgery. “Even though we remove that cancer, they are at high risk of their cancer coming back, usually with a vengeance as the disease most often metastasizes to other organs and becomes lethal,” Radovich says. Schneider and Radovich analyzed ctDNA
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
based biomarker to predict if cancer will come back is being used across other cancers as well. In December of 2019, Radovich presented this data in front of a packed audience of 6,000 physicians and scientists at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. In addition, the work of Schneider and Radovich was published in JAMA Oncology, a prestigious peerreviewed medical journal published by the American Medical Association. “The real goal behind this is to take care of those patients who are in a tough situation,” Radovich says. “For those patients who are ctDNA-negative, we envision a future where we can tell them that they are in a situation where there is a really good chance of doing well. It also allows us the potential to think about strategies down the road that decrease the amount of therapy patients get, so they suffer fewer side effects.” For those deemed high-risk, physicians can implement innovative strategies in an attempt to improve outcomes. “As Hoosiers, we should be proud of what our state is doing in advancing research that has implications across the country and internationally,” Radovich says. “IU has been a leader in this concept of using DNA and genomics to guide therapy for more than 20 years, long before it had become a hot topic in the New York Times or Time magazine. What you’re seeing today is an evolution of decades of work in this area.” (circulating tumor DNA), which is DNA shed from tumors into the bloodstream. With cutting-edge technology, a blood sample could be taken and the presence of cancer detected. “We found that if we take this blood sample after chemotherapy and surgery, and we detect this tumor DNA, those women’s cancer will recur,” Schneider says. “If they are negative, those women have a good chance that the cancer won’t come back and therefore have a better, superior outcome.” Physicians in the cancer-fighting world are eager to hear more about these findings, as the concept of using a blood-
In addition to ctDNA, doctors also looked at circulating tumor cells in the study. Much of that work came out of Purdue University.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of cancer that lacks common traits used to diagnose and treat most other breast cancers. About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
TNBC 15%-20%
In 2017, an estimated 255,180 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in U.S. women.
All other types of breast cancer
TNBC accounts for 15%-20% of breast cancer cases.
Because TNBC is estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and (HER2) negative, traditional hormone and targeted treatments that focus on these receptors are ineffective.
ER
PR
HORMONE THERAPY INEFFECTIVE
HER2 TA R G E T E D THERAPY INEFFECTIVE
Based on the newly established ctDNA findings, the new national trial will involve 200 women with triple-negative breast cancer at 20 sites across the U.S.
surgery
radiation
EFFECTIVE T R E AT M E N T S
TNBC is more likely to spread to other parts of the body and reoccur after treatment.
TNBC is more likely to affect African-American and Hispanic women.
This research, which took place at 22 sites across the country, is made possible with funding from the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer and the Walther Cancer Foundation. It is part of the Indiana University Precision Health Initiative Grand Challenge.
Boston Milwaukee
Omaha
Chicago Goshen Fort Wayne Munster West Lafayette Anderson Indianapolis St. Louis
Cincinnati
Harrisburg Hagerstown Washington, DC Norfolk
Oklahoma City Lubbock
“It’s a really neat collaboration both here in the state and across the United States,” says Schneider, who is starting a new clinical trial with Radovich called the PERSEVERE Trial.
chemo
Atlanta South Birmingham
Gainesville
Hollywood Miami
Led by Milan Radovich, PhD, and Bryan P. Schneider, MD, and using the most cutting edge technology, researchers have discovered which patients are most likely to remain disease free and which are likely to relapse following treatment for triple negative breast cancer.
In a new clinical trial, the team will be harnessing information from ctDNA analysis to determine a specialized treatment plan.
According to Schneider, the sequencing of the first human genome propelled much of 12/19
Schneider and I are proud to lead our genomics program. We apply genomics to patients with cancer here at IU Health.” To date, they have sequenced more than 5,000 patients. “It’s been a game-changer to tailor therapy for individual patients,” Radovich says. “We imagine a day where genome sequence can be done at your bedside or as part of your routine visit with your doctor. Your genome analysis can then help guide therapies.”
science to where it is today.
to see the fruits of that labor.”
“When the first human’s entire blueprint was mapped out, that set the stage for the entire code for which we’re built and how cancer is formed,” Schneider says. “As we have the ability to use genomes in real time in a few days for much cheaper, we’re starting to learn in a logarithmic fashion. Now we are starting
Radovich adds that scientists can now sequence a genome in a couple of days for a few hundred dollars. “It’s unbelievable how commoditized and quick it has become, and how applicable it is to patient care,” Radovich says. “Dr. 18 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2021 / atBRip.com
Both doctors say they feel blessed to have the opportunity to deal with patients during a difficult journey. “We get to see the limitations in where we are, go back to the laboratory, and think about some of the things we can do and advances we make that we know will impact the patients when we see them next week,” Radovich says. “That’s an unbelievable feeling, and one that we are incredibly
JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE
APRIL ERVIN SEEKS TO UPLIFT AND EMPOWER Writer / Kara Kavensky Photography Provided
April Ervin, the chief peace officer of Sustainable Leadership, LLC, knows a thing or two about resiliency, as she has hit the reset button multiple times in her life. A friend that Ervin has known for 25 years told Ervin that she is the most resilient person she has ever met. Ervin was surprised by the response, but the words resonated with her. “My journey has certainly been one of resilience,” Ervin says. After 20 years of working hard with her then-husband, Ervin found herself starting over. “At 42 I moved back in with my parents, after a 20-year marriage that resulted in divorce and bankruptcy,” Ervin says. “I am a woman of faith and found the door to open. It is not easy to experience.” In many ways, this period of uncertainty is when her life truly began, as it marks the moment when Ervin found her life purpose. Initially, she helped her friends through their own challenging times. Momentum began to build, and her coaching expanded to executives and others. However, Ervin was so focused on helping others, she wasn’t taking care of herself and went through a phase of health issues and, ultimately, burnout. 19 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2021 / atBRip.com
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you work, even if you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, it is inner resilience that makes us resilient,” states Ervin, who coaches her clients on inner transformation, which is critical to sustainable leadership. One reset in Ervin’s life occurred in New York City. She had flown in for meetings on September 10, 2001, and the next day she decided to shift from the corporate sector to the public sector. “Many of us allow fear and anxiety control us, but it is transformation calling us forward,” shares Ervin, who has served many individuals in the nonprofit sector. “I found that burnout and lack of sustainability in the nonprofit area is common, due to the culture of living a life of self-sacrifice.” Ervin knew she was a writer in the third grade, but majored in communications instead of creative writing when she attended Northwestern University. When she wrote her first book, she felt she had come full-circle. In 2018 Ervin released “The Burnout Factor,” a book that addresses professional fatigue in urban education. In November of 2020, Ervin issued her follow-up, “The Burnout Factor on Leadership,” which explores nontraditional leadership strategies. Ervin seeks the good and the possible, and shares that everyone is capable of
recovering from tragedy and trauma. She utilizes her personal experiences with loss and health challenges to help others. Ervin firmly believes that what you do professionally, you do personally - and vice versa.
have more to be grateful for in 2021.”
One of Ervin’s gifts is her voice. She has a ritual of singing out loud when she wakes up. Sometimes she does this while on walks. One day, a man working on a home nearby came up to her and shared that her singing lifted up his group of workers at their job site.
Say positive affirmations each and every day. Ervin refers to this as mindset work. She wakes up every morning with a positive affirmation about her day. If it’s a Friday, she calls it Fantastic Friday and says, “This is going to be the best day of my life so far.”
Ervin encourages all of us to look at 2020 through the lens of what it taught us in a positive way.
Recalibrate. We could all use some recalibration from time to time, so invest in your mental health and perhaps visit a therapist. Telehealth sessions can be relatively affordable, and there may be no-cost or low-cost options available.
“The power of positive thinking is truth, not just a book title,” says Ervin, who is looking forward to hugging people again. When Ervin speaks to large groups, she shares her story and many cannot believe that she can be so happy after experiencing so much adversity in her life. Ervin gives credit for her smile to her relationship with God, and the wonderful people in her life. Her next book, with a release date still to be determined, is titled “A Divine Storm - My Journey of Losing it All for the Restoration of My Soul.”
* * * Ervin offers the following suggestions for making 2021 the best year yet.
Keep a gratitude journal. Write down five things you are grateful for every day. You may also want to write down what you want to manifest in your life. One thing Ervin is looking forward to this year is hugging. Embrace self-care. Ervin strongly recommends daily practices of healthy living habits, including prayer or meditation, rest, eating well and hydrating. She also suggests an honest reflection of 2020 and how it has impacted us.
“We’ve been through the most tumultuous year,” says Ervin, who, in addition to her coaching, is director of alumni relations and annual giving for Christian Theological Visit aprilervin.com for more information. Seminary. “It’s time to give yourself grace and embrace the spirit of gratitude. We will
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TACKLING POSSIBILITIES EMIL EKIYOR WORKS TO FOSTER INNOVATION AND INCLUSION Writer / Kara Kavensky Photographer / Amy Payne
A former NFL player is driving change and facilitating upward mobility for people of color. At the age of 15, Emil Ekiyor left Nigeria and moved in with friends of his parents across the ocean in Daytona Beach, Florida. Ekiyor had never been away from home before. “I was excited about my new adventure but was leaving my family behind,” recalls Ekiyor, who is one of nine children. Sports minimized Ekiyor’s homesickness and provided structure to his life outside of school. He excelled in and loved soccer, but switched to football during his junior year of high school due to his sheer size. Playing sports helped Ekiyor gain confidence and widen his social circle. He worked hard on and off the football
field, and was offered a full-ride scholarship to play football at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Three years after leaving his family, he attended college on a scholarship. During this time, something weighed on Ekiyor. He was not a legal resident of the United States. He had entered on a six-month visa, after which he would no longer be in the country legally. He held this secret close because if he was found out, he faced possible deportation and would not be allowed to return. “Having a college experience in the U.S. is like no other - it is unmatched,” Ekiyor says. “What you learn about yourself is so important.” Ekiyor was team captain for two years at UCF until he was recruited into the NFL draft and picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were then coached by Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith and Herman Edwards. Ekiyor’s dream was to be an entrepreneur,
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and he ended up falling in love with athletics and his wife, Andrea Sims. She is a graduate of North Central High School and played basketball at Tennessee State University. When they married, Ekiyor officially became a U.S. citizen and finally felt the confidence to create a business. Playing for Dungy was an education in and of itself. Dungy and his coaching staff were rebuilding the Bucs, and Ekiyor paid close attention to their planning and preparation efforts. He experienced the high level of competition the coaches faced on and off the field. Injuries plagued Ekiyor’s career in the NFL. He briefly played for the Colts until he tore a pectoral muscle and was placed on injured reserve. Next, he went to the Atlanta Falcons under Hall of Fame coach Dan Reeves, which Ekiyor describes as a “great experience.” His final stop was with the Oakland Raiders and coach John Gruden. Ekiyor played with Hall of Fame inductees Jerry Rice and Rod Woodson. As an upside of playing in the NFL, Ekiyor was financially able to bring his family to the states. His parents were able to see their son play in the NFL from the stands. Two of his sisters graduated from Columbia University, one sister graduated from Harvard Law School, one of his brothers graduated from UCF, and another sister was a fellow at Stanford. During his time with the Raiders, Ekiyor decided to retire from football and pursue his passion for entrepreneurship, but wasn’t sure where to begin. After settling in Indianapolis, Ekiyor’s first local engagement was coaching football at Warren Central High School. He witnessed many young people who were not engaged, so Ekiyor created a proposal to draw in students and create a better experience. Superintendent Eugene White, then superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools, embraced Ekiyor’s plan to leverage sports. Improved graduation rates was a side effect. “In our black communities, we need to create opportunities for youth so they discover their potential,” says Ekiyor, who realized as a coach that some students were being told for the first time they were good at something. “Nigeria has the largest population of blacks in the world. I was surprised to not find similar excitement about opportunities in the U.S. from friends. I was unaware of the history of systemic racism in the U.S. since I didn’t grow up with that.” Ekiyor organized and created the Indy Youth Sports Foundation (IYSF) to leverage organized football as a tool to build community, inspire youth and teach critical life skills. More than 1,000 kids across Marion County engage on Saturday mornings to play football, in non-pandemic years. The IYSF leaders set a price of $75 for kids to participate, which covers officiating. Ekiyor and his friends utilized their NFL connections to cover the cost of equipment. He saw many young black males coaching in the league
Andrea and Emil’s son, Emil Ekiyor, Jr., a Cathedral High School graduate, is now a sophomore at the University of Alabama where he plays football.
who did not have leadership roles before. “I realized the league is for [the coaches], possibly more so than it is for the kids,” says Ekiyor, who is proud to have created an environment for character building and togetherness. “Kids should enjoy their youth experience in sports and we encourage them to conquer the world, and to dream big.” Ekiyor decided to launch InnoPower, an organization that focuses on leveraging the power of innovation to elevate black communities. “We must communicate a different message to our people than what the systems and society tell them every day,” he says. “They actually can overcome systemic biases and artificial deficits. They can own homes, land, businesses, and investments that yield positive returns. They can acquire transferable assets and generational wealth.” InnoPower leaders started a conference two years ago, and more than 400 people were in attendance. The inaugural InnoPower conference proved that many people of color were yearning for a shared platform to support others.
InnoPower is developing a culture in the U.S. and Nigeria that encourages and celebrates entrepreneurship. Locally, InnoPower leaders have worked with the Indianapolis Recorder newspaper, and Eleven Fifty Academy and Ivy Tech Community College are working alongside InnoPower with Rooted School. These organizations are creating talent funnels for people of color. “We cannot talk about entrepreneurship and not discuss human development in K through 12,” Ekiyor says. “We need to prepare them for the future, and design education around that because we cannot look backwards.” Rooted School, supported by Eastern Star Church, represents one of many efforts to elevate the local black community. Their students are immersed in technology. “We hope to create clear pathways to sustainable careers in tech through mentorship,” says Dewand Neely, chief operating officer at Eleven Fifty Academy. “With students seeing people who mirror them in the tech field, we hope to show them what’s possible. Emil and his efforts in bringing us all together is a testimony to his dedication to others. We are all in this together.”
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