Plainfield Magazine February 2023

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ON THE SAME PAGE

FORMER INDIANAPOLIS COLT GARY BRACKETT PENS NEW BOOK ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Writer / Ryan Kennedy Photographer / Walker Photography

Former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett made 707 tackles during his nine-year NFL career. Now a professional speaker and business coach, Brackett is tackling the complex conversations surrounding diversity and inclusion in his new book, “30 Days to Diversity.”

In May of 2020, Brackett drove downtown to get a haircut and witnessed firsthand what he’d already seen on social media. The protests in response to the murder of George Floyd had started peacefully, but had eventually taken a violent turn. Windows were broken, businesses were damaged, cars were set ablaze. Brackett says he knew something needed to be done. He knew someone needed to work towards educating and unifying the community, so he got to work on his book.

“30 Days to Diversity” is the culmination of two years of research by Brackett. The book is aimed at the business community, but can be helpful to anyone looking to create a more

diverse and inclusive environment. The book is 30 chapters divided into Brackett’s CHAMP framework, looking at the current situation and root causes of issues, honing in on desired outcomes, applying principles to eliminate and delegate things that no longer serve a purpose, taking massive action to achieve desired outcomes, and pursuing a championship transformation and chasing the best version of ourselves.

As Brackett points out in the “30 Days to Diversity” introduction, this is not a book for the faint of heart. It bluntly discusses issues that make some people uncomfortable and that some decry as divisive topics. Issues such as critical race theory, the Black Lives Matter movement, defunding the police, and privilege, have their own chapter in the book. Rather than preaching or lecturing, Brackett calmly breaks down these topics and provides crucial history and context behind them. Many of these topics, he says, aren’t all that controversial or divisive once one understands their origins and what they’re actually about.

“I wanted to address some of these loaded topics in a way where I can humanize them by sharing some of my stories,” Brackett says in the book. “The whole notion of ‘I’m colorblind and blame it on my innocence,’ I think that’s no longer viable. I think we have to open our eyes to color and see people where they are in regards to their color, in regards to their ethnicity, in regards to their religions and in regards to their gender. I think all these things are important if we’re going to truly be inclusive.”

Throughout the book, Brackett discusses how his experiences in NFL locker rooms and managing businesses taught him the value of interacting with people of different backgrounds and walks of life. He highlights the value of not just listening to others, but also actually making the effort to hear what they have to say and understand where they are coming form.

Brackett believes that most people want to

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do the right thing, but he says the media and bad-faith actors are contributing to the divisive atmosphere in our communities. “I think the bad guys are winning in terms of like the trash that we see online, the media, and just some of their triggering comments and things that they do,” he says. “They want us to not get along. They want us to argue and bicker over these things. Being in a community, like I am seeing these companies inside of them, they want to do well. They want to have unity and they want to know how.”

“30 Days to Diversity” is all about the “how.” Brackett isn’t interested in simply highlighting problems - he’s interested in finding solutions. The book is full of daily activities and actionable items to help businesses and people be more diverse and inclusive. Brackett acknowledges that he’s not going to solve centuries of racism and prejudice in 30 days, but he says “30 Days to Diversity” is an important step in the right direction.

“I think we got to try,” he says. “We got to

make an attempt. I think a lot of people won’t change, and will still feel how they feel and think how they think, but a lot of people will. I think there are more of the people that will than that won’t.”

“30 Days to Diversity” is a companion piece to the “30 Days to Diversity” workbook, as well as the workshop Brackett developed to help businesses handle issues of diversity and inclusion.

“I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE LOADED TOPICS IN A WAY WHERE I CAN HUMANIZE THEM BY SHARING SOME OF MY STORIES.”

—GARY BRACKETT

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A LIFE-CHANGING MISSION

LOCAL MAN ADVOCATES EASING THE FINANCIAL TRAUMA FOR CANCER PATIENTS

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by Andy Janning

Nearly four years ago, when Andy Janning’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, the family was forced to walk through the emotional, physical and financial trauma of cancer. Soon after, Janning was given the opportunity by the National Credit Union Foundation to produce a documentary about the financial crisis of cancer in America and how financial institutions, especially credit unions, can do something to ease that financial trauma. The project became a seven-part documentary called “Side Effects.”

“My eyes have been opened,” Janning says, noting that nearly half of all Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Additionally, most people diagnosed with cancer will be financially devastated by the diagnosis. “These cancer patients are already feeling the consequences of cancer every day because the disease is actively killing them. Financial institutions shouldn’t be doing the same thing,” he says.

While making the documentary, Janning met amazing people with moving stories. One was a woman named Elizabeth, who was diagnosed with terminal colon

cancer at age 42. When her credit union learned of the financial trauma she had been experiencing because of her terminal diagnosis, the credit union paid off the credit cards and car loan that she had with the organization. That financial relief helped ease her mental and physical strain so that she could hang on long enough to see the birth of her first grandchild before she passed away.

“That act of financial mercy got me thinking, ‘What if this wasn’t just one member and one credit union one time?’” Janning says. “What if this was something that financial institutions did for every member and every

customer with terminal cancer?”

Janning began advocating for terminal cancer patients, trying to convince banks, credit unions, credit card companies and mortgage lenders to cancel the debt they hold for their customers and members with terminal cancer.

COVID-19 provided insight into what can happen when a financial crisis meets a health crisis. During the pandemic, the financial industry moved quickly to provide payment relief, payment pauses and other interventions for people who were devastated by the coronavirus.

“Even though that pandemic has slowed, cancer—the original pandemic—hasn’t,” Janning says. “The stuff the financial institutions did for folks during the pandemic should continue for cancer patients because that pandemic never ends.”

More recently, Janning expanded his mission to encourage financial institutions to pause any loan payments for 12 months for any member or customer who is in active treatment for cancer.

Janning gives many keynote presentations around the country where he shares his message with financial institutions. Their reactions are usually that they like the idea but don’t see its feasibility.

“How do you untangle the legal, regulatory and procedural habits that bind financial institutions to saying, ‘This is the way we’ve always done it?’” Janning says. “But if you’re putting more creativity into defending your regulations and procedures at the expense of the people you say you’re there to serve,

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Elizabeth & Remington

Matt, diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma

then that dissonance has to be called out because it’s costing people their financial, economic and physical livelihood.”

Financial institutions are not known for, nor should they be known for, engaging in risky flights of fancy.

“I can watch CFOs age a decade in front of me when I suggest they pause loan payments or cancel debt for people with terminal cancer,” Janning says. “But I say, let’s dive into the numbers instead of reflexively recoiling from something that threatens your status quo.”

Janning is currently in talks with a financial institution based in a southern state to pilot this concept of cancelling debt for their customers with terminal cancer to determine the financial and procedural cost of doing so.

“I’m trying to show that if one organization does it, everyone else will follow,” Janning says, who likens the process to a middle school dance.

“Everyone’s hanging around the dance floor, but no one wants to go out and break the ice,” he says. “I’m trying to pull the first institution to the middle of the dance floor to show this is something they can afford to do.”

The CEO Janning is working with lost both her husband and her daughter to brain cancer, so she’s seen the disease’s

devastation up close. Others have a harder time getting on board.

People often ask Janning, “Why just cancer? Why can’t you push to financially help people with other diseases?”

The answer is simple, says. “Cancer is arguably the most expensive chronic disease to treat in this country. Just by sheer tonnage, the overall cost to treat cancer exceeds the cost to treat heart disease, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy and arthritis combined.”

“When your house is on fire, you’re not going to wonder if someone should come help you. You send the fire department to extinguish the fire,” Janning says. “A cancer diagnosis is a house fire. We need to have as many people as possible to help put this fire out.”

“Imagine the look on a cancer patient’s face who is going through the worst season of their life when they are told their debts are forgiven—don’t worry about paying us back for a year.” Janning says. “Those words are life changing.”

Lisa, a 55-year-old woman battling terminal ovarian cancer, had her $14,000 auto loan forgiven six weeks before she passed away because of Janning’s lobbying with her bank.

“I would’ve loved to have been able to tell her that they stepped up and made this sacrifice for her,” Janning says. “I see the pain of people going through this. I see their tears. I know how badly this hurts them. I also know the direct correlation between financial stress and physical and emotional health.”

According to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, cancer patients are more than twice as likely to file for bankruptcy after they’ve been diagnosed. Some cancer patients create a GoFundMe, but most

crowdfunding fails as people don’t even get a quarter of what they need to pay their medical bills.

“I think it’s criminal that we live in the richest country in the world, yet we have people shaking a digital cup on a digital street corner to beg people to pay to help them stay alive,” Janning says. “That shouldn’t happen.”

Last fall, RockStar Pizza in Brownsburg held a fundraiser where it donated 30% of a day’s profits to Matt and Lindsey, local residents of Brownsburg. Matt had been diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.

“If a local pizza place is more generous than a financial institution, then we’ve got some real work to do in our country,” Janning says, who notes that 60% of cancer patients must return to work following a cancer diagnosis. They can’t go on disability because of the financial need that cancer causes.

Janning has a small group of organizations who are willing to pilot this to see its potential, but efforts are slow.

“To be fair, I have lots of organizations who have said they’re interested, but there are legal and regulatory hurdles for them to overcome. I get that, but this is a matter of will,” Janning says.

“It’s also a matter of courage to ask, ‘Who are we willing to fight for more?’ I’m trying to advocate inside the industry that holds the keys to transform people’s lives.” If you would like to support Janning in his mission, you can visit andyjanning.com

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY

Writer / Aimee MacArthur Photography Provided

While some may think of Valentine’s Day as a commercial holiday, I see it as a sweet day of celebration. I’ve loved the holiday since I was a kid, decked out in red, heart-shaped jewelry and indulging in plenty of Valentine’s treats. I admit it - I live for a holiday.

Valentine’s Day reminds me that spring and warmer weather isn’t too far away. I get the opportunity to celebrate those who bring joy to my life. It might be my family, friends or even a trusted neighbor. I’ve enjoyed so many kinds of Valentine’s Days over the years - a romantic dinner, an evening out with friends or a night bowling with family. There wasn’t a bad time since I spent it with the people I care about. A beautiful bouquet of flowers and dinner is always a special treat, but celebrating Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to break your budget. A simple gesture like a thoughtful, handwritten note is always appreciated. Don’t forget the ones you love on this special day. I’ve got a few fun and different ideas for you to celebrate those closest to you. Here are five ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

GIVE SPORTS A SHOT

What’s more fun than cheering on a sports team? I am a fan of attending a basketball game on Valentine’s Day. I enjoy sitting in the stands, screaming with the other fans and discussing the referee calls with my friends. We even do a little trash talk and make a few friendly wagers. Don’t forget the soda, popcorn and other treats from the concession stand. If basketball isn’t your sport, try attending a hockey game. My cousin and her family are devoted hockey fans, and always cheer on their local hockey team and dine at their favorite pizza restaurant after the game.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBORPAY IT FORWARD

One of my neighbors always makes sure to check in with other neighbors, especially an elderly neighbor, and even leaves sweet notes and candy in mailboxes every Valentine’s Day for a handful of us neighbors. I plan to do the same for my neighbors this year. I will leave a note thanking them for being great neighbors, with a bag of Valentine’s treats like

conversation hearts, cinnamon candy hearts and chocolate. I also plan to include a small gift card from a local coffee shop. I don’t mind treating my favorite neighbors to candy and coffee.

GRAND GAMES

I’m a fan of a game of healthy competition every now and then. I spent previous Valentine’s Days with a group of friends, bowling, playing pool and enjoying a few games of darts. My family and I also like to

MAKE A SPECIAL MEAL AT HOME

Whether it’s casual or fancy, a homecooked meal hits the spot and feeds the soul. I believe food always tastes better when someone else does the cooking. I like to make cheese fondue with all the fixings, like slices of apples, carrots, grapes and pieces of warm French bread. A friend of mine and her kids have a pizza night complete with individual heart-shaped pizzas. They also make heart-shaped Rice Krispies treats topped with rainbow sprinkles. My aunt and uncle like to make their day extra special and splurge on Valentine’s Day dinner at home, by enjoying king crab legs dipped in butter with a pair of juicy steaks. A Valentine’s Day meal doesn’t have to be dinner. You can make breakfast for the family. My brother enjoys making heartshaped banana pancakes for the kids, and bacon cooked in an air fryer. Don’t forget your pets. This year I plan to pick up a cupcake from a dog bakery for my miniature poodle, Louis. I want to make sure everyone in the family feels special, including my dog.

attend a local trivia game. This year we might visit the golf range, which is open year-round, and work on our swings while we enjoy appetizers and drinks. If you want to play games at home, no worries. I’ve got a great idea for you. My aunt hosts a fun-filled Valentine’s Day game night, and guests feast on my aunt’s famous homemade lasagna and garlic bread while they play games like Bunco, Hearts and Scattergories. If it isn’t too cold outside, guests will venture out in

PRACTICALLY PERFECT

I’m a fan of practical gifts and I don’t think there’s anything sweeter than taking care of an otherwise mundane or time-consuming errand for a significant other or spouse. Get an oil change for the car, plus a car wash and detailing. Leave a sweet note in the cupholder and arrange for a meal at home or dinner at your favorite restaurant. My friend’s husband arranges for the house to be cleaned on Valentine’s Day, and a day at a spa for his wife. My friend says getting a massage and manicure at a spa and then coming home to a clean house is the greatest Valentine’s Day gift. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. My neighbor’s husband completes a to-do list. He hangs up pictures, steam cleans the carpets and straightens up the garage. It doesn’t cost much, and the hard work and thoughtfulness doesn’t go unnoticed.

HEART ATTACKS

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Cardiologist

A heart attack, called acute myocardial infarction, occurs when an area of the heart muscle does not receive enough blood flow and stops functioning. Blood flow stops because plaque, a waxy-like substance of cholesterol deposits, builds up in the artery and then ruptures, causing an occlusion. A heart attack can threaten one’s life and requires immediate medical attention.

SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK

Signs of a heart attack can differ. Symptoms tend to be abrupt and last more than a few minutes or may go away, then come back. Most people experience chest pain and/or pain in the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or top of the stomach. Shortness of breath may also be a symptom, with or without chest pain. Other signs may be nausea, dizziness or fatigue. According to the American Heart Association, women most commonly experience symptoms of chest pain, but

are somewhat more likely to experience other symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting as well as back or jaw pain.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE SHOWS SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK

If you or a loved one is experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Do not drive to the hospital. Emergency personnel can begin lifesaving care in the back of the ambulance and ensure quicker treatment at the hospital.

TREATMENT FOR A HEART ATTACK

The longer it takes for the heart muscle to receive blood flow, the more that area of heart muscle is at risk of dying, decreasing heart function. Once a heart attack occurs, a physician must clear the plaque causing the attack as quickly as possible to restore blood flow.

Your physician will offer comprehensive heart attack care from treatment through

recovery. There are multiple treatment options that involve medications and procedure-based therapies. Angioplasty is a catheter-based therapy used to reopen the artery to allow blood flow to the heart. Physicians do this by making a small incision in the groin or gain access by using the artery in the wrist or arm, then guiding a deflated balloon through the arteries to the blocked area. Once in place, they will inflate the balloon, allowing blood flow to return to the heart. Stent placement uses a similar technique to deploy a mesh wire tube into the artery to keep it open.

Doctors may sometimes recommend coronary artery bypass surgery for severe blockages when multiple vessels are involved or depending on the location of the narrowed arteries. The surgeon will graft a new vein or artery into your heart vessels to allow blood to divert around the blockage. Following a heart attack, your physician prescribes medications to prevent future heart attacks and improve your heart health.

Writer/ Dr. Omar Batal,

at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

Taste of History

THE PREWITT CELEBRATES THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Allison Motter, director of sales and marketing, says the building was just the right fit.

The Prewitt Restaurant + Lounge opened in November of 2022, and its rich history and iconic style are a throwback to the building’s past, which began in 1915.

Purchased by Keller Huff Restaurant Group in 2021, the new venue is considered upscale. They also offer live music, concerts and weekly classic movies. The owners wanted to be a part of preserving history in downtown Plainfield, while also adding to the landscape of unique places to eat and visit.

“They really looked around to see what was lacking in town and this building was perfect for their vision,” Motter says. “They could create an upscale restaurant while keeping the historical side of things.”

The towering walls that flank the stage when customers step through the front door are all made of exposed brick, original to the building. In fact, many elements of the building are completely original. The burgundy and white penny-tile flooring at the entrance, wood taken from some of the demolition to make the bar surround,

and impressive marquee sign out front with nostalgic rows of light bulbs, are all relics from the building’s past.

Even the name is original. The Prewitt family owned the building for decades, first opening it in 1915 as a service garage where cars were serviced and sold. According to Sarah Wright’s book, “50 Historic Buildings of Plainfield, Indiana: The Places and the People,” Joseph Prewitt was the very first person in Plainfield to own a car, so his business, which thrived until at least 1925, drew a lot of attention.

While there isn’t much information about why it closed, the building was renovated into a movie theater, which opened in 1927.

Writer / Jamie Hergott

Photographers / Siner Photography and Courtesy of the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library

The Prewitt family used all local businesses and contractors to create the theater, which was one of its most impressive claims to fame at the time.

In a time when the Golden Age of Hollywood reigned, the theater operated six nights per week. Many current residents still have fond memories of visiting the theater as children or on a first date, or attending the free movies shown at Christmas for local school children.

Wright’s book also points out that the theater was segregated. Black customers were not allowed into the Prewitt Theatre and had to go into Indianapolis to see a movie.

Reann Poray, manager of the Indiana Room at Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library, says one of the residents actually remembered when it was desegregated during World War II. Wright’s book states that Judy Heffelman, a Plainfield native, remembered a student working on a history project who convinced the Prewitts to integrate the theater, insisting that, “if the boys are good enough to fight in the war, they were good enough to come to town and see the theater.” Poray says according to oral history, Mrs. Prewitt was moved to tears and agreed to integrate the theater.

The auditorium seated roughly 500 people, and the stage, which was fully equipped, still stands today. The lounge area of the restaurant sits right in front of it, laden with plush leather couches - a perfect spot for post-dinner dessert or drinks.

Customers can make their way upstairs to a more private bar and restaurant area, which feels almost like stepping into a speakeasy of the past. A door opens to an outdoor patio, which will provide outdoor seating this spring, and another private room with an original fireplace will be decked out with a huge table designed for private lunches and tastings.

“Every time you come here, you can sit somewhere else and get a fully different experience,” says Savannah Dairl, general manager. “The menu changes seasonally,

and we have a different brunch, lunch and dinner menu. You can come here as many times as you want and not get tired of it.”

The building had been vacant since 2005, when the theater closed. The history behind many of the changes involving the theater is interesting to say the least. When the Prewitt family opened the theater in 1927, they wanted to provide every possible comfort they could for a local picture show. They showed tasteful movies, and it was a safe place for families and older kids to hang out and see new releases.

In 1961 the theater fell under new ownership, and was renamed Cinema West. The theater didn’t last long after that, as many community members complained about the theater only showing adult movies. The marquee stated that the movies were “Fine Arts For Adults Only,” according to a 1970 article in the Indianapolis News, which also described the new films as “saucy adult movies.” A debate erupted in the town, and eventually the owner filed for

bankruptcy and the theater closed. The facility limped along through several owners before the Town of Plainfield purchased it in 2018. It took a backseat to other new developments in Plainfield at the time, like the opening of Metropolis and the brand-new movie theater there.

In 2021 Keller Huff Restaurant Group purchased the building, renovating it into the up-and-coming, upscale restaurant locals are enjoying today.

Poray is thrilled that the history of the building, and of downtown Plainfield, is kept intact in this new gem on Main Street.

“I just think it’s nice that, in a world where we’re always changing things, and developing and improving things, this group was able to make something better from what was original,” Poray says. “The theater and restaurant bring back nostalgia for a lot of people, and people seeing it for the first time can get a feel for what it was like in the past.”

In 2012 her staff interviewed residents of Plainfield to obtain oral histories from their memories of the theater.

Poray says that in the past, many referred to the theater as the Sticky Foot, since the floor was always sticky with whatever was spilled or left on it, like theater soda or candy. The current menu includes a nod

to this nickname, offering a dessert called the Sticky Foot.

While the Prewitt team takes reservations, open seating is always offered as well. It is located at 121 West Main Street in Plainfield. For more information, call 317-203-5240, visit prewittdining.com, and stay up to date on Facebook @prewittplainfield.

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