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From the beginning, Vernon A. Williams, BA’73, wanted to be a writer.
Growing up in Gary, Indiana, he wrote his first play in the fourth grade, which was performed in class. In middle school, he started a weekly hand-printed newsletter on notebook paper. He pitched an unsolicited radio program as a high school freshman to a local station that put him on the air. Two years later, he wrote and hosted the first student broadcast over the school corporation radio station. As a junior, he started a teen news column for Gary Info Newspaper – where his biggest “scoop” was being first to report the Jackson Five signing with Motown Records.
Those youthful experiences inspired a career in broadcast and print media, as well as education, that spanned more than 55 years. Williams started at The (Gary) Post-Tribune as a reporter, columnist and editorial board member. He was morning drive personality for “The Breakfast Club” and hosted the call-in program “Sound Off” on WLTH, and was station manager for WGVE.
Among his most notable career interviews were Lena Horne, Dick Gregory, Colin Powell, Jesse Jackson and Phylicia Rashad.
In 2001, Williams moved to Indianapolis to become marketing supervisor for Indianapolis Public Schools Career-Technical Education. After IPS, he became vice president, communications, for Indiana Black Expo, where he developed marketing and communication strategies, prepared high-impact communication material, wrote speeches, developed leadership presentations and organized press conferences.
Williams left Expo to become assistant to the chancellor for communication at IUPUI before taking his current position as communication and community engagement strategist for the premier urban research campus. He is a leader of IUPUI’s Africana Repertory Theatre and executive director of OnyxFest — the first and only annual Indiana theater festival featuring works of Black playwrights.
Williams is a news analyst and commentator for the Chicago/Gary Crusader Newspaper. He is president of the Indianapolis Association of Black Journalists and is on the Board of Directors for Heartland Films. He is a former president of IU’s Neal-Marshall Alumni Club.
He has written four books, the latest being, “God Said Tell You.” He has written and produced 11 plays — the most recent, “A Noise in the Attic,” will premiere in November.
Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from IU and a master’s in communication from Purdue University.
His myriad honors include the IU Alumni Association President’s Award, IU Groups Program Covered Bridge Award, Center for Leadership Development Community Leaders Award, 100 Black Men of Indianapolis Silver Anniversary Service Award, The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa – Beta Mu Chapter Community Service Award, Hoosier State Press Association First Place in Newswriting and the Indianapolis Recorder Champions of Diversity Award.
Many projects and policies that could help with climate change stumble on too many decision points, places where ideas can be shot down. Francis Fukuyama discusses his idea of "vetocracy" in relation to climate.
Poster presented at the Indiana University Medical Student Program for Research and Scholarship (IMPRS) Research Symposium held on July 27-28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Edward R. Feil, Naomi Feil, Vicki Rubin, Beth Rubin
Summary:
Home movie of Vicki horseback riding as Naomi, Beth, and Eddie watch. She rides in a paddock with other children and receives a blue ribbon. Later shows Ed and Eddie building a sandcastle, possibly at Family Camp, while Vicki and a group of teenagers paddle in a canoe. Briefly shows the boys at home, Eddie in a sandbox and a housekeeper holding baby Kenny.
Edward R. Feil, Vicki Rubin, Julius Weil, Beth Rubin, Helen Kahn Weil, Edward G. Feil
Summary:
Vicki and Beth present Naomi's father, Julius Weil (called Opa), with a birthday cake and he blows out imaginary candles. Vicki then hands him birthday cards to open. Baby Eddie toddles around in the background amidst other party guests.
Edward R. Feil, Naomi Feil, Vicki Rubin, Beth Rubin
Summary:
Home movie showing a day trip to Burton, Ohio. Vicki, Beth, Naomi, and Gusty (the family housekeeper) eat ice cream cones in a car before driving to a flea market in Burton. Along the way, the car passes an Amish buggy.
"The biggest thing is the values that started with the Deinstitutionalization Project and went on through all of our projects about consumer advocacy, self-determination, empowerment to people with disabilities, language use... just totally different values about people with disabilities." Vicki (Victoria C.) Pappas arrived at the Developmental Training Center (D.T.C.) in Bloomington as a graduate student in 1974. The D.T.C. was the the original name of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC). Vicki retired as director of the IIDC's Center for Planning and Policy Studies the year prior to this 2013 interview.
Vicki discusses the history of the IIDC and significant activities involving government and other partners in the state of Indiana. She talks about her experience with the Deinstitutionalization Project directed by Mike Tracy in the early 1970s, the legacy of former Director Henry J. Schroeder, and the impact of important legislation in shaping the work of the IIDC, including passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its implementation in Indiana. She also discusses voting participation and access, developing the state disability plans with the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, and the creation of the IIDC's Collaborative Work Lab for digitally assisted group decision making.
Video bio of Vicki Weger, inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2013.
Producer: Vicki Weger;
Narrator: Ed Hopkins;
Editor: Mike Latta;
Vicki Weger traveled with her dad’s “Harry Weger and the Big Ten Western Feature” shows that signed on in 1955 on WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana. She performed in many shows across the country. In 1978, she began freelancing as a newspaper, radio and TV journalist, and in 1982 was hired at WTHI-TV. There she worked the assignment desk and later became the station’s managing editor, taking her freelancing work to the network level with travels to many foreign countries and coverage of notable domestic stories. In 1998 she moved to Chicago as a full-time freelance producer for “The PBS NewsHour” and “Religion & Ethics” and similar work for NBC and ABC.
--Words from the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers
Edward R. Feil, Vicki Rubin, Beth Rubin, Edward G. Feil, Ken Feil, Naomi Feil
Summary:
Home movie of Vicki Rubin's 16th birthday party at the Feil home. The living room is decorated with Halloween decorations. Vicki and her boyfriend wear colonial costumes. Her friends gather around as she opens gifts and Beth brings out a cake.
Edward R. Feil, Naomi Feil, Beth Rubin, Vicki Rubin
Summary:
Shows a group of children (including Vicki and Beth) wearing costumes outside in the Feil's yard. Naomi directs them as they perform. The group then performs for a classroom of younger children.
