Fort Wayne is a diverse community. With nearly 25% non-white residents, it’s one of the most diverse cities in Indiana.
But in 2013, data compiled by the Fort Wayne Commission on African-American Males pointed to a wide achievement gap between black males in Fort Wayne and other men in the community. From education to income to incarceration, they’re generally worse off than their peers. The city received a technical grant from the National League of Cities to keep investigating the issue.
Still, we’re curious: what factors account for the difference in the lives of many African-American males in Fort Wayne?
Throughout 2014, we hope to shine a light on the challenges the community faces in closing the achievement gap in a project we're calling "The Difference."
"The Difference" kicks off Feb. 3rd with a week-long series of radio features on 89.1 WBOI during Morning Edition and All Things Considered, with plans to continue our special reports through the end of 2014.
Along with regular coverage on WBOI.org, we're also launching a Tumblrsite featuring additional stories, photos, charts and voices from around the community that may not fit into our regular features.
In the next year, we'll meet people who work to overcome the achievement gap, those who struggle with it and those dedicating their lives to making a difference. And we want a chorus of voices to weigh in on the issue.
You can share your own stories, photos, news tips and more by clickinghere. We may get in touch with you to find out more and share your voice on our website or on the air.
Questions or comments about the project? Email us here.