Each April, people around the globe pause to reflect on the planet we call home. Earth Day is more than a celebration—it’s a call to action. From reducing waste and protecting habitats to supporting local sustainability efforts, Earth Day reminds us that even small changes can lead to big impacts. And in Evansville, one of the best ways to embrace the spirit of the day is by stepping outside and reconnecting with nature.

On Saturday, April 19, Wesselman Woods invites the community to celebrate Earth Day 2025 with a free, fun-filled event focused on exploration, education, and environmental stewardship.

Located at 551 North Boeke Road, Wesselman Woods is home to the largest urban old-growth forest in the United States, making it the perfect setting to honor and explore the natural world. The day kicks off at 9 AM with open access to more than four miles of scenic trails and the Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape. From 10 AM to 2 PM, the Nature Center will host interactive booths, hands-on activities, and live demonstrations led by over 25 local organizations passionate about sustainability and conservation.

Enjoy guided hikes, animal encounters, and storytime throughout the day, along with educational displays from partners like the Evansville Audubon Society, the Indiana Native Plant Society, and the Evansville Climate Collaborative. Whether you’re a nature lover, a curious kid, or just looking to learn more about how to care for the planet, there’s something for everyone.

And of course, local food trucks will be on site from 11 AM to 2 PM, serving up delicious bites just outside the gates—perfect fuel for an afternoon of discovery.

🌿 Earth Day Event Highlights at Wesselman Woods

• Explore & Engage (10 AM – 2 PM): Nature-based activities and interactive booths
• Wander & Play (9 AM – 5 PM): Free access to trails and nature playscape
• Savor & Support (11 AM – 2 PM): Local food trucks with tasty options
• Special Activities: Guided hikes, animal encounters, and storytime throughout the day

Explore Wesselman Woods to celebrate Earth Day with purpose, curiosity, and connection. Together, we can help create a more sustainable future—starting right here in Evansville.

Nationally renowned fair housing experts to speak at the Human Relations Commission Fair Housing Summit

(Evansville, IN) – To commemorate the 57th year since the passage of Title VIII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission will host a free Fair Housing Summit on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Old National Events Plaza. The summit will feature housing experts Jeffrey P. May, Stella Adams, and Michael D. Mitchell of the International Development and Planning, LLC. International Development and Planning LLC is a firm with more than fifty years of experience in training, planning, and project development. The presenters will speak on fair housing laws and policies from a historical perspective as well as current and emerging matters in the field of fair housing. Fair housing topics will include enforcement, homeownership, disaster recovery, disability, mortgage lending, and criminal background screening. Registration is required, and lunch will be provided. The Southwest Indiana Association of Realtors is a sponsor of the summit.

Jeffrey P. May serves as the principal of International Development and Planning LLC and
previously served as the Assistant Director of National Neighbors (NN), a program of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition where his responsibilities were to provide oversight of all NN’s education, planning, compliance, and enforcement activities occurring across the United States of America. May holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP). He is a former member of the Fannie Mae Housing Impact Advisory Council, and the National Fair Housing Alliance’s Board of Directors.

Stella Adams is a nationally recognized fair housing and fair lending expert who previously held executive positions in the National Fair Housing Training Academy. She is the President and CEO of S J Adams Consulting. Adams most recently retired as the Chief of Equity and Inclusion for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, which is designed to empower, organize, and support economically vulnerable individuals, communities, and small businesses. She supervised the Center for Civil Rights, Housing Counseling Network, Financial Equality Center, DC Women’s Business Center, and the Small Business Technical Center. Ms. Adams currently serves on the board of America’s Homeownership Alliance, the Campaign to Fix the Debt Steering Committee, a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Housing Committee of the National NAACP, National Association of American Veterans, Inc., and Repairers of the Breach, Inc.

Michael D. Mitchell has worked for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC),
where he has served as the Director of National Neighbors program and the Vice President of Fair Lending. Mr. Mitchell spearheaded the Coalition’s systemic fair lending and fair housing initiatives. Mr. Mitchell has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and has also served as an Instructor at the National Fair Housing Training Academy and is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences.

The summit will also feature additional national and local housing experts.
The Fair Housing Summit is free and open to the public. Please visit the following link to register. 2025 Fair Housing Summit Registration The deadline to register is Friday, April 25, 2025. Certification of attendance will be provided for attendees.

The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission works to eradicate housing discrimination and provides residents with information on fair housing rights. To file a complaint of discrimination, contact the Human Relations Commission at (812) 436-4927 or email hrc@evansville.in.gov.