November 2: Mark Clark

By on October 28, 2021
Join us Tuesday to hear Mary G. Clark the Executive Director of the International Marketplace Coalition. In 2005, Mary founded the International Marketplace Coalition (IMC), formerly known as the Lafayette Square Area Coalition (LSAC), a local business organization that is working to re-brand the Lafayette Square Area (LSA) into Indy’s International Marketplace (IM). Mary was elected president the same year. In December of 2013 Mary became the Executive Director of the IMC.  

Recognizing the west side of Indy’s rapidly changing demographics, Mary took on the mission of developing relationships and partnerships with state and local elected officials, ethnic community leaders, and residents to help formulate the vision of the International Marketplace. By nurturing those relationships, the community began embracing and working towards creating an international and cultural destination for the city of Indianapolis. Celebrating the over 100 different languages, 800 different ethnic restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries and specialty shops the area is truly now transforming into an international destination. 

For the first time in some 20 years, the area is now seeing a new birth of interest in development as well as cultural events in the area. In the last business quarter, International Marketplace has welcomed 25 new businesses to the area. The focus of the International Marketplace Coalition is “to shrink the globe and create a village.”

Mary’s involvement with IMC has also raised her civic commitment to the City of Indianapolis; Nationalities Council of Indianapolis, Pike Township Community Round Table, Jonathan Jennings Elementary School 109 CUASE Caucus, Indy Chapter of Indiana Black Expo Advisory Board, Census 2020 Complete Council Committee and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Indiana Advisory Committee, Better Business Bureau and Liberian Association of Indianapolis Board Member

Mary’s long-lasting love of this community began in the late 70’s when she decided to raise her two children in the Pike Township area. The majority of her working career was also in the area. Mary is a servant to her God, family and community.   

All are welcome at Rotary programs. If attending in-person at Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center reservations and prepayment are appreciated, but not required. Masks are required for those attending regardless of vaccination status. Register on Square at https://rotary-club-of-indianapolis.square.site/. Lunch will be available starting at 11:45 a.m. and the program runs 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. 
To join our meeting via Zoom starting at 12:15 p.m. go to https://zoom.us/j/710170874?pwd=bFE4ejJTc29IMlNzVmx1Wlg4MTA1UT09. While our Tuesday programs via Zoom are free to attend a suggested donation of $3 – $5 is appreciated in lieu of the typical room fee. These contributions help defray the cost of our hybrid meetings. Please note that donations to the Rotary Club of Indianapolis are not tax deductible. You can support our hybrid meetings at https://rotary-club-of-indianapolis.square.site/

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Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795

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