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Fall Fest 2023 was held on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Central Library. This year's dynamic speaker was actress and director, Kim Fields. In addition, the Slammin' Rhymes Challenge poetry contest featured 8 student performers. Fields is a veteran actress with an eminent household name, starring in two long-running series, NBC's "Facts of Life" and "Living Single" on Fox. Both shows remain in worldwide syndication, consistently reinforcing her place as a global, pop culture icon. As an esteemed and versatile performer in front of and behind the camera, Kim is currently starring in the hit Netflix comedy series, "The Upshaws."

  • Kim Fields Keynote begins at 3:43
  • Slammin Rhymes Challenge begins at 31:23


Made possible by Honda, Friends of the Library, the J. Steve and Donna D. Talley Fund, Michael & Adelpha Twyman and the Dr. Michael R. Twyman Endowment Fund through gifts to
The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.

African American History Committee Lecture Series Past Fall Fest Speakers

Kwame Alexander
Maya Angelou
Robb Armstrong
Lerone Bennett
Gwendolyn Brooks
Tony Brown
A’leila Bundles
Tamika Catchings
Shirley Chisholm
Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis
Eric Jerome Dickey
Mari Evans
Kim Fields
Step Stool Chef-Julian Frederick
Sybrina Fulton
Ernest Gaines
Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Nikki Giovanni*
Virginia Hamilton
E. Lynn Harris

James Haskins
Judge Glenda Hatchett
Jeff Henderson
Dr. Lonnie G. Johnson
Etheridge Knight
MC Lyte
Judge Greg Mathis
Nathan McCall
Terry McMillan
Walter Mosley
Kevin Powell
Richardson, Kevin
Rose Rock
Sapphire
Vickie Stringer
Velma Maia Thomas
Omar Tyree

*Two-time Lecturer