The Center for Creative Solutions today announced Northwest Indiana’s World Creativity & Innovation Week, April 15-21, 2025. The week’s theme is “Inspire! Action!” Every is invited to join the fun.
Events for the annual celebration are designed to:
∙ To INSPIRE PEOPLE, the initiators of creative innovation and drivers of
impactful change.∙
To INSPIRE CONNECTION, leading collaboration and group efforts creating
thriving environments founded from creativity.
∙ And to INSPIRE ACTION, propelling creatives across the world to innovate
with energy and purpose.
“While the Center for Creative Solutions has hosted this celebration for the last 16 years, only with community partners has it been meaningful. Our goal is to engage every person – yes, every organization, business, school and government agency – in recognizing the value of everyday creativity, ” said Pat Lain, Board President.
A number of events will celebrate creativity and innovation throughout April. Most events are free and open to the public. Any local business or organization wanting to share its creativity and innovation is invited to host an event.
In addition, the Center for Creative Solutions will award area students and their organizations for innovative projects or products. The winners will receive community recognition and a monetary prize. Students of any age are welcome to enter.
Additionally, in conjunction with Dr. Rakish and Bina Gupta and the B. R. Foundation of Michigan City, the Center will present the Tej Ram Gupta scholarships to three A. K. Smith Career Center students.
During the week, the Board of Directors will bestow the CREO! It honors a citizen or organization that has encouraged a culture of creativity and innovation in our community. CREO is a Latin word, meaning “to create.” It stands for: Creativity, Regional, Excellence and Originality. Past recipients include:
• O’Merrial Butchee and John Davies, leaders of the Ivy Tech Gerald I. Lampkin Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and Society of Innovators (2014);
• Dr. Rakesh and Bina Gupta, Michigan City leaders advancing community innovation (2015);
• Leigh Morris of La Porte and regional promoter of innovation in health care, government and non-profit organizations (2016);
• Spark Labs of the La Porte County Public Library (2017);
• Ben Konowitz, La Porte businessman, comedian and improv actor (2018);
• Ed Buetner, Michigan City businessman and community leader (2019);
• None awarded due to the pandemic (2020);
• Earl Adams, La Porte, and Dr. Kuhn Hong, M.D., Michigan City (2021);
• Naomi Anderson (posthumous), Michigan City, poet and human rights champion (2022);
• Earl Miller, La Porte, Hiler Industries (2023);
• Antonio Conley, Michigan City, Kidspeneur (2024).
The public is invited to nominate a citizen or organization for the Student Innovation Awards and CREO! In addition, the Center welcomes organizations interested in becoming a community partner. To do so, contact Cynthia Hedge at the Center at creativity52@comcast.net or telephone at 219-326-7259.
So far, community partners include the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest Indiana, Westville Public Library, and WIMS Radio. Northwest Indiana’s World Creativity & Innovation Week celebration is made possible in part by Bethany Church Foundation of La Porte, and the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Purdue Northwest 95.1 FM/AM 1420 WIMS Bethany Church Center for Creative Solutions, Inc. – RTM