Richmond’s local NAACP branch held its fourth Community Voices Town Hall at Earlham College’s Co-Lab on Feb. 3.
The topic was freedom of speech, with Free Press Indiana’s Lisa Renze and Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s Brennen VanderVeen as facilitators. Kelley Cruse-Nicholson returned to serve as the event moderator.
Fifty-five people participated in lively discussions about what is protected under the First Amendment and how news media have interpreted speech throughout history.
Disclaimer: Lorin Williams helped plan this event.
Free Press Indiana’s Lisa Renze discusses the history of free speech as it relates to the media. Photos by Lorin Williams 
Town hall attendees listen attentively to facilitators 
Town hall moderator Kelley Cruse-Nicholson welcomes the crowd at the NAACP event on Earlham’s campus. 
Speaker Brennen VanderVeen highlights what is and isn’t protected under free speech.
A version of this article appeared in the February 11 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.