Merrillville Hosting Black History Celebration
The Town of Merrillville will pay tribute to the African American trailblazers of the community during the “Still I Rise, Created for Greatness” Black History Month Scholarship and Celebration Dinner.
The meaningful event takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway. Tickets are $50 each, and they can be purchased at the Merrillville Planning and Building Department, 7820 Broadway, as well as the Community Center.
Merrillville Payroll Administrator Robyn Johnson, a member of the Black History Month event planning committee, said the Town will honor the first African Americans to hold different offices in Merrillville.
That includes former Town Councilmen Richard Hardaway and Terrell Taylor as well as Judge Gina Jones. Hardaway and Taylor became the first African American members of the Town Council after they were elected to the panel in 2003. Jones is Merrillville’s first African American Town Court judge. She served in the role for about eight years starting in 2010.
“Celebrating Black History fosters a sense of unity and solidarity among diverse communities like the Town of Merrillville,” said Town Council Vice President Rhonda Neal, the chairwoman of the Black History Month event planning committee. “It encourages people from different backgrounds to come together to honor and respect each other's histories, cultures, and experiences.”
In addition to honoring those who made history in Merrillville, the event serves as a fundraiser for the Merrillville Inclusion Scholarship Fund. Each year, the scholarship benefits seniors at Merrillville High School and Andrean High School.
The “Still I Rise, Created for Greatness” event will also feature a soul food dinner, live music, dance performances by the Divine Goddess and Warriors Dance Company, and Black History trivia.
Johnson is excited that the event will highlight African American talent.
“Come out and learn new things and just have a good time,” she said. “As we become a more diverse community, it’s always nice to include, explore, and take advantage of the opportunity to showcase the different parts of the community.”
Neal said the Town Council recently signed the Town of Merrillville Declaration, designating February as “Black History Awareness Month,” and the Declaration will be read at the Black History program.
“Black History is essential for fostering understanding and promoting social justice,” Neal said. “We want to build an inclusive community where all individuals feel valued and respected.”