In Merrillville, the town says it will pay tribute to African American trailblazers of the community during the “Still I Rise, Created for Greatness” Black History Month Scholarship and
Celebration Dinner. The second annual event takes place Friday, February 23, 2024, 6 to 10 p.m. at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center on Broadway. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at the Merrillville Planning and Building Department and 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 and Judge Gina Jones. Hardaway and Taylor became the first African American members of the town council after being elected in 2003. Jones is Merrillville’s first African American Town Court judge and 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, chairwoman of the Black History Month event planning committee, in a news release. “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 event will also feature a soul food dinner, live music, dance performances by the Divine Goddess and Warriors Dance Company, and Black History trivia, a news release said. “Come out and learn new things and just have a good time,” Johnson 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 a declaration designating February as Black History Awareness Month and it will be read at the event. “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.”
