The town of Merrillville will honor African American trailblazers in the community at a dinner Feb. 23.
The “Still I Rise, Created for Greatness” Black History Month Scholarship and Celebration Dinner will take place at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center in Merrillville.
During the dinner, the town will honor the first African Americans to hold different offices in Merrillville.
Richard Hardaway and Terrell Taylor became the first African American members of the town council. They were elected to the panel in 2003. Gina Jones is Merrillville’s first African American town court judge. She served in the role for eight years, beginning in 2010.
“Celebrating Black History fosters a sense of unity and solidarity among diverse communities like the town of Merrillville,” said Rhonda Neal, town council vice president and chairperson of the Black History Month event planning committee, in a press release. “It encourages people from different backgrounds to come together to honor and respect each other's histories, cultures and experiences.”
The dinner is also a fundraiser for the Merrillville Inclusion Scholarship Fund. The scholarship benefits seniors at Merrillville High School and Andrean High School.
The event will also feature a soul food dinner, music, performances by the Divine Goddess and Warriors Dance Company and Black history trivia.
“Come out and learn new things and just have a good time,” Neal 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.”
The town council recently signed a town declaration designating February as Black History Awareness Month.
Tickets are for sale at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center and the Merrillville Town Hall.
