As temperatures rise in Gary, so too is residents’ desire to push the city in a brighter direction. To that end, one avenue for change is being honed in our youngest citizens: through art. World-renowned artist PeQue, a Gary native whose murals have honored figures like Kobe Bryant and Kamala Harris, returned home — not […]
Culture
Posted inCommunity, Culture, Education
Gary Students Learn From Harlem’s Finest at Dance Workshop
“And five, six, seven, eight!” Warming up to the tunes of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” and James Brown’s “Super Bad” with stretches and steps, a room full of Gary students gathered in the student of Indiana University Northwest to boogie down with a few of Harlem’s best dancers. The Dance Theatre of Harlem, a […]
Posted inHistory, Politics & Policy
Tuskegee Airmen’s Legacy Lives On in Gary Amid National Debate
The legacy of Black aviation is a point of pride in Gary, where the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen — trailblazing pilots who fought for America abroad and equality at home — are honored through tributes like a statue at the Gary Aquatorium and a bridge at Gary/Chicago International Airport. These service members helped pave […]
Posted inHistory, Politics & Policy
Meet the Woman from Gary Who Secured MLK Day as a Federal Holiday
Katie Hall, a trailblazing congresswoman from Gary, played a pivotal role in the fight to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday. As the first Black woman to represent Indiana in Congress, Hall authored and sponsored the legislation honoring King’s legacy, ensuring his dream of justice and equality would be celebrated nationwide. […]
Posted inBusiness, Community Spotlight, Economy
Shoe Repairman in Gary Restores Community, One Sole at a Time
A quiet, cold air settled over the nearly abandoned shopping center in Gary, broken only by the faint creak of a door and the muted sounds of its lone open shop. Down the hallway, the squeak of worn soles echoed as customers hurried toward Anthony Rayford’s shoe repair shop, where he worked alone. “It’s a […]
Posted inCulture
Tito Jackson Is Honored in Gary with Heartfelt Tributes
A single red rose, locked to the fence of the small house on Jackson Street in Gary, carried a simple yet heartfelt message: “RIP Tito, Love You Forever.” As the news of Tito Jackson’s passing spread Monday, visitors from across the country began to gather at the house where the Jackson 5 was born, paying […]
Posted inCulture, History
Gary’s Latest Thriller, but This Time It’s a Movie
A Gary story is back in the headlines thanks to a new movie, and it offers a mixture of reviews from longtime residents of the community. The Deliverance, a new Lee Daniels film on Netflix, follows the story of Ebony Jackson (played by Andra Day) as she moves into a new home with her three […]
Posted inCommunity Spotlight, Education
Cultivating Dreams: How a Gary Teen Discovered His Future in Farming
Surrounded by dozens of packing boxes and duffel bags in his childhood Gary home, Reid Hall prepares himself for his next adventure: going to college. Stuffing suitcases full of clothes, shoes, and golf clubs, he hasn’t fully packed for his move out of state. But he said he is excited to begin a new chapter […]
Posted inCulture, Tourism
Michael Jackson’s Gary Home a Place of Remembrance on Anniversary of His Death
On a recent Saturday morning, a quiet block in Gary stirred to life. Cars rolled up to a modest house on the corner of 2300 Jackson Street. One by one, people turned down the one-way street, parked, and stepped out to capture the moment with photos and videos. License plates told a story of their […]
Posted inCommunity Spotlight
This Gary Teen Got Tired of Buying Clothes, So He Started Making Them
When Amir Watson was deciding what to name his clothing brand, the 18-year-old knew it needed to roll off the tongue. MUGEN AMOUR, a combination of Japanese and French words meaning “infinite love,” is what he landed on — resonating with its evocative message and potential to set the brand apart from others. In the […]
