I eased my vehicle into a Gary parking lot fighting off wilderness, where the trees were resilient enough to emerge through concrete. This sequence of weeds and small trees suffocated the weathered façade of a vacant school building. Then, as if nature conspired with chance, I spotted an opening in the brush — a shattered window refracting the eastern sunlight — granting me a stolen glimpse into my past.
The nostalgic portal beckoned. I parked my car and stepped out, my head on a swivel, and approached cautiously, tiptoeing around glass shards and stepping over an empty box of Miller High Life beer.
I looked into the old classroom, now in ruins, gently threading my head through the broken window. This was Ms. Butcher’s first grade classroom at the old Banneker Elementary School, where I sat across from my best friend, Kendall Alford, and next to Samantha Allen. I can still see Samantha’s looping calligraphy, as large as the No. 2 pencils we used. Our surnames began with “A,” so we were positioned closest to the teacher’s desk. We never misbehaved.
I withdrew my head from the classroom, turned left and paced 10 yards to a dilapidated playground sprawled across a city block. Once teeming with laughter and echoes of children’s delight, it now lay shrouded in an overgrown tapestry of weeds and grass. A playground reclaimed by nature, giving new meaning to the term “jungle gym.” It wasn’t merely a playground in ruins but a symbol of stories untold. The school district shuttered the school and relocated students, but the building located at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Garfield Street has languished for more than a decade.
Here at Capital B Gary, we’re committed to uncovering these untold stories, so that places like this playground don’t just become footnotes in history. I share these memories not just for nostalgia, but to underline how deeply connected I am to Gary — connections that inform my role as the editor of Capital B Gary.
We’re launching with a collection of stories that give a glimpse into our journalistic ethos. This includes an examination of Gary’s school district that is under the governance of a state-appointed management firm, while the community actively seeks answers, questioning past decisions that have left a lasting impact on generations of students and residents in Gary.
We’re going to tell stories about the challenges and triumphs that got Gary where it is today while spotlighting what the Black community and local leaders are doing to help the city thrive and exploring what the future could look like in my hometown.
For communities to truly thrive, they must remember, understand, and cherish their histories, and journalism plays a critical role in weaving these threads of past, present, and future together.
Hopefully, that’s where I fit in—a native son who has returned home to the same streets that cradled the stories of my parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents.
“Walk with us on this journey”
My education started at Gary public schools and continued at Indiana University Bloomington, which paved the way for an adventurous journalism career. My first job after graduation was at the Post-Tribune. I then covered education in Ohio, worked in the bustling Chicago Tribune newsroom, and eventually became a national reporter on racism and history at USA Today.
That distinct yet inimitable blend of Gary charm and tenacity aided every step along my journey. It allowed me to accumulate invaluable skills, insights, and experiences — each becoming a building block to my current role.
This chapter is more than a professional pivot; it’s a privilege. It offers me the chance to engage with, serve, and elevate the voices of those who are the very lifeblood of Gary. It provides me the chance to tell the entire story — ensuring that when the narrative of a closed school is shared, it includes all aspects: the bad, the good, and the ugly.
In its truest essence, journalism isn’t a race for accolades or recognition. It’s about creating meaningful bridges with people, particularly when they are in the labyrinth of vulnerabilities. Capital B Gary stands at the forefront of a paradigm shift, breaking free from insular newsrooms that prescribe news coverage from a distance.
I see our mission as nothing short of revolutionary — shifting the narrative about Gary and making sure the community is at the center of our storytelling. Our audience will not just receive news — you will shape it, enriching our narratives with your insights, experiences, and voice.
For example, leading up to our launch, one recurring theme we heard both directly and via our Community Engagement Survey is a desire for more positive news about Gary. We listened and acted. In response, we established a “Community Spotlight” series, a dedicated collection of stories showcasing people, places, and entrepreneurs enriching our city.
In this seminal moment, as we inaugurate our newsroom, I invite you to walk with us on this journey. Engage with us virtually — send us emails or interact with us on social media. Share your thoughts, concerns, and accolades. Talk to us in real life. When you see us in the city, say hello.
