Photos by Javonte Anderson, Capital B Gary Editor.
It’s been a whirlwind year for Gary and the Capital B Gary newsroom. Fortunately, we were here to capture it all. This year, we were inside Gary like no other media organization.
From citywide cleanup efforts to a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse drawing crowds to the beach, we chronicled the moments that defined 2024. We documented Gary Public Schools emerging from state control under new leadership, watched the Olympics with a Gary-born Olympian, and covered politics, including the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to watch parties that sparked both laughter and frustration.
We showcased people striving to make a difference — from launching clothing lines to starting youth basketball leagues.
These images tell a story, offering a glimpse into Gary’s story this year.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Now it’s your turn to decide.
Todd Deloney, founder of Indiana University Northwest’s Black Student Union, led protests that resulted in Indiana University Northwest officially recognizing MLK Day as a holiday.
In February, Capital B Gary reunited Deloney with IUN and the school’s Black Student Union. Here, he sees historic protest photos for the first time and is moved to tears.
Markael Watkins picks up trash at Hatcher Park this spring. Watkins coordinates Gary’s city cleanup initiative, a vigorous campaign where volunteers cleaned a different city site each week.
Here on Gary’s East Side, dozens of residents, including children, took part in a cleanup effort that became a family affair for some. The monthlong partnership between the city and its residents, which focused on cleaning multiple sites, was one of the most comprehensive cleanup efforts in Gary’s history.
This April, Gary residents joined millions across the country to witness a rare eclipse, a phenomenon not expected to occur in the area again for decades. The largest crowd gathered at Marquette Park, where Capital B Gary captured these two residents watching the eclipse from lawn chairs in front of the beach.
Madisen Williams, 23, joined hundreds of people who watched the solar eclipse at Marquette Park.
Alma Wilkes, a member of the Gary Food Council, tends to the Brother’s Keeper Garden and Food Forest near 22nd Avenue and Broadway. This May, Capital B Gary’s health and environmental reporter, Jenae Barnes, explored the city’s growing trend of urban farming and gardening. Her story highlighted the rise of this movement and its roots in Gary’s history.
After seven years under state control and leadership by an appointed manager, the Gary Community School Corporation announced its first superintendent in June. Yvonne Stokes, the new superintendent, addressed the public for the first time at a school board meeting that month.
Shortly after her hire, Yvonne Stokes experienced her first day of school as superintendent. With Gary marking its first back-to-school season under a superintendent in seven years, Capital B Gary visited several schools across the district to capture the excitement of the day.
A current view of the historic Palace Theater in Gary. The theater, which closed in 1972, is slated to be demolished as part of an $85 million redevelopment project. In June, Gary unveiled plans to renovate the historic site as part of the city’s revitalization efforts.
From dancers at the city’s official celebration to a day care displaying flags and signs, Juneteenth was widely celebrated across Gary.
Amir Watson, an 18-year-old Calumet New Tech High School graduate, launched a popular clothing line, MUGEN AMOUR.
From an open field in downtown Gary, Mayor Eddie Melton announced plans in July to revitalize the area through a partnership with the University of Notre Dame, which will provide architectural guidance.
This July, rapper G Herbo spoke with Gary’s youth about trauma and overcoming tough circumstances.
As a high school student, Gary native Rhonda Anderson competed as a track athlete in the 1976 Olympics. This August, Capital B Gary profiled the Olympian. This photo shows Anderson, an avid U.S. Track & Field fan, cheering from her couch as she watched the U.S. Olympic men’s 4×400-meter relay team win gold.
When the Democratic National Convention came to Chicago in August, Capital B Gary provided comprehensive coverage, tracking the activities of Gary’s city delegates. We also explored how events in Chicago could potentially shape the general election. This photo shows Indiana Rep. Vernon Smith speaking with other Indiana delegates during a breakfast at the DNC.
As election season gained momentum, Gary residents grew increasingly engaged, particularly in anticipation of Vice President Kamala Harris facing off against President-elect Donald Trump. Here, dozens of people gathered in an Indiana University Northwest lecture hall to watch the debate.
From laughter to frustration, viewers experienced a range of emotions while watching the presidential debate in September.
In September, Gary joined the world in mourning the passing of Tito Jackson. The morning after his death, Demont Pinder traveled from Maryland to paint a portrait of Jackson outside the Jackson family home in Gary.
In October, a group of Indiana Democrats opened the state’s only campaign headquarters for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Hundreds gathered to celebrate the opening of Indiana’s first Harris/Walz presidential headquarters in Gary.
For the first time in more than a decade, two Gary Republicans challenged Democrats for Statehouse seats. Pictured is Ivan Ursery II, the Republican nominee for Indiana’s 14th House District, sitting on the marquee of his former elementary school.
Gary native and former West Side High School player Wesley Danzy founded the At All Cost youth basketball league, which held its first game in November. Pictured above, Danzy huddles with a team before the game.
In early December, Gary residents gathered at the Carter G. Woodson Branch of the Gary Public Library to protest NIPSCO’s proposed rate hike, which could increase average monthly utility bills by $32.
Anthony Rayford operates a shoe repair shop inside The Village. Here, he prepares shoes for repair amid an influx of orders this December.
Capital B Gary closed the year with a feature on the return of legendary high school basketball coach John Boyd. Boyd, who led West Side to a 2002 state basketball championship, is now coaching at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy.
