Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Hammond honors Black‑led nonprofits during annual Black History Month program
Summary
Hammond City held its annual Black History Month program in February 2026 at the Hammond Civic Center, honoring a slate of local Black‑led nonprofits for youth services, scholarships and community outreach and reading a mayoral proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month.
Hammond City officials and community leaders gathered in February 2026 at the Hammond Civic Center to honor local Black‑led nonprofit organizations and to mark Black History Month.
Scott Miller, chief of staff to Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr., read a mayoral proclamation declaring February 2026 as Black History Month and praised organizations "doing the work that keeps those neighborhoods in our community strong," while thanking the planning committee and community development staff for organizing the event.
The program recognized several nonprofit groups for their community work. ExCeL Youth Program Incorporated was honored for services to ages 16 through 24, including life‑skills workshops, internships and a High Impact Citizens initiative intended to prepare young people for employment and civic engagement. Prom Genie 2 Incorporated was cited for providing prom attire and scholarships—"contributing $40,000 to eligible high school senior girls," the emcee said—and broader support for students across Northwest Indiana.
The New Hope College Day program was noted for distributing more than 1,000 student care packages and more than $10,000 in scholarships annually. The Candice D. Tyler Memorial Scholarship Fund was recognized for awarding a $1,500 scholarship to an African‑American female pursuing a medical career and for having awarded over $17,250 to date. Healing Broken Hearts/International Outreach Ministries was honored for grief‑focused outreach and announced a Mother's Day brunch planned for May 2, 2026, at the Hammond Sports Center.
Other honorees included Hope Angels Fund (support for families affected by cancer), the Hammond Alumni Association (supporting Hammond public high school students and alumni), Ministerial Alliance of Hammond and Vicinity (faith‑based community leadership), NZT Glory Zone Community Outreach Coalition (basic‑needs assistance and holiday distributions) and 4 Quarters for Life Community Organization (after‑school programming to combat childhood obesity and juvenile delinquency).
Ronald Mullins, chairperson of the Hammond Human Relations Commission, used his remarks to connect the program's history to current civic concerns, saying, "This year, the two Black holidays honoring Black history were removed from free access" to national parks, a claim raised for audience awareness; the program did not include a departmental response on that point.
The program included a praise dance performance by Elder Cheryl Frith Brown and concluded with a blessing of the food by Reverend Cedric Banks before the retirement of colors.
The proclamation and remarks celebrated community volunteers and nonprofit leaders while spotlighting scholarships, youth programs and grief‑support services that organizers said strengthen Hammond's neighborhoods. Attendees were invited to remain after the program for a community meal.
