What’s recently happened?
This month, the Hammond Parks Department has partnered with the American Legion and Hammond Fire Department for a flag retirement ceremony. On June 14, city buildings like the Hammond Sportsplex, the Jean Shepherd Center, and the Hammond Civic Center opened spots for old flag drop offs. On June 17, the old flags were burned at a Hammond Fire Department and officially retired.
In celebration of Juneteenth, the City of Hammond held its fifth annual Juneteenth celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The celebration started at 10 a.m. and lasted until 4 p.m. There were many organizations and booths set up, such as the Regional Health System, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Ophelia Steen Center.
A couple small businesses were also seen selling bracelets, candles with additional booths providing access to free resources for things such as insurance, help hotlines, and lunch programs. Refreshments and music were a big presence, as well with many food trucks lining the outskirts of the event, adding to the liveliness of the atmosphere. The Hammond Police department and military made an appearance contributing to the spirit of community that underscored the event.
Tinisha Greenwell, the deputy controller of operations in the City of Hammond, has been the main coordinator for Juneteenth celebration for the five years it’s been occurring.
“Getting the community involved is a big part of planning,” Greenwell said. “We’re so busy in our day-to-day activities that we don’t come out to fellowship with one another.”
The event itself had a big turn out, community members across Hammond were present from teachers to city workers.
“We wanted to create a positive sense of community,” Greenwall said. “This was an opportunity to see what other people were doing and interact.”
The event itself saw a big turnout, with people all around Hammond coming out to contribute to the occasion. Achieving the goal of creating a welcoming environment for the citizens of Hammond and encouraging them to get involved within their community.
What’s coming up?
The Fourth of July is fast approaching. As a holiday made to celebrate American patriotism, it would only make sense that the holiday allows for an opportunity to celebrate new American citizens as well.
The annual Naturalization Ceremony will be held on July 4 at the Wolf Lake Memorial Park, giving new citizens a chance to cite the Oath of Allegiance and to signify the finalization of their Journey to become American Citizens. This ceremony will be followed by the Bill Porter Orchestra, along with fireworks to finish off the night.
Festival of the Lakes comes to Hammond every year during the summer, and this year is no different. From July 16-20, people all over the area come to Wolf Lake in order to partake in the fun. With concerts varying in many different genres of music like R&B, rock and even country music, the festival has something for everyone.
The festival will include a carnival, as well as a variety of foods, that are favored by the Region. The carnival will open before the actual concerts every day of operation, and the shows will follow later in the evening for each day. Two days during the festival will even feature a firework show.
Community member spotlight:
Jada Lawson-Nesbitt is an upcoming student at Hammond Central High School and a shining star in her community. She was the student council president at Eggers Middle School and a member of Eggers Girls (E-Girls), a club based on volunteer work and community interaction.
Lawson-Nesbitt is also a student athlete. Having participated in track and field, cheer and soccer, she is continuing to pursue these and many more sports as she enters high school.
Though she is young, Lawson-Nesbitt shows promise in her achievements in the community. She has won many academic awards, became a member of National Junior Honor Society, volunteers and participates in community events, and represents the Hammond community in a productive way.
This summer, Lawson-Nesbitt is taking summer courses to get a head start on her high school credits. In her free time, she still works with the Eggers cheer team.
“I think high school is going to be a roller coaster of events,” Lawson-Nesbitt said. “It’ll be about meeting new people, making new friends and losing some friends.”
When she graduates from high school, she plans to go to college in hopes of entering medical school to become a cardiac surgeon.
“To get there, I’m going to need a lot of school,” Lawson-Nesbitt said. “I just want to work as hard as I can, study, and don’t let any distractions get in the way.”
Though she is only just beginning her high school career, she hopes to attend the Hammond Area Career Center to get a start on her career. She knows what she wants in her future, and has shown so much promise already.
