As a product of the Gary Community School Corp., Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said he’s dedicated to supporting the school system.
“We only talk about how our young people are the leaders of tomorrow, but the reality is they are the change makers of today,” Melton said. “Their education is our main priority, and while they work to succeed in the classroom, it is our responsibility to invest in them and bring down financial barriers.”
Melton hosted the 2026 United Negro College Fund, or UNCF, Mayor’s Breakfast at the Gary Career Center on Wednesday morning. The event featured multiple speakers, including Pastor Nicole Gun of First Baptist Church in Gary, who was the keynote speaker.
Attorney Shelice Tolbert, who is chair of the UNCF Northwest Indiana Advisory Council, told attendees that the council is thankful for the community’s support as they work with area students.
“Our mission remains clear: to ensure that our students across the nation have access to higher education, no matter their financial circumstances,” Tolbert said. “This is near and dear to my heart because as a high school student, there were not many resources available to us.”
As a high school student, Tolbert said she relied on her teachers and guidance counselors to provide college education, and she had to figure out how to pay for school with little help. UNCF aims to make the process easier for students now, Tolbert said.
“That’s one of the reasons why I do this,” Tolbert said. “We will continue to make a difference year-after-year.”
UNCF is a philanthropic organization that awards more than $62 million in scholarships to about 11,000 students each year, according to its website. The organization also provides financial support to 37 historically Black colleges and universities, including Allen University, Morehouse College and Tuskegee University.
Since 2007, the Northwest Indiana Advisory Council has raised about $800,000, Tolbert said. UNCF gives $5,000 scholarships to Northwest Indiana students annually, and they’re renewable for up to four years for each student.
The six-year graduation rate for UNCF African American scholarships is 70%, according to the organization’s website, which is 11% higher than the overall national average and 31% higher than the national average for Black Americans.
Melton previously served on the Indiana State Board of Education, and as state senator, he served as ranking minority member of the Senate Education Committee. He also attended Kentucky State University, which is an HBCU.
During the breakfast, Melton told attendees that it’s important for them to continue to invest in education and help him support Gary schools.
“When we invest in our children, we are progressing the development and preparing them to one day step into a career that started as a dream and is now a reality,” he said.
Gary Community School Corp. Superintendent Yvonne Stokes thanked attendees for visiting the Gary Career Center for Wednesday’s event. The Gary community’s support is important to ensure that GSC can continue to best serve its students, she said.
“Your presence today is evident of your support for our youth,” Stokes said. “As a district, we work every day on behalf of our children, and we appreciate you showing up and strengthening our mission.”
