Douglass School offers 'Night at the Museum'

Also, Bona Vista holds second annual all-abilities prom

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Douglass School Museum's "Night at the Museum" Halloween event introduced trick-or-treaters not only a great bag of treats, but the chance to view history and meet historical African American figures and ground-breaking individuals.

The historic school, named after famed former slave, abolitionist, speaker, and statesman Frederick Douglass, the school was built to be a segregated school in 1920, and served as an educational institution until 1968 when a state desegregation lawsuit against the school system mandated that the school be closed.

The building was set for demolition when then-Mayor Greg Goodnight, working with Indiana Landmarks, registered the property as an historic site, turning the building and grounds over to non-profit Embracing Hope, which maintains the building and is renovating it into a museum.

Visitors were treated to a bag of treats and museum information, and they got to meet actors playing Douglass' former principal from 1927-1949, Dr. Henry Perry. He is credited with hosting then-President Franklin Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor, in a tour of the facilities in March 1940. Perry used the First Lady's visit to raise funds for the Carver Center youth facility.

For more information about the Douglass School Project go to http://dougschoolkokomo.com/about_douglass_school

Bona Vista holds second annual all-abilities prom

Cross America in Kokomo was jumping with dance beats Oct. 28 when Bona Vista held its second annual All Abilities Prom, a formal dance that is designed for individuals with disabilities. The 2023 theme of the prom was "Under the Sea" and was a free event for individuals living within Bona Vista's service area.

Brittany Barnard, Development Coordinator at Bona Vista and the planner of this year's event stated, "Many people with disabilities are often isolated from their community and not included in typical social events. This event gives them a time and place to truly shine and most importantly, fellowship among peers."

Approximately 150 people attended the event, which included a visit from Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore. The partygoers were served treats by J. Edwards and pulled pork from Bona Vista's own Bona Vista Bistro. D.J. work was handled by Circle City Steel.