2018 was a big year in Lansing, and The Lansing Journal recorded hundreds of stories. In these last days of 2018 and the opening days of 2019, we’ll share some highlights chosen by different members of The Lansing Journal writing team. Ernst Lamothe is Director of Communications for Thornton Township, and he also contributes regularly to The Lansing Journal. Below, he remembers five significant Township events from the past year.
by Ernst Lamothe Jr.
Black Panther meets Black Panther
As part of our 2018 Black History Month program, we rented out Lansing’s Cinema 8 theater for a free one-of-a kind showing of the Black Panther movie. The movie went on to gross more than $1.9 billion worldwide and become the second-highest-grossing film in 2018. Our showing featured guest speaker Dr. Jamal Turner, founder of the University of California-Berkley Black Panther student chapter in 1967. He spoke about the far-reaching work of the organization, which included cooking thousands of meals a week for poor children and setting up free health clinics. He urged those who attended to learn from the past to move forward in the future.
- Thornton Township Black Panther event unites past and future (February 2018 article)
Honoring great women
Every year Thornton Township honors four or five women who have served our community well. This year, Lansing hosted the 10th Women of Honor celebration, at the Serbian Social Center. The honorees were Dr. Sallie Penman (South Holland Village Clerk), Joyce Forbes (District 148 School Board member and president), Vivian Payne (Lansing Village Clerk and South Suburban College Trustee), and Rose McGill (community activist). “These women are an incredible example of people who do service because they believe it is right and not to receive attention,” said Frank M. Zuccarelli, Thornton Township Supervisor.
- Lansing Village Clerk Vivian Payne included among Women of Honor (February 2018 article)
Largest event of the year
Our 2018 Taste of Thornton Township was bigger and better than any previous year. Moving the event to South Suburban College gave us more room for more food and craft vendors and the largest number of entertainers we’ve ever had. Our very own Trysh Granberry (“America’s Got Talent” contestant) opened, and Lakeside headlined. Free activities for the kids included face painting, carnival rides, games, back-to-school haircuts, book bags with school supplies, and a petting zoo. “This year’s Taste was better than last year. More people came out this year than last year,” said Tui M. Muse, Taste Chairman and Human Relations Commissioner. “The car show was excellent, and the entertainment was fantastic.”
- Taste of Thornton Township sees larger crowds at larger venue (September 2018 article)
Toy and food giveaway
World-renowned speaker
Thornton Township’s Human Relations Commission hosted Dr. James Lawrence and Jane Elliot, who is most known for her groundbreaking “Blue eyes-Brown eyes” experiment. A former third-grade teacher, Elliot has spent most of her life as an anti-racism activist and educator. “If you want to be a racist, you go and be a racist,” she told the audience of over 300. “But if you bring it to me, you will learn very very shortly that your problem is ignorance. It is not skin color but your ignorance about skin color, and I will not tolerate it.”
- Jane Elliott addresses Thornton Township crowd (October 2018 article)
We look forward to continuing to serve Lansing and all of Thornton Township with a variety of events and programs throughout 2019.
Thornton Township news affects Lansing, so we are glad to have Ernst Lamothe reporting for us. To make sure you don’t miss out, subscribe to our daily email and receive Lansing news headlines in your email each morning:
