Gary Leaders Prioritize Education at UNCF Mayor's Breakfast

Mayor Eddie Melton hosts annual event to support Black college students in Northwest Indiana

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:04pm

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Gary Mayor Eddie Melton hosted the 2026 United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Mayor's Breakfast at the Gary Career Center on Wednesday morning. The event featured speakers including Shelice Tolbert, chair of the UNCF Northwest Indiana Advisory Council, who discussed the organization's mission to provide financial support and scholarships to Black college students. Mayor Melton, a product of the Gary Community School Corp., emphasized the importance of investing in local youth and education.

Why it matters

The UNCF Mayor's Breakfast highlights Gary's commitment to supporting higher education access and opportunities for Black students in the region. As a former state education official, Mayor Melton has made education a key priority, and the event showcases the city's partnership with UNCF to overcome financial barriers and boost college graduation rates for underserved students.

The details

The breakfast featured remarks from several speakers, including keynote speaker Shelice Tolbert, a lawyer and partner at Tolbert and Tolbert. Tolbert, who chairs the UNCF Northwest Indiana Advisory Council, discussed the organization's mission to ensure students nationwide have access to higher education regardless of their financial circumstances. Since 2007, the Northwest Indiana Advisory Council has raised around $800,000 and provides $5,000 annual scholarships to local students. UNCF reports a 70% six-year graduation rate for its African American scholarship recipients, which is 11% higher than the national average.

  • The 2026 UNCF Mayor's Breakfast took place on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Eddie Melton

The mayor of Gary, Indiana, who previously served on the Indiana State Board of Education and as a state senator on the Senate Education Committee. Melton is a product of the Gary Community School Corp.

Shelice Tolbert

A lawyer and partner at Tolbert and Tolbert, as well as the chair of the UNCF Northwest Indiana Advisory Council.

Yvonne Stokes

The superintendent of the Gary Community School Corp., who thanked attendees for their support of the district's mission.

United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

A philanthropic organization that awards more than $62 million in scholarships to about 11,000 students each year and provides financial support to 37 historically Black colleges and universities.

Gary Community School Corp.

The public school district serving the city of Gary, Indiana.

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What they’re saying

“We only talk about how our young people are the leaders of tomorrow, but the reality is they are the change makers of today. 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.”

— Eddie Melton, Mayor of Gary, Indiana (chicagotribune.com)

“Our mission remains clear: to ensure that our students across the nation have access to higher education, no matter their financial circumstances. This is near and dear to my heart because as a high school student, there were not many resources available to us.”

— Shelice Tolbert, Chair, UNCF Northwest Indiana Advisory Council (chicagotribune.com)

“Your presence today is evident of your support for our youth. As a district, we work every day on behalf of our children, and we appreciate you showing up and strengthening our mission.”

— Yvonne Stokes, Superintendent, Gary Community School Corp. (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

The UNCF Northwest Indiana Advisory Council will continue to raise funds and provide scholarships to local students throughout the year.

The takeaway

The UNCF Mayor's Breakfast in Gary highlights the city's commitment to investing in education and supporting Black college students, building on Mayor Melton's background in education policy and the community's longstanding partnership with the UNCF organization.