GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Finding your people in the Munster community

What’s recently happened?

At Wilbur Wright Middle School (WWMS) on June 19, the sounds of dancing and singing filled the air. Community members of Munster came together for a Juneteenth celebration.

This celebration was held by the School Town of Munster’s Black Culture Club and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness Team (IDEA). WWMS Principal Bojan Jovanovic was able to coordinate the event because of the help from the community members who volunteered to help out at activities and run events.

“Not everyone feels as connected to the Fourth of July as ’their’ Independence Day. When President Biden made Juneteenth a national holiday, it gave the date a whole new amount of exposure. It was significant for many people, and we are happy that it gained this relevance on a national scale,” Jovanovic said.

The Juneteenth event allowed community members of all ages and backgrounds to understand American history and black culture. Children and adults alike participated in bracelet making and watched screenings of a video describing the history of Juneteenth and its importance.

“From the start, it was all about being family friendly. We also wanted to make sure there was an educational component. We thought it would be easy to do the ’fun’ part of it and attract people to the event. Once they got here, we were focused on how we could make it meaningful,” Jovanovic said.

There was music from African American artists to show the influence black culture has had on today’s music. There were also black-owned businesses such as Cute as a Cupcake selling food, and many vendors selling clothing items.

The event started at 5:30 p.m. As more people joined in, there was an increasing amount of celebration, discussion, and connection made in the community. The Juneteenth event at WWMS ended at 8:30 p.m. Community members got to take home bracelets, food, and education on African American culture.

”We’re always glad when we can see more people, more vendors, more activities, more of the community, and the School Town of Munster’s involvement,” Jovanovic said.

What’s coming up?

From June 28 to August 1, there will be a Speech and Debate Summer Camp held by Munster High School (MHS) Speech Coach Jordan Mayer. This camp is to raise interest in speech and debate and give students an opportunity to learn communication skills.

“I noticed that schools across the country were beginning to offer speech and debate opportunities for elementary and middle school students. We launched the camp in 2015 to serve as a springboard for future involvement in speech and debate,” Mayer said.

Exposing young students to performance and debate creates confidence at a young age, allowing students skills to flourish. The camp has created a notable influence on students as the novices that started in camp become veterans in speech and debate.

“The impact is clear – at least half of last year’s State competitors began their journey at this camp. It lays the groundwork for long-term growth and success in our program,” Mayer said.

Since 2015, the camp has grown in popularity. In order to have a successful camp, Mayer is asking for help from speech and debate high school students and alumni. Mayer is hoping for a one-to-three ratio of students to mentors to allow novices to have a full experience.

“The camp began with just 12 students and has grown to include over 50 students who focus on argumentation, advocacy and acting,” Mayer said. “What started as a speech-only camp has now expanded to include debate as well.”

High school students volunteering comes with other benefits than just an extra pair of helping hands. The speech and debate veterans are able to mentor and form bonds with the new camp students.

“One of the most rewarding outcomes has been the bonds formed between younger students and their high school mentors. These mentorships are meaningful – they offer representation and encouragement,” Mayer said.

Mayer has planned activities that will introduce students to the basics of speech and debate. The activities include ice breakers, panel discussions and individual coaching. Emphasizing beginner-friendly activities is crucial for Mayer.

“Tailoring content to be age appropriate has required thoughtful adjustments. Much of the high school material explores sophisticated social issues, so we have worked hard to ensure that our lessons meet students where they are,” Mayer said.

Additionally, community members are invited to watch camp students perform what they have learned over the week. This gives students an opportunity to get exposed to performing for an audience.

“We are especially excited for our end-of-camp pizza party and showcase. The showcase is a highlight,” Mayer said.

Community member spotlight:

At the Munster Public Library, there are more than books and study groups; there are also events and clubs made for all ages. The recently transferred Munster Teen Librarian Trava Buono coordinates everything in the library geared towards teenagers.

Buono’s main way to hold events is through Teen Tuesdays, which is a weekly program targeted towards middle and high school students to meet others interested in the same things they are. Teen Tuesdays include craft events, games, and club meetings that teenagers can sign up to attend.

Buono has been coordinating events based on what teenagers in 2025 are interested in. Some of these events include Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), sand painting, and origami.

Buono also chooses events to make sure teenagers can feel heard in their community. There is an Alphabet Club for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies in the age range of 12-18. There are snacks, movies, and discussions being held.

“I particularly like working with teenagers with their enthusiasm, getting to meet them all, and going to the high school and middle school outreach programs,” Buono said.

Buono originally worked at the Merrillville Public Library before she transferred to Munster in March. She has seen growth in the organizations for teens such as the Rainbow Club and the D&D Program.

“The speed in which our D&D Program filled up and its popularity, that’s been a huge positive thing for us,” Buono said. “For teenagers we do a lot of activities.”

The Munster Public Library makes outreach a priority. The full-time librarians strive to show the Munster community many opportunities to get to know others at the library events.

An example of this is National Night Out, an event held at the Munster Community Pool focused on creating a safe and fun environment for people of all ages. Munster Public Library plans on using National Night out to share all the upcoming events Munster community members can look forward to.

“We’re going to be at the National Night out,” Buono said, “I expect to have a lot of fun with that. We’re going to have bags and stuff to give out to everyone.”