Urban League of Northwest Indiana rejoices with the community at Gospel Extravaganza and Comedy Show

For many people, Sunday is the day of the week that is dedicated to catching up on rest, spending time with your loved ones, and celebrating the Lord. On Sunday, September 14, Urban League of Northwest Indiana invited community members throughout the Region to celebrate in its Gospel Extravaganza & Comedy Show.

The Gospel Extravaganza is a gathering that emphasizes the glory of gospel music, conveyed through a series of uplifting performances and a message of faith. Urban League of Northwest Indiana understands how valuable the church is and wanted to create an spiritual uplifting atmosphere with this event.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring the communities of Lake, Porter, and La Porte county together. I’m thankful for the community who came out to fellowship so that we can enjoy and have a joyful noise here at St. Timothy Community Church. It’s for a good cause because it’s supporting the services of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana,” said Urban League of Northwest Indiana President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Allen McCloud.

This event brought together an evening of dynamic music, joyful tears, and laughs all night long. The service ran from 4-6 p.m. at St. Timothy Community Church in Gary, along with a VIP Reception that started at 3 p.m. Attendees of all ages were welcome, and people were able to purchase either general admission or V.I.P. tickets for reserved seating. The event also included free venue parking, recognition, and a reception.

Urban League of Northwest Indiana organizes a plethora of events that prioritize leadership empowerment, volunteer work, and academic excellence. While this event puts a different spin on fundraising, worshipping the Gospel is a way to involve many denominations of faith in a musical service at a community church.  This aligns with our mission to in efforts to improve the quality of life among community groups and all other stakeholders in the Region.

“The sentiment is we will be providing opportunities for people to get food, to have their security deposits paid, along with free tax service. It’s to uplift the community in terms of those that are in need,” said Allen McCloud.

The Chicago Mass Choir was the special guest musical performance group for the Gospel Extravaganza. The group was founded by James C. Chambers as an ensemble in 1988 as a way to put on a display of powerful gospel performances that lift everyone’s spirits.

Laughter was in the air as well, courtesy of special guest Comedian Ron Baker Jr. The comedian specializes in family-friendly humor while bringing light to his personal experiences, his family, and his church upbringing.

“We’re very excited about Ron Baker Jr., and the Chicago Mass Choir coming! I’m thankful that they had time in their schedule to be here,” said Allen McCloud.

Urban League of Northwest Indiana was motivated to bring together an impressive set of performers that can create a memorable experience for everybody.

Bringing a soul-stirring experience to life made this event a success from top to bottom. Families and friends had an opportunity to crack up to the jokes and get down to the musical variance. Urban League of Northwest Indiana plans to continue putting on events like this that will bring out the best in the community. 

“Because our financial landscape has changed and there have been funding cuts on and National, Regional, and local level, this service was one of several fundraising events to obtain monies whereby Urban League can maintain or sustain its services to the community. There are many who are hurting for money to take care of the mere basic needs for their family, so this gospel service is a way to uplift the faith and also provide money and resources for people in our community,” said Allen McCloud.

“We have an upcoming event, which will be the Scholarship Fair that will be held at Indiana University Northwest on Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon. It’s not a fundraiser, but it is an opportunity for high school graduating seniors  to receive on the spot admissions, and in some cases full ride or partial scholarships will be awarded. Then on November 18th, 2025, we’re having a Leadership Luncheon that will be held at the Avalon Manor at 11:30 a.m., where will will be recognizing community leaders.  Our Keynote Speaker is Bishop Douglas Sparks from The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana. 

For more information about Urban League of Northwest Indiana and its upcoming events, call (219) 887-9621 or visit urbanleagueofnwi.org.