On Mar. 7, Josh Flynn, a former reporter for the Pharos-Tribune, held a dinner, with the support of the Cass County Democratic Party, to celebrate diversity and spread awareness of the differing cultures and traditions within Logansport. Flynn and the Democratic Party held a similar event around this time last year, but for a different reason.
“Last year, a Republican event was held around the same time, with Micah Beckwith being the speaker at their event,” Flynn said. “We have very strong opinions about Micah Beckwith and didn’t particularly want him in the community, so we held our own event. There was talk about doing something similar this year. But I felt that the Republicans kind of kept their event secret this year. So, we couldn’t, and it seemed too immature to do another event like that.”
With the continuing national debate on the importance of diversity and inclusivity, community members, such as Flynn, decided that this year’s event should focus on the importance of diversity and cultural differences while also giving younger members of the community a chance to speak at this event.
“I felt really strongly that we really had to do something focused on diversity, just based on what’s going on in the country right now and because people talk about diversity in the community,” Flynn said. “I wanted an event where we could talk about what’s going on in the country, and wanted to include the young people as well, and give them an opportunity to speak, so that was a big part of it too.”
Flynn invited multiple guest speakers to give a speech on what diversity means to them and how to help others in times of need. Among these speakers were seniors Nathalia Hernandez and Jackson Lythgoe, along with junior Yoslen Santana.
“I mean, obviously, it means racial and ethnic diversity, but there’s also the diversity of thoughts, ideas, cultures, and ways of thinking,” Lythgoe said. “It’s not just about having a lot of Asian or Hispanic people, but it’s also all the cultural and social experiences that come with that ethnic diversity.”
These three are advocates for the youth to speak up and share their thoughts and experiences within events such as this and some that are more politically centered.
“Even if we might not be directly affected by what’s going on in the world, it will one day be the world we manage and be a part of,” Hernandez said. “Learning what’s right and wrong allows us to target those in the future and create a world where differences are made, and people are united.”
With politics becoming more and more present within society today, these advocates and Flynn urge students to learn more, speak up for what they believe in, and participate in community events.
“I think just finding people that you trust and listening to what they have to say, doing your own research on things, and never taking things at face value,” Flynn said. “It always helps to read a couple of articles or different sources. Just be open to things and be cautious because things are getting trickier with AI. The biggest thing is learning how to tell what’s real and what’s not, and I know that’s not an easy thing to do at times.”
What started as a way to protest Beckwith has grown into an event that both celebrates diversity within the community of Logansport and promotes the inclusion and understanding of its people.
