Billboards pop up across South Bend honoring local Black leaders

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For the 10th annual year in recognition of Black History Month, the City of South Bend is showing a series of digital billboards, highlighting nearly a dozen local African American leaders who’ve made important contributions to the city's history and culture.

The three digital billboards are running from Monday, Feb. 17 until Sunday, Feb. 23., located at the intersections of South Bend Avenue and Edison Road, South Bend Avenue and Ironwood Drive, and South Michigan Street and Ireland Road.

“We’re celebrating African American history, the culture, we’re celebrating their contributions, but we’re also learning at the same time,” said the City of South Bend Mayor’s Office Director of Community Outreach, Sha Davis.

Davis explained the project got started in 2015 when she noticed a gap in Black History Month events.

“They had special events and things happening for the whole entire year, but the month of Feb. there wasn’t really much going on, so at that time I went to the administration and our mayor now was actually the Chief of Staff and I asked him could we do something for Black History Month and they were on board and so we started off nine years ago in 2015,” said Davis.

This year, there are 11 honorees including local advocate for the elderly community, Tracy Miller.

Miller began working for the City of South Bend Housing Authority 29 years ago, which introduced her to a passion in helping senior citizens in the community.

Now for the past 18 years, Miller has worked as a Property Administrator at Trinity Health Senior Communities, an independent living senior apartment complex.

“Within our culture here in South Bend for Black Americans, we’re very close knit, and a lot of the seniors have a lot to offer but I don’t people tap into that,” said Miller.

For Miller, it’s the history and knowledge that the elder generation possesses that drives her work. She said when she got the call about being a billboard honoree it was a shock and an honor, describing what she does as a labor of love, not for the recognition.

“If our younger generation doesn’t tap into that, we’ll lose that culture, that pride, that prestige, and my endeavor is to let people know that they are still there, seniors still matter. They still have a lot to offer, and knowledge and wisdom is way more valuable than hands and feet in a lot of cases,” said Miller.

Mayor Mueller will host an Awards Ceremony and Reception for this year’s honorees on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Century Center’s Discovery Ballroom (120 S Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.) that will be free and open to the public.

For more information, to see all the 2025 Black History Month Awardees, or to access the form to nominate a local leader next year, click here.