Good morning, South Bend.

On July 12th, the Boys and Girls Club worked with University of Notre Dame student-athletes to host a field day in South Bend for over 100 children in grades 4, 5 and 6 — the event featured sports, games and food and marked a growing partnership between the organizations.

The Speak Our Truth Project is hosting its first-ever cross-county open mic event on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at LangLab in South Bend — it will feature spoken word, music, visual art and dance that focus on social justice, child safety and human rights while uniting communities from Elkhart, St. Joseph and Kosciusko counties.

Alex Howard has been providing free meals & hygiene kits monthly to South Bend's homeless after moving here two years ago, inspired by the sight of people lining up outside a shelter.

He plans to expand his work by opening a restaurant to feed more people and offer additional support such as food and clothing pantries.

Unity Gardens hosted its first free Lunch and Learn class on Saturday, July 12th at 3701 Prast Blvd where registered dietitian Marin Easton taught residents how to turn garden produce into dinner — additional Saturday classes will run through August 23rd at noon with no pre-registration required.

In Cassopolis, community members will join a national day of peaceful protest on July 17 to honor former Congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis—marking the fifth anniversary of his death and urging an end to efforts that restrict voting rights and cut vital public programs. Similar protests will take place across Michiana, with demonstrators in South Bend set to join the action.

Premier Arts will stage Disney's The Little Mermaid at The Lerner Theatre on July 18th, 19th, and 20th, showing the live-action tale of Ariel as she works to regain her voice from Ursula — local children will take the stage on July 19th for a special performance — tickets are available at the box office.

South Bend Code School held a two-hour AI workshop where community members learned about generative AI and how to use ChatGPT to create a python project—cofounder Alex Sekdinaj said understanding the technology can boost job performance rather than replace workers.

South Bend Washington High School named Cory McKinney—the local 2018 graduate and former boys assistant coach—as the new head coach of its girls basketball program.

McKinney said he will rebuild the team and plans a camp later in July to help form a feeder system after a season that saw many seniors leave.

Moe Scott Jr., a local basketball coach with strong ties, has been named head coach of the Adams girls basketball program and previously served as an assistant coach at Adams.

He plans to build a team focused on teamwork and respect for the game — reinforcing his commitment to South Bend athletics.

South Bend Women’s Small Group Meeting

6:45-7:30 a.m. — South Bend, Indiana — Free entry — Engage in meaningful discussions and connect with local women in this supportive small group.

Disney's The Little Mermaid

7:30-11:30 p.m. — The Lerner Theatre — $17.10 – $32.55 — Experience the enchanting story of Ariel and her adventures above the sea.

South Bend Latin Dance Night

7-9 p.m. — Howard Park — $15 including one drink — Dance to live Latin music and enjoy a vibrant community atmosphere.

The Happy Campers Band: THC Live Performance

2-6 p.m. — Seitz Park — Free entry — Enjoy the vibes of Grateful Dead covers with The Happy Campers in a park setting.

Grease Sing-Along at the Morris

7 p.m. — Morris Performing Arts Center — Free entry — Sing and dance along to the iconic classic Grease in a fun, immersive outdoor experience.

Python for Scientists Training

August 4th-8th — South Bend Community School Corporation Adult Education — $1750 — Gain valuable Python programming skills tailored for scientific applications.

Les Miserables

2:00-3:30 p.m. — Morris Performing Arts Center — Become a Season Member today for access to 2024-25 Broadway In South Bend shows — Experience Boublil and Schönberg's timeless musical about love, sacrifice, and redemption.