The Hill Community Mixer

​On June 14, 2022, District Six City Councilman, Daniel Lavelle, partnered with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to offer a Hill District celebration of the many activities happening in the Historic Hill District, particularly around development. With a delicious menu and a DJ Blakkstreet aka Adam Lewis on hand, the URA set about informing the community of the many opportunities available for residents through the URA (from rehabbed, afforded houses via the PHRC to façade improvement grants for homeowners to the small contractors’ line of credit program, to the Avenues of Hope, upon which developments such as Catapult’s Galleries on Centre was highlighted, as well as upcoming developments such as Big Tom’s, the New Granada Apartments and Amani Christian Academy apartments), many of which were relatively unknown to residents. Things are happening in the Historic Hill District! Tanika Harris served as host while Greg Flisram and other staff members took the stage to educate the interested audience. The program began with honoring Hill resident birthdays and Charlet Holley became the “birthday girl” at 70. A true family affair, other elder Hill residents in attendance were Marlene Ellis at 85 and her friend, who was 91 years of age and happy to be in attendance at the festive and beautiful meeting. The audience was graced by a singer leading us through James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Ev’ry Voice,” popularly known as the Black National Anthem. The entire audience rose to their feet and belted out the verses in harmony and with dignity, which easily sums up the Historic Hill Community Mixer!