By Peaches Calhoun, Founder of Humanity First Ohio

On the evening of Thursday, July 10, 2025, the rain poured down, unyielding and uninvited. Some might even say the East Side of Columbus has known that kind of gray for years, mist and storm clouds long being the backdrop of the community climate. But on this day, under a stubborn sky and with big, glistening raindrops splashing into puddles and puddles onto shoes, Eastland proved that the show must go on—and would go on, drenched and undeterred.

As the clouds loomed overhead, neighbors arrived with tents, umbrellas, foldout chairs, and the kind of smiles that didn’t ask for permission from the forecast. At Nafzger Park, the Eastland for Everyone Block Party became more than an event. It became an emblem—of resilience, joy, and the unshakable spirit of a community rooted in purpose.

Who Was There

The block party drew a broad and beautiful spectrum of Eastland’s community life:

• Families and longtime residents strolled the park pathways—pushing strollers, guiding elders, and laughing under a patchwork of canopy tents dotting the green space.

• Fellow Area Commissioners and representatives from multiple Columbus commissions stood not apart, but among the people—boots muddy, hands extended.

• City of Columbus staff, including Neighborhood Program Specialist Noelle Britt, offered resources and insight as part of the broader Eastland for Everyone initiative.

Vibrant community organizations, resource providers, and charter schools, by the dozen, showed up, eager to listen, share, and connect.

Even in the storm’s early stubbornness, the people came. And that alone said everything.

The Experience

• Between 5 and 7 p.m., Nafzger Park transformed into a cultural crossroads—a festival of rhythm, resilience, and real engagement:

• Live music floated through the air, weaving between tents of every shade, rustling with the breeze, and lifting spirits as easily as it stirred feet to dance.

The smells of home and heritage were everywhere, with food trucks like Dos Hermanos and Fork of Nigeria serving up massive portions of love on a plate. The food, donated by the City of Columbus, was free for all.

Imagine it: seniors, toddlers, teens, and new immigrants dancing together in line for their meals, soaking wet but smiling, trading stories and steps to the beat. The clouds, perhaps out of awe or surrender, eventually rolled back, and the sun emerged like an encore, casting a golden light across the laughter.

Community engagement stations lined the walkways, where residents shared ideas and feedback on upcoming park and trail improvements.

Tables from groups like 5/3 Bank, CelebrateOne, LICI (Liberians in Columbus, Inc.), and local charter schools buzzed with conversation, giveaways, and calls to action.

Why It Mattered

This wasn’t just a party, it was a living, breathing commitment to transformation. The Eastland for Everyone Plan is not about parachuting in fixes; it’s about cultivating futures through the people who live here.

As Area Commissioner for the Greater Southeast Area Commission, I didn’t just attend—I arrived early, excited, and prepared to get soaked. Because showing up—truly showing up—is the most basic act of leadership. And that day, I didn’t stand above anyone. I stood beside them, in soaked sneakers and warm conversation.

This event was a reminder that:

Community doesn’t wait for perfect weather. Connection doesn’t require a clear forecast.

 Change takes root where people gather, dream, and dance—even in the rain.

The Legacy of the Day

Eastland is not a fair-weather community. It’s a people-powered movement defined by laughter through downpours, by salsa in soggy sandals, and by the unspoken agreement that we’re all in this together.

We danced. We shared. We ate. We listened. We planned. We dreamed. And when the rain came? We didn’t run. We rose.

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