Parks and Recreation programs announced

Porter County Parks and Recreation has a variety of wellness and enrichment programs for adults of all ages at all skill levels. Couch to Foot Pursuit 5K Training, taught by a certified running coach and experienced trail runners, is from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturdays through Feb. 25 at Sunset Hill Farm, 775 Meridian Road, Valparaiso. The cost is $55, which includes registration for the Foot Pursuit 5K, a T-shirt, weekly training schedule, check-ins, workout tips and motivational emails. Yoga at Sunset Hill Farm, taught by a certified yoga instructor, 9 to 10 a.m. Sundays through March 5 at 775 Meridian Road. Cost is $75 for the series, $10 drop-in. Dream Circle Share, a chance to share and explore dreams in a safe, nonjudgmental setting, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Brincka Cross Gardens, 427 Furness Road, Michigan City. Cost is $10. Yoga at Brincka Cross Gardens, taught by a certified yoga instructor, 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 29 at 427 Furness Road. Cost is $10. Acrylic painting, for all skill levels, from 2 to 4 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 26 at Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. Fee is $10. All supplies are included, class size limited to 25. More information is with Becky Kreiger at 219-734-0203 or bkreiger@porterco.org.

Mentoring training session offered in Gary

The Indiana Mentoring Partnership, a program of the Indiana Youth Institute, along with state Sen. Eddie Melton and the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, are teaming up to host a free two-day training session for anyone who serves as a formal or informal mentor to boys who are black. The seminars will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 27 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 28 at City Life Center, 225 W. Fifth Ave., Gary. A lunch is included Jan. 28. On-site registration opens at noon Jan. 27. Larry Smith and Ray Hoskins will lead the sessions. Smith is the managing director of the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence at Indiana University. Hoskins is an IYI consultant with more than 40 years of experience in human services. Online registration is at northwestmentoring.eventbrite.com through Wednesday, or at 219-887-9621.

IU Northwest celebrates Black History Month

Indiana University Northwest's office of Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs invites the campus and community to celebrate Black History Month with a series of cultural events spotlighting African-American arts and culture. August Wilson's play “The Piano Lesson” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 and 4 at Theatre Northwest, 3660 Grant St., Gary. Tickets are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Four films will be screened throughout the month: “Scarred Justice: The Orangeburg Massacre 1968” 1 p.m. Feb. 1; “Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race” 1 p.m. Feb. 8; “Race Against Prime Time” 1 p.m. Feb. 15; and “The Road to Brown” 1 p.m. Feb. 22. Tickets are not required. A guided discussion will take place after each film and light refreshments will be served. All films will be at the Savannah Center, Rooms 205/206, 3400 Broadway, Gary. A jazz history concert, featuring Billy Foster, will trace the history of jazz and its genres from the early 1900s to today, 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Bruce W. Bergland Auditorium, Savannah Center, 3400 Broadway, Gary. Tickets and information are with Tierra Jackson at 219-980-6596 or jacksoti@iun.edu.

— Staff report