This week, Gary, Indiana made national headlines. Serial killer suspect Darren Vann was apprehended, and led authorities to seven victims’ bodies in abandoned homes in Gary. This news was especially chilling because Gary has over 10,000 abandoned buildings, and authorities suspect that there are more victims dating back to the 1990s.

On this week’s Barber Shop Show, host Richard Steele dug into two issues that this story brought to the surface. First, we took a look at issues of Mental Health in the black community. We also took a look at the toll that all of this is having on the residents of Gary, Indiana, a town with its own struggles. But, Gary has had a lot of successes, too. Lastly, we talked about what’s happening in Gary, and what the city is doing to turn the tide of negative perceptions.

We were joined this week by:

• Dr. Rashad K. Saafir, Bobby Wright Behavioral Health Center

• Milton Johnson, Bobby Wright Behavioral Health Center

• WBEZ Northwest Indiana Bureau reporter Michael Puente

• Chelsea Whittington, Director of Communications at City Of Gary, Indiana 

 The Barber Shop Show airs on Fridays and Saturdays at Noon on 90.7FM, 89.5FM, and 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show broadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.