Summer Night Lights Resumes in Ivanhoe

Photos: Ivanhoe Community Council

Esmeralda Garcia, Ivanhoe Sol

RETURNING TO COMMUNITY EVENTS

For years, the Ivanhoe Community Council has collaborated with county agencies and local nonprofit organizations to present the “Summer Night Lights” events to the neighborhood.

In 2020, the event was postponed due to social distancing requirements and the lack of a coronavirus vaccine. To date, two events have been hosted at the Ivanhoe Boys and Girls Club on July 8th and 22nd. 

 These events were hosted by the Ivanhoe Community Council and served as a place where  local community businesses and organizations can provide useful information, resources and services at no cost for Ivanhoe Residents. Free food, prizes and entertainment was made possible with the help of program funding as well as volunteers and donations from many individuals and local businesses. 

The Summer Night Lights program began in 2011 after Tulare County Supervisor attended a similar event in Los Angeles. 

The youth program is intended to provide safe recreational opportunities for youth of all ages, reduce crimes committed by and against youth during the summer months, and provides community organizations a forum to introduce their services to the community. 

Community partners include the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency, Tulare County StepUp, Boys and Girls Clubs, Tulare County Workforce Investment Department, Family Healthcare Network, CSET, Tulare County Office of Education, United Way, Tulare County Probation, Sheriff’s Department, cities, local law enforcement, school districts, local churches, and more.  

The Ivanhoe Sol interviewed several community members who attended the Summer Night Lights Event. When asked about their feelings towards this event Maritza Becerra shared, “I like this event because it provides the community an opportunity to get together.” Mayra Perez and her daughter Victoria commented that Summer Night Lights is a “Great event for our little town to come together and have fun. The free food is great.”

Many attendees of the event shared visions for the future of Ivanhoe. These visions for Ivanhoe included stations for art, and a community pool for residents to cool off during hot days. Other residents desired free accessible stations with clean water, better public transportation, adult school courses, sign language courses, a community resource center and more youth sports. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Community members still have an opportunity to enjoy two more Summer Night Events that are scheduled for Thursday, July 29th and August 5th from 6-8PM at the Boys and Girls Club located at 15892 Azalea Avenue in Ivanhoe, California.  

The upcoming event on July 29th will provide waterslides to help youth stay fresh in the upcoming heatwave. Donations and Volunteers are always welcomed. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact Ivanhoe Community Council or Ivanhoe Sol.