Check out photos from Walt Thomas of the 2026 Back To The Avenue Recorder Picnic below!
Renee Thomas of Purdue University greets attendees at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Mayoral candidate and City-County Councilor Vop Osili speaks at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Guests visit with a community resource table at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Health and Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth gets in on the fun at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)A child holds a balloon animal at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Sampson Levingston leads a historic Walk & Talk tour at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Mayor Joe Hogsett (right) greets guests at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Balloon animal artist at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)A drone demonstration at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)President and CEO Robert Shegog (center) speaks with Boy Scout troop leaders at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Howdy Homemade Ice Cream hands out ice cream at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)The Asante Art Institute at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)A drone demonstration at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Recorder reporter Chloe McGowan (right) at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)From left: Recorder reporters Chloe McGowan, Noral Parham, and Mailk Simon at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)City-County Councilor Vop Osili and speaks with attendees at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Recorder President and CEO Robert Shegog with Scotchy Jamaican Grill owner Marlon Llewellyn at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)The Recorder and Purdue University host the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)A child plays Tic Tac Toe at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Renee Thomas of Purdue University at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)State legislator and mayoral candidate Andrea Hunley (left) with Recorder President and CEO Robert Shegog at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)From left: Second Half Podcast hosts Andrea McGordon and Thomas Griffin at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Recorder Senior Strategic Media Consultant Rita Wise at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)VOICES Corp. President Kia Wright at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)From left: Recorder reporters Noral Parham and Chloe McGowan at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)(Photo/Walt Thomas)From left: Evan Hawkins and Edreece Redmond of Purdue University speak with Mayor Joe Hogsett (far right) at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Recorder Multimedia Sports Reporter Noral Parham (right) at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Recorder President and CEO Robert Shegog (left) at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Community vendors at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Recorder President and CEO Robert Shegog and family join Mayor Joe Hogsett (second from right) for a photo at the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind.(Photo/Walt Thomas)Mayor Joe Hogsett attends the “Back to the Avenue” picnic on June 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Ind. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
