The future of Gary begins with me, and with every "me" in Gary.

For all of his life, Vernon G. Smith has called Gary home — a proud "chocolate city" where the mill represents a livelihood, but also has a track record of putting riches over community. As a young man weighing just 115 pounds, Smith worked at the mill to pay for his senior year at Indiana University. He still recalls the heavy gas smells from his youth, noting that real modernization and cleaner air would mean greater longevity for residents.

Despite the challenges, Smith remains deeply hopeful, grounded in his faith and the warmth of a community of survivors who deeply care for one another. His call to action for the mill's leadership is straightforward: "Care about Gary, and we don't want to hear the talk. We want to see the proof."

Photos: Tyrell Anderson / Decay Devils