LOWELL, Mass. — The City of Lowell hosted a flag‑raising ceremony in May 2025 honoring Sierra Leone’s 64th Independence Day, where city officials issued a proclamation and leaders of the local Sierra Leone community outlined goals including acquiring a building for meetings and youth programs.

At City Hall, the mayor issued a proclamation recognizing the Sierra Leone community’s contributions and declaring the day as Sierra Leone Independence Day in Lowell. The proclamation, read aloud during the ceremony, said the community “has played a vital role in shaping the city's cultural richness, contributing to its economic growth and social vibrancy.” The text given at the ceremony identified the event as a commemoration of Sierra Leone’s 1961 independence and noted Lowell as home to the state’s largest Sierra Leone population.

Michael Gandhi, introduced as the newly elected president of the Organization of Sierra Leone Americans in New England (Auslan in Lowell), delivered the keynote address and urged unity and civic contribution. “Unity is the key,” Gandhi said, and he asked community members to “work together to realize a better and prosperous Sierra Leone.” He encouraged diaspora engagement that would both support families in Lowell and contribute to development back home.

Community leaders used the platform to list organizational goals. Those stated at the ceremony included acquiring a building for meetings and training, offering technical advice and youth programs, promoting cultural diversity, and providing moral and medical assistance to members in need. The organization’s vice president, Lawrence Comer, thanked city officials and attendees and closed by saying, “God bless America, and God bless Sierra Leone. Long live America, and long live Sierra Leone.”

Mayor Daniel Piruk (as introduced at the event) attended and spoke briefly, welcoming the community and presenting the proclamation. Council members and city officials in attendance were identified during the program, including Vice Mayor Paul Ratty Yam and City Councilors Rita Marcia and Vesna Noon; the ceremony also included prayers and musical performances.

Organizers announced a related fundraising dance scheduled for the evening, and photographers from the city and community took group photos following the formal program.

The ceremony combined civic recognition and community organizing: the mayoral proclamation formally marked the day for the city, while local leaders used the occasion to publicize ongoing needs and activities, most notably the effort to secure a permanent meeting space for Auslan in Lowell and to expand youth and community services.