Linden community unites in holiday gathering

Pausing to catch his breath after unloading more toys, Triandous Kirkman laughed.

His 7-year-old brother, Shamir, had dutifully followed his older brother’s direction, helping him unload boxes from the back of a truck, and launched a piece of cardboard the size of two Shamirs off to the side.

This holiday season, the elder Kirkman wants Columbus to pause, reflect and give the Linden community a chance to surprise.

‘Linden Pride’: Columbus nonprofit group hosts annual block party, celebrates neighborhood

On Saturday, the Linden-McKinley senior and his brother volunteered with a coalition of community partners and the city’s department of neighborhoods to host the second annual “Carols on Cleveland” event, where over 500 Linden families came to celebrate the holidays.

Fat, fluffy flakes came down in a flurry as parents gathered to select toys and stock up on winter gear while kids goofed around in the photo booth and danced across the parking lot of the city’s department of neighborhoods building off Cleveland and East 11th avenues.

In scene out of Hallmark Channel holiday classic, snow dusted the tops of bundled-up kids lugging red and green bags full of presents, drinking hot chocolate and munching on popcorn.

It can be frustrating, sometimes, that people outside the community only associate Linden with crime, Kirkman said.

But events such as “Carols on Cleveland” are a reminder for everyone that the neighborhood is more than that.

“I hope people can give Linden and everyone a clean slate and a new opportunity,” he said.

‘Making an effort’: Linden’s kids show up for community

Last year Kirkman was slacking off in school and misbehaving when Ralph Carter reached out.

Carter, founder of We Are Linden, a nonprofit that provides youth programming, community outreach and mentorship throughout Linden, asked the 17-year-old to come to a couple events.

Now, Kirkman is the president of We Are Linden’s youth ambassadors.

“I’ve been putting the work in and staying consistent,” he said.

But that’s not without challenges for other kids Kirkman’s age.

This year Linden has seen rising gun violence and thousands of cars stolen in Columbus by teenagers who target Kias and Hyundais.