Resource of the week: Black History Month, events and opportunities (attached)
February marks both Black History Month and team dating violence awareness month. In the spirit of community collaboration and information sharing, we will be inviting a SARCC blog takeover to share some resources and announcements on these two topics from local partner organizations.
: Lebanon County NAACP Announces Events Calendar for January & February 2024
For immediate release
Issued January 5, 2024 / updated Jan. 26
The Lebanon County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has announced its events calendar for January and February 2024, culminating in its 2nd Annual Black History Month Freedom Fund Gala on Saturday, February 24 at the WEPA Empowerment Center in downtown Lebanon.
“We are thrilled to offer these special events to the people of Lebanon County,” said Lori Burrus, chair of the Lebanon County NAACP’s Black History Month 2024 Planning Committee. “Our hope is that our ongoing struggle for equal rights for all people, especially Black people and people of color, will make each one of us a better person, our nation a better country, and our world a better place.”
Saturday, January 13, 10 AM—4 PM. MLK Discovery Day at St. Mark’s United Church of Christ, 426 North 8th St. in Lebanon. This free, indoor, self-guided walk around the first floor of the church will have nine “Discovery Centers” for families to explore. Pick up a “Road Map” when you arrive to follow Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic civil rights journey and follow in his footsteps as you visit nine cities across the United States. At each city, there will be an activity where you and your children will be encouraged to learn, be inspired, and consider how you can carry on Dr. King’s work today.
Monday, January 15, 11 AM—4 PM. MLK Day of Service,helping with the market at Lebanon County Christian Ministries, 250 South 7th St. in Lebanon, stocking shelves, assisting customers, cleaning, and performing other necessary tasks.
Friday, February 2, 5-8 PM, First Friday at the Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts at 770 Cumberland St. in downtown Lebanon, featuring artwork by students at Lebanon County high schools, with light refreshments and music by Luther Tyree. Free and open to the public.
Saturday, February 10, 2-3 PM, African drummingworkshop by Studio Solomon at the On Stage Theater, 515 Cumberland St. in Lebanon. Free and open to the public.
Saturday, February 17, 12:00 noon—1:30 PM, Tour of Cornwall Iron Furnace, 94 Rexmont Road in Cornwall Borough, featuring a talk, short video, and tour led by Site Administrator Mike Emery focusing on the lives and experiences of enslaved African Americans at the ironworking plantation complex, including the enslaved collier named Governor Dick. After the tour, participants are invited to the Lebanon Farmer’s Market at 35 S. 8th St. in Lebanon for a guided conversation and delicious soul food lunch at Aunt Hocker’s Fish Fry. Rides are available for those without private transportation. Cost is $7 per person, not including lunch.
Saturday, February 24, 6—9 PM. 2nd Annual Black History Month Freedom Fund Gala in the second-floor ballroom of the WEPA Empowerment Center at 9 South 9th St. in Lebanon, featuring a soul food dinner served by Aunt Hocker’s Fish Fry, music by the Michael Kitchen Band, featured speaker Sherry Washington and other programming, a complimentary adult beverage and cash bar, dancing, and more. Cost is $50 per person, payable by cash, check (payable to “Lebanon County NAACP” and mailed to P.O. Box 74, Annville PA, 17003), or by credit or debit card through the BetterWorld payment platform, at https://lebanonnaacp.betterworld.org/events/2nd-annual-gala. Gala sponsors to date include WEPA Empowerment Center, UPMC, Capital Blue Cross, Visit Lebanon Valley, Yoga for Kids, Wellspan Health, HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, Bennett Automotive Group, Lebanon Family Health Services, SARCC, Salem United Church of Christ, Million Dollar Shot$, E&E Discount Beer Warehouse, and Mark & Val Wines. Sponsorship opportunities will be available until Monday, Feb. 12.
Founded in 1909 and our nation’s oldest and most influential civil rights organization, the NAACP has as its mission “to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.”
Persons wishing to volunteer for the MLK Day of Service or inquire into these events are invited to email the Lebanon County NAACP, at naacp.leb.co.pa@gmail.com, or visit its website, at https://lebanonnaacp.org.
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Contact: Lori Burrus, at naacp.leb.co.pa@gmail.com, or 717.269.7969
