Black History Month Events: Don’t Miss Them!

I spent a good part of yesterday trying to make a comprehensive compilation of Black History Month events in Columbia/HoCo. I ended up with dawning suspicion that it was going to take longer than I’d thought plus an enormous piece of paper covered with post-it notes.

Really. I’m not kidding.

I refuse to give up but time is of the essence here. While I get all my sticky notes in a row I still want you to know what’s happening in the next few days.

Today, Friday, at the Bain 50+ Center, from 10:30 - 12:30:

Black History Month Program & Luncheon - Passage to Freedom: Freedom Stories

Listen to Freedom Stories with Maryland Official Griot, Janice Curtis Greene, as she takes you on a journey from bondage to soaring with eagles. These stories, songs, and folktales will help the audience realize that freedom comes in different forms. Listen and bring your imagination.

This program is being offered by the departments of Aging and Independence and Community Resources and Services.

Opening today and running through April 30th at the Howard County Welcome Center:

Rise Above: An Art Exhibition

Visit Howard County, in partnership with guest curator Marlon Powell with Art Vibez LLC, is excited to celebrate Black History Month with a new gallery featuring local artists from Howard County and beyond. Titled “Rise Above”, this exhibit will explore the resilience of Howard County’s black community and its legacy of rising above racism and conflict. This exhibit will also feature one of the area’s most significant historical figures, Benjamin Banneker, and will interpret his impact on American history. 

Featuring fine art in a variety of mediums, this exhibit will be on display at the Howard County Welcome Center from February 3rd to April 30th. Open Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm. Closed Mondays.

Presented by Visit Howard County in collaboration with Marlin Powell, Art Vibez.

Saturday at Howard Community College from 10-2:

Community Resources Day and Free Expungement Clinic 

Here’s more information about the workshops that will be available:

Columbia Community Care (CCC) will be hosting an Essential Resources Day for Howard County residents on Saturday, February 4th from 10am-2pm at Howard Community College in Duncan Hall (Parking Lot A- second right in the traffic circle off of Little Patuxent Pkwy). Free childcare will be provided as well as lunch by @ChefKingdom!

We will be collaborating with numerous community partners to provide resources and services through workshops, a resource fair, as well as an expungement clinic.

Expungement Clinic: Legal Aid and local attorneys will provide expungement services to those whose records qualify for expungement. Criminal records are huge barriers and obstacles to employment, housing, scholarships, financial aid and more. This expungement clinic will open up pathways to improve quality of life and opportunities for Howard County residents and families.

Rotating Workshops: Our workshops will focus on financial literacy, building generational wealth, and the intersections of health and wellness and financial wellness.

This event is presented by Columbia Community Care in partnership with all the folks whose names you see at the bottom of the image as a part of Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. To learn more and to register: CCC events.

Sunday evening from 6-8 pm at Howard Community College:

Black History Month Celebration Concert

Presented by the Howard County Center of African American Culture.  Purchase tickets here.

The Howard County Center of African American Culture invites you to join us for our "First Major Fundraising Event For 2023 - The Black History Month Celebration Concert

Please Join Us For An Extraordinary Evening!

This will be "An Explosion of the The Arts, Music and Culture"

We will be showcasing, gospel, jazz, spirituals, art song, contemporary choral. Each artist will share about the piece and how it connects us. Our Emcee will continue to paint the narrative of how black excellence has shaped the tapestry of music that we know and love. 

Also Sunday evening, at the Columbia Association’s Supreme Sports Center from 5-7 pm: 

HoCo Black Lives Matter at School Family Fun Night

Laser tag, video games, activities, food, fun and fellowship for kids and all ages!

General Admission Tickets Required

Includes: Laser tag, Open Gaming, Activities

This event is presented by Columbia Community Care in collaboration with the Anti-Racist Education Alliance as a part of Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.  To register for this or other events in the week, go to this page.  Here’s the whole week at a glance:

There! That gets us to Monday. If you know of any BHM events this weekend that I’ve missed, send them my way and I’ll add them in. 

Back to the posty-notes. Have a great Friday and let me know if you go to any of these events this weekend and what you thought. Also, if you didn’t get a chance to read yesterday’s post: do that, too.