Black History Month Celebration Continues With Bloomington's Firsts

Black History Month Celebration Continues With Blomington's Firsts

Date of Record: February 7, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2006

For more information, contact:
Beverly Calender-Anderson, Safe & Civil City Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3560
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3569

Bloomington, IN - The celebration of Black History Month continues with "Bloomington's Firsts," a two-part event that will feature some of Bloomington's integral African American pioneers as speakers and panelists. These individuals will share their personal experiences and triumphs over the barriers of racism, ignorance and bigotry. Bloomington's Firsts, Part 1 will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at 6 p.m. at Banneker Community Center, 930 W. 7th Street.

Featured speakers include: Laverta Terry, the first African American school teacher for Monroe County Community School Corporation; Viola Taliaferro, the first African American circuit court judge in Monroe County; Charles Brown, the first African American Bloomington Police Officer; Ken Thomas, the first African American engineer hired by Otis Elevator; James Mitchell, first African American on the Indiana State Police force; and Elizabeth Mitchell, the first African American female to serve the United States Postal Service in Bloomington. Bloomington's Firsts, Part 1 will be facilitated by Bay Kelley.

Bloomington's Firsts, Part 2 will take place again at Banneker the following Saturday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. The featured panelists will be Diane Hanks, the first African American administrator for Monroe County Community School Corporation; James Hopkins, the first African American to serve as a Bloomington firefighter; Robert Motley who was the first African American salaried employee at Otis Elevator; and Paul Swain, Jr., the first African American to serve on Bloomington's City Council. The facilitator for Bloomington's Firsts, Part 2 will be Beverly Calender-Anderson, Safe and Civil City Director for the City of Bloomington.

Refreshments will be served at both events and children are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

This will be a chance to learn firsthand how individuals, corporations and organizations began the process of opening the doors of opportunity for many of today's citizens. For additional information, contact Elizabeth Mitchell at [emitch1441@sbcglobal.net|mailto:emitch1441@sbcglobal.net] or at 812-334-2406.

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