Kickoff Black History Month – Bloomington Style

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2008

For additional information contact:
Beverly Calender-Anderson, Safe and Civil City Program Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3560




Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that the City of Bloomington will kickoff a month of events celebrating Black History on January 31, 2008, at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 401 N. Morton St. This program is free, family-friendly and open to the public.

The event will feature excerpts from the original production "One More River to Cross," which is produced by Dr. Gladys Devane and Dr. James Mumford. "One More River to Cross" highlights - through song, dance, poetry, and drama - the black journey from Africa, through slavery, to The Emancipation and Civil Rights Movement. "One More River to Cross" will open for three performances at the Bloomington Playwright's Project on February 1, but this is an opportunity for a sneak preview.

In addition, local African American authors will hold book signings before and after the program. Authors attending this event include: A.B. Assensoh, Janet Cheatham-Bell, Lawrence Hanks, Candace Hinton, Mary Howard-Hamilton, Audrey McCloskey, John McCloskey, George Taliaferro, Vernon A. Williams and George Taliaferro.

Other scheduled events in celebration of Black History Month - Bloomington Style! include:

January 31 - March 7 in City Hall Atrium: African-American Quilts of Bloomington Exhibit - An exhibit of utilitarian and artistic quilts owned by Bloomington residents and quilted by African-American quilters. Some quilts date back to the late 1800s.

February 10 - 3 p.m. at Banneker Community Center: Historical Marker Installation - Banneker School was a segregated school for Bloomington's African American residents from the early 1900s to 1955. Banneker Community Center currently houses a variety of community programs and activities for the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.

February 12 - 6 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers: Women of Color Symposium - Sessions will explore the impact of language, entrepreneurship, health needs and financial planning needs of women at various stages in their lives.

February 16 - 3 p.m. at Tri-North Middle School: Fashion Trends through the Ages - This fashion experience will take a walk down memory lane in clothing, music and history.

February 23 - 7 p.m. at Monroe County Convention Center: Third Annual Black History Month Gala. Tickets are $35 each and will be available for sale beginning January 31.

For a complete list of Black History Month activities throughout the community, visit the City of Bloomington web site at www.bloomington.in.gov/safe or contact Beverly Calender-Anderson, City of Bloomington Safe and Civil City Director at 348-3560 or by e-mail at safeandcivil@bloomington.in.gov.




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