Three upcoming events will spotlight local and national civil rights efforts and help connect residents with community resources. Ongoing exhibits at a local college and museum also spotlight Black residents’ achievements.
Jan. 17
A panel discussion featuring the children of Wayne County civil rights leaders is scheduled for 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Wayne County Historical Museum’s Community Room, 1150 N. A St., Richmond. The program is free and no registration is needed.
Two organizations are hosting the event, Black Legacy Project of Wayne County and Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site. The Coffins’ home in Fountain City became known as the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad for helping more than 1,000 freedom-seekers on their journey to Canada in the 1800s.
Organizers note the county has a deep connection to the fight for civil rights, including the earliest voices in the state speaking out for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery. The fight continued for equal rights in the 1950s and ’60s.
Three children of local civil rights leaders will reflect on their parents’ work and provide perspectives on where those rights stand today. Panelists include Patty Brown, daughter of Bobby Smith; Cynthia Sawyer, daughter of George Sawyer; and Lucinda Wright, daughter of Mamie Wright. Joanna Hahn, manager of the Coffin historic site and Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites’ Central Region director, will serve on the panel too.
For more information, visit indianamuseum.org/event/wayne-county-civil-rights-panel/.
Jan. 18
Mount Olive Baptist Church and NAACP’s Richmond Branch 3066 are offering a citywide celebration honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Organizers hope to further King’s mission of building a community dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.
Speakers and musicians aim to bring the community together in reflection and unity at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Mount Olive, 1108 N. H St., Richmond.
For more information, call the Rev. Derek White at 765-966-5152.
Feb. 21
Vendors are being recruited as Black Legacy Project of Wayne County, Indiana, prepares for its second Black Expo. This year’s theme is “Boots on the Ground.”
The event is free and open to the public from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at First Bank Kuhlman Center, 861 Salisbury Road N., Richmond.
The Black Expo brings together local organizations, information, music and entertainment alongside vendors who provide fee-based services, food and products. The first 100 guests receive a complimentary fan.
Booths can be reserved for $40 each by Feb. 7. Applications are available at wwn.to/be26vendor.
For more information, call 973-699-8730 or email laresfashions@gmail.com.
Ongoing
Ivy Tech Community College has a Black Legacy Project exhibit in its Learning Resource Center in Johnson Hall, 2357 Chester Blvd. The exhibit is free and available for public viewing when the building is open. Display cases feature several artifacts celebrating local Black history and culture.
Wayne County Historical Museum also is displaying its earlier collaborative exhibit with Black Legacy Project featuring several Black veterans. It’s open 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is $8/adults, $6/seniors, veterans and active military; $5 for ages 6-17, and free for ages 0-5 and members.
A version of this article appeared in the January 14 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.