Two local programs next week will celebrate Black History Month, observed in February.
On Sunday, a program featuring local performers is planned at Earlham College. On Tuesday, a panel of local people will talk about what it means to be Black in Richmond.
The Sunday event, titled “Black History: Innocent, Pure & Acknowledgment,” will begin at 3 p.m. in Lingle Recital Hall in the Earlham College Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 801 National Road W., Richmond. Refreshments will be provided.
Ivy Tech Community College is partnering with IU East, Earlham and Townsend Community Center, Inc. to celebrate the month through the arts with local performers. For more information, contact Toure Conley, Ivy Tech’s director of diversity, equity, belonging, by email, tconley18@ivytech.edu.
Tuesday’s presentation, “Celebrating Our Journey,” will begin at 6 p.m. in the Bard Room at Morrisson-Reeves Library, 80 N. 6th St., Richmond. It is being facilitated by Kelley Cruse-Nicholson, a radio personality and library board member who formerly served on Common Council. The panel will include four other local people: Toure Conley from Ivy Tech, Keon Jackson from the City of Richmond Housing Authority, and community members Karen Matitu and Yvonne Washington.
The program is billed as “an intimate conversation with engaged citizen-leaders to discuss the significance of Black History Month and our community’s efforts towards diversity, equity and inclusion.” Attendance is free and open to the public.