My name is Mark McLean.

I'm an elder at Generations Church and I serve as uh Vice Chair of the African American Advisory Committee.

Now I just want to uh just want to make an announcement.

Our MC for tonight would have been the chairperson of the African American Advisory Committee, uh Minister Angela Davis Farris, but uh she had a medical emergency and she could not be with us.

So we ask the community and the family to say a prayer for her.

You know that God will give her a supernatural healing.

Amen.

So we are here to celebrate black history, and as we know, black history is American history, and black history is every day.

And so as customers for our community, we want to acknowledge God first, because we understand as we look back that it was faith that allowed our ancestors to survive the march from the middle of Africa to the coast.

It was faith that allowed our ancestors to survive being packed in bottom of slave ships like sardines and to survive the brutality of the middle passage.

It was faith that allowed our ancestors to preserve the human dignity of our people and race and stand up to the dehumanization of title slavery.

It was faith that allowed our ancestors to fight the terrorism of Jim Crow.

It was faith that caused the Honorable Marcus Garry to say, up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will.

It was a faith that allowed Rosa Parks to sit down.

And it was faith that allowed Malcolm X to stand up and say by any means necessary.

And it was faith that allowed a southern preacher in the midst of a national nightmare to have a dream of freedom, justice, and equality.

And so, as black people, as we come together to celebrate our history, we want to acknowledge God and our faith as we bow our heads for the opening prayer.

Gracious and eternal God, we thank you for gathering us together on this sacred occasion this evening, as we honor black history, heritage, and hope.

We give you praise for the strength of our ancestors, for the courage of those who paved the way, and for the resilience of people, of a people who trusted you through trials and triumphs alike.

Lord, we thank you for every contribution, every sacrifice, every victory that has helped shape our community and our nation.

As we reflect on the past, help us to learn from it.

As we stand in the presence, empower us to walk in unity, and as we look towards the future, guide us, O Lord, to build a world marked by justice, compassion, and opportunity for all.

Bless this celebration, every speaker, performer, organizer, and bless our honorees and guests.

May your spirit fill this place with peace, joy, and purpose.

Let this gathering inspire us to uplift one another, to honor dignity in every person, and to continue to work, continue the work of love, quality and service.

We commit this moment to you, and we thank you in advance for all that will be accomplished here this evening.

We ask this in the matter's name of your son.

And all God's people said, Amen.

So of the emergency, I've been forced to uh to be the MC tonight, and truly it is a privilege and an honor to be the MC for this esteemed occasion.

We want to welcome you.

Welcome you all.

I'm a lifelong resident of New Rochelle and I love New Rochelle.

And New Rochelle is truly a family.

And as we move in progress, we become more family.

We become more a city of justice and equality.

And so it is my honor to welcome you to the 2026 celebration of Black History Month here in New Rochelle.

Give yourselves a round of applause.

You know, I just want to uh ask the members of the African American Advisory Committee to stand.

Uh the African American Advisory Committee was formed to after the George Floyd uh murder to better uh facilitate community uh communication between our African American community and our city leaders.

And these are the folks that meet several times uh a month to be the voice and the advocate for our community and give them a round of applause.

Thank you for your commitment.

So at this time, we're going to bring up an and uh present to you someone who is truly black history, and that that is our mayor, who's the first person of color to be the mayor of our beloved city News, and it is my honor to bring her up right now, Mayor Yadera Raymond Herbert.

Thank you, Mr.

And before I begin, I just want to quickly acknowledge um a few of my other elected colleagues who are here.

We have Assemblyman Steve Otis, um, Councilman Shane Al Shinloye, Councilman Matt Stern, uh, Councilman David Peters is on the program, but just want to make sure I give him a shout out.

And a lot um our new pastor, newly recently installed pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church, Reverend Horace Sanders and his first lady.

And sitting right behind him, uh, Reverend Dr.

Jordan Lee of Shiloh Baptist Church is in the house as well.

And we have a ton of staff here, our city manager will um introduce our city's our staff here.

But Black History Month is both a celebration and a call to action.

It reminds us of the shoulders we stand on and the responsibility we carry.

In your shell, we honor a legacy of leadership, faith, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative expression.

And we recommit ourselves to building a city where opportunity is real, equity is intentional, and every child sees themselves reflected in possibility.

Tonight, our honorees, Denise Clark and Sylvia Hammer embody that legacy.

Yeah, we can do that.

They reflect the very best of New Rochelle through their leadership, their service, their commitment to community, and the example that you set for the next generation.

Your work reminds us that history is not only something we look back on, it's something that we actively build together.

So we're so honored to have both of you here this evening.

In addition to honoring these two fabulous women, we also have a proclamation, and I won't read it all, but it will be on the wall in the like sort of hallway outside of this room.

A proclamation that says during Black History Month, the City of New Rochelle proudly honors the legacy and accomplishments of African American leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, public servants, artists, advocates, and community members whose dedication, service, and leadership exemplify the strength and resilience and spirit of our city.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that I, dear Ramos Herbert, mayor of the City of New Rochelle, proclaim February's Black History Month in the City of Neurochelle, and encourage all residents to observe this month through education, reflection, meaningful dialogue, and participation in programs and activity that honor the rich history, culture, and contributions of African Americans locally, nationally, and throughout the African diaspora.

So that'll be hung up after tonight's program.

Ultimately, may we honor Black history not only with applause tonight, but with action tomorrow, continuing the work of justice, opportunity, and unity right here in New Rochelle.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you for your for your work, and you are a true public servant.

Thank you so much.

Let's give the mayor a round of applause again.

So now we're going to uh have greetings and um uh a presentation from our city manager Wilfredo Melendez, our city manager.

Thank you.

Uh I want to first acknowledge uh some of our city staff that are here tonight.

Our committee uh police commissioner Neil Reynolds, our fire commissioner Andy Sandor, Parks and Rex Commissioner Vin Parisi, our Human Resources Commissioner Michelle Oliveras, and various city staff, our deputy city manager Todd Costaldo.

So I also want to extend a sincere gratitude, and I have the pleasure of meeting with them every month, the African American Advisory Committee for their leadership, their guidance, as well as our diversity and inclusion office and a communications team who brought all this together.

Um I would also like to give a special thank you to our employee resources group members who volunteer their time to support today's event.

Uh your dedication truly reflects our shared commitment to equity, inclusion, honoring black history, not only just this month, but throughout the year.

2026 is a big year for anniversaries.

We're celebrating our 250 years of American independence.

And this year also marks one in hundred years since the historian Carter G.

Woodson started the first celebration of black black history that lasted only one week, an observance that would eventually become Black History Month in the 1970s.

So he he believed this was really inspiring.

He he believed that knowing and celebrating the achievements of his people could ensure the world saw black Americans as quote, a participant rather than a lay figure in history.

So today's honorees embody the spirit of active participation in our community.

As the director of Hope Community Service Services, Sylvia spends her time and energy leading work that directly impacts vulnerable populations, including emergency food services, housing and social services.

As the owner of Habib's Atmosphere's hair salon on Main Street, Denise has fired those around her, not only as an entrepreneur, but as an employer of many in New Rochelle, and as a professional whose work leaves her customers feeling brighter.

So we thank you, um, Sylvia and Denise for your leadership, your dedication to our community here in New Rochelle.

You serve as great examples of achievement, resilience, contributions of the African American community here in New Rochelle and across our great nation.

So I thank you and uh congratulations.

We're going to give them the city manager is going to present them with a bouquet of hours.

Can you can you come up?

Can you all come up to the podium?

Thank you.

Right now, we're going to call on one of our African American advisory committee members to give a historic presentation.

And so please welcome to the podium, Ms.

Lisa Burton.

Are you sure?

I think, David?

No?

Oh, okay.

Okay.

It's before, I'm sorry.

We're going to have our backwards.

But uh we're gonna have right now our uh our great uh councilman from the historic Black District, District Three, to give us uh some words of of welcome on this great celebration.

So I present to you, Councilman David Peters.

Thank you, Mark.

Thank you.

Uh first of all, good evening to everybody that's here on this wonderful occasion of African American History Month here, once again in February.

And um, and I also want to thank the the honorees.

I think it's a great choice, and it's always it's always a wonderful thing to be in a place where where you have an opportunity to be celebrated.

You know, there are many people who are unsung and and are and are around and are doing marvelous things, and they aren't necessarily brought to the attention of everyone else, but everyone who comes in contact with people such as our honorees from the various aspects of the black community here in the city of New Rochelle, extend themselves oftentimes in ways that cause us all to perhaps take pause, you know.

And so, what I what I'd like us to think about a little bit today is are so many people, in addition to our honorees that we're modeling this honor tonight, who throughout the course of time do so many things for so many people for so many reasons that many of us do not know about.

And I just think that that's something that my hope is is that we begin to connect to this abundance of of spirit, this abundance of love and this abundance of talent that exists here within the black community in the city of New Rochelle, as well as all the other communities that are here also.

I just want to read something to you quickly because I have a my in my mind today and in my spirit, um, you know, I I lost uh a two-year-old today who was who was killed by his um his father.

And there's a whole story, you know, there's always a second and a third or a fourth story, and so Malik is is on my mind.

Um I lost a close friend at 205 this morning who it took a couple of weeks, but he he finally went with the ancestors, and I'm saying that to say that this was a man who who understood the purpose of what it means to live and to grow up and to participate in lifting up uh his community, which is the black community.

I lost another young man last week who similar to the one that I just mentioned.

So for me, I'm in this particular space and time, and I don't want to make this about me, but there is something that I want to read to you that from my purpose and background here today lends this importance to me.

And it's simply this.

There is not a breeze that sweeps to us from the South, but comes laden with the wail of our suffering people.

The American people are once more being urged to do from necessity what they should have done from a sense of right and of sound statesmanship.

It is the same old posture of affairs, wherein our rulers do wrong from choice and right from necessity.

This was written by Frederick Douglass.

Wow.

If you think about today, there is nothing that is different today.

And so in the spirit of abundance and in the spirit of love and then the spirit of celebration, let's not forget what we can certainly return to, and let's not leave behind the things that keep us strong and together.

And so having said that, enjoy your evening tonight, as I will as well.

Thank you, Councilman Peters, for those words of wisdom and words of history.

And so now we're going to have our historical presentation from Miss Lisa Byrd.

All right.

So welcome everyone, and thank you for being out here on this cold February day to talk about Black history and especially Black history in New Rochelle.

And say you enjoyed it.

From Joel Zoller Neil Hurston.

I think every year we have an opportunity to talk about Black history, and we always uplift the exceptional.

We always uplift the brilliance.

We always uplift the first.

We don't talk about how hard this work really is.

So for all the young people who are out here who are about to dedicate their lives to what my grandparents called bettering the race.

So that is just my my um letting you know this is where we're going.

And I hope you I hope you stay with me.

Okay, so each year we gather as a community to celebrate Black History Month, thanks to Carter G.

Woodson.

He did in 1929 start with the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, Negro History Week.

It was between Abraham Lincoln's birthday on the 12th and Frederick Douglass' birthday on the 14th.

Those have been celebrated in the Black community since the war, the civil war, but it was 50 years later that President Ford recognized it nationally.

And that was after at Kent State, the students took over a building and demanded that the university recognize Black History Month.

So it's important to know that we are always fighting to be seen and always fighting to be out of the white gaze and always fighting for our recognition as humans in this great country.

And what happens in New Rochelle is just a microcosm of what happens in the rest of the of the United States.

But we are actually so much a part of American history that you should feel that what happens here is happening around the country, and take your instructions from there.

Before we start, I think it's really important that we remember the names of the enslaved Africans that were part of the 1698 census, 1698.

Now they're not their real names, of course, because they were kidnapped and taken and given names that their enslavers were comfortable with.

Mary, a Negro woman age 32, Tony, a Negro age six, Jacob, a Negro age four, Tony a Negro age one, Susan, a Negro age 12, Will and Negro, age nine.

So in 1698, their life was not, they would not see emancipation.

So we're going to talk about the time period between the end of Reconstruction, so the late 1800s through the 1990s.

So at the end of Reconstruction, everything is as it is now.

There's a pushback about people didn't want to know about the Civil War, people were not interested in the plight of African Americans.

There was a strong push to kind of put us back into our place.

And so what did most African Americans do?

And in New Rochelle, they formed the Booker T Washington Club.

And out of that club, they formed the Newer Shell Cooperative Business League, which in 1905 started a cooperative where they bought property, started businesses, and encouraged civic engagement among African Americans in New Rochelle.

If you want to know more about it, please Google it.

It's at the Schoenberg Library.

There are photos about the buildings that they built on Brook Street.

DeWitt.

The one on DeWitt is still here.

So there is always an opportunity when things get really bad to as a community come together and make change.

And that's what we see in New Rochelle time and again.

After World War I, when returning soldiers were back, they started new civic groups.

So for all of you who know the F.

Willow Davis, that's part of the National Negro clubs, they're still here.

They are still doing scholarships, they're still doing honorees.

Angela, who's not here was high honored a few years ago.

That women's organization is here purely for over a hundred years to talk about how we can do better and giving children an opportunity and scholarship opportunities, and that's what they did.

They used to have a house in New Rochelle where they could meet.

Also in the early 1900s is when we got the Newer Shell NAACP.

We had the Black Masons who still have their home up on Lincoln.

We had a number of civic organizations come together specifically for the reason that they wanted to build a community where they weren't allowed.

So we had bankers, we had insurance people, we had doctors, we had teachers, although they weren't allowed to teach in our school district until almost the 1920s.

So after the war, um in the what they call the roaring 20s, which we know mostly as the Harlem Renaissance, Westchester saw Newer Shell as the Harlem of Westchester.

We had so many people coming through here, Ella Fitzgerald thing in Neurochell, Paul Robeson saying came and spoke.

It was a heady time, but it also because this whole area that we could know as the Lincoln Corridor opened up and people were able to buy.

She did a fabulous, fabulous, fabulous reclamation of that history, and it is on her website.

So then we get to the Great Depression, which everybody felt the need, but the New Deal that was helping other communities be uplifted out of this terrible project was uh also came with with a bit of a codification of what always had been happening, the redlining that we all that some of us know about, but basically in the 1930s, um the federal government codified prejudice.

out of this um terrible um um projects was uh also came with with a bit of a codification of what always had been happening the redlining that we all that some of us know about but basically in the 1930s um the federal government codified prejudice it said that if if even one black person lived on a block that block was not to be invested in that that part of the the community was to be downgraded and no investments were to be made into it um if you look at a redlining map not surprisingly right now it is basically the Lincoln Corridor it's city park it's parts of of um where the hollow was so we so for every step forward there's this step back and and you can have a bias against people or types of people and that's fine but when the government puts it into law when the government puts the full weight of its um resources behind keeping people in poverty keeping people outside of what we know to be the American freedoms that's that is what has happened time and again to um African Americans and that is the cycle of our existence here so the the if you again if you want to know more about redlining if you go to a site it's called Un design the red line it's a a a project out of the Bronx they did a fabulous um exhibition a couple of years ago and it explains and those maps are still here you just have to go in and click put an address and you will see exactly how um what had happened and how it continues and if you overlay those redlining maps with any map of give about asthma or where the highway is it's almost matches completely so after after World War II let's jump ahead to the the for the late 40s and 50s all the GIs came back and they had no place to live so that's why we got the GI Bill and if you were white and you were GI you could buy a home on Pinebrook Boulevard nice two family ranch because you had served your country if you were black however you were given the opportunity to live in at what was then called McLean City Park or Hartley there the opportunity for home ownership was not afforded to to GIs and and when someone sued they were told point bank that Congress did not intend it for for returning black veterans so often we hear about our neighbors and our friends whose parents came here with 20 dollars in their pocket just off the boat and within a generation their doctors lawyers and Indian chiefs.

The African American experience that that I know says that every 50 to 60 years you have to start over 60 years someone wants to take whatever progress you've had just because you have it my black American experience says that if I come if my father comes to come to Newarch and wants to get a house in the nicest neighborhood that he could afford he's going to be charged twice as much interest as his neighbor who is white and you expand on that and and therein lies why our American dream seems so much more fragile and so much more limited.

We were not sitting here watching Lucy and eating bonbons and that's that's not why the American dream is not the same for for us as it is for others so um again in the 40s and the 50s we had a number of of groups pushing for rights.

We had um civic organizations that now included the Vulcans and the guardians and the police organizations of black policemen and black firemen saying we want an opportunity we have civil servants pushing against why is it that you know we cannot get jobs when everyone's supposed to take the tests and everyone's supposed to have an opportunity at the same time we are pushing against why after um Newarch had the last segregated school system school building the colored school in 1990 in 1899 closed and yet 40 years later we had the Lincoln school that was predominantly black and only white families could opt out of going to it.

So there's this energy that says we're we need to be full citizens and they go and they are the NAAC is involved the Urban League Whitney Young comes and and um and there's all this energy and all this positive focus on how we can do better and how we deserve better.

At the same time, the the um highway act comes through, and um whole sections of the black community are deemed undesirable and um part of the urban renewal projects, which is why 300 homes were destroyed when they built the rotary that when you're coming off of I-95 exit 16, that huge rotary used to be homes and businesses, and it's gone.

Um after the Lincoln desegregation case comes through the highway to nowhere, which was supposed to the Murray Highway was supposed to link to the Hutch when in that when no one wanted it, Pelham didn't want it, parts of New Rochelle didn't want it, they still built it.

They still built it, but specifically for the area where um people of African descent who had homes were to be removed.

So we pushed past that, and we're into the fifth the 60s and the eights, 70s and 80s.

We have an influx of of Africans from the West Indies, we have an influx of of true Africans who are part of the UN and their families come here, and there's another burst of energy and and renewal in the city, and we have Dr.

Gaddy become the first principal of the high school, and then later become the superintendent of school, and we have the graduation rate for African Americans raised to 80 percent.

It's stuck there, it's still at 80 percent, but it was such a wonderful leap when Dr.

Gaddy was in leadership.

We had Jack and Jill, we had the sororities and fraternities come out and support the changes that were happening at the Boys and Girls Club and being involved in the civic life, the Remington Flyers, and and all of this wonderful, wonderful energy, and then we had the crack epidemic, and then we had um the suit against the city for having common council, and somewhere along the line, we kind of lost power.

We kind of lost our sense of what was important as we kind of fractured a little bit.

So the history says that as things get tough, we get to come together, and as we come together, we change things.

So I look forward to what is the next set of change, because we certainly are in need of it.

Um and we certainly have the people, the people in the 20s and the 30s that made such impactful differences in the lives of the city and the trajectory of the city, are no more or less human than everyone sitting in this audience.

All we really need is the will and to link arms and to move forward.

So with that, I thank you for listening, and I hope you have a wonderful evening.

Let's give another round of applause for that wonderful historic perspective, and we know our role has been hard, but I thank God for the strength and the resilience of our people that we can stand here today and say we we have overcome and we will overcome.

Amen.

By the grace of God.

Amen.

So now I'm gonna bring back up our oh, first of all, I wanted to say, you know, I did recognize uh the NAACP in that history, which we've had the NAACP in our city for since 1921.

23, 1923, over 100 years.

But the NAACP has been sh you know struggling and fighting for freedom, justice, and equality.

And we have uh we have our president here, the uh the president of the NAACP, I would just want to acknowledge uh Aisha Cook, who's doing still after 100 years doing a wonderful job leading the NAACP.

So now I'm gonna bring back up uh our city manager for some presentations.

Thanks.

So I have some several proclamations.

So um so on behalf of Senator Natalia Fernandez and the 34th Senate District, um I'm just gonna read a couple of these.

Um honoring Sylvia B.

Hamer.

So whereas in recognition of a distinguished career in public service and non-for-profit leadership, including her service as executive director of Hope Community Services and in senior leadership roles across state and local government, and whereas on a significant occasion, we commend Sylvia for her unwavering commitment to advancing equity, dignity, and opportunity for individuals and families across Neurchelle and the state of New York, and whereas today we present this special honor to a leader whose work has strengthened community support systems, expanded access to essential services, and uplifted vulnerable populations with compassion and respect.

Also from Senator Fernandes' office, honoring Denise Clark, whereas in recognition of her role as a native New Rochellian and the owner of a long-standing small business that has served the community with excellence for decades.

And whereas this significant, where on this significant occasion, we commend Denise for her dedication to mentorship, entrepreneurial development, and supporting the next generation through education, skill building, and opportunity.

And whereas today we present this special honor to a community leader who has used her talents to promote self-care, dignity, empowerment while actively giving back through service and volunteerism.

Congratulations.

Steve has some from the assembly, so I figure he should just do his.

And then Miss Denise, on behalf of the city council, just um hereby honoring and recognizing you during this month for your outstanding entrepreneurial leadership, community service, and your lasting contributions to our beautiful city and beyond.

That's wonderful.

Yes.

Oh, oh well.

We have our uh we have our county executive here.

Uh County Executive Kent Jenkins.

We would love for him to come up and address us as you know our first black Westchester County executive.

And uh what is so great about Ken is that he is imminently qualified for this position, and he worked hard to get there, and nobody gave him anything.

He earned it.

So I don't I don't see him here.

Sorry, not yet.

Uh that was fake news, but he's experienced I'm sure he's here, he's a good friend, and uh just gave me that opportunity to just shout him out and uh yes, yes.

So let's let's give it up for our first black Westchester County executive.

Now we're gonna have our honorees give them a time to say something.

We're gonna start with Ms.

Denise.

Congratulations.

Yes, yes.

Congratulations.

Very, very well deserved.

Okay, don't be nervous.

You're with family.

Okay.

Good evening, everyone.

This is an honor.

Uh thank you all for coming out this evening to celebrate this day with myself and Sylvia.

Yes, I'm nervous.

I'm nervous.

Um, but give an honor to God.

But God that has brought me through this journey.

Yes.

And um, I would like to extend my gratitude to the African American Association Committee in New Rochelle, um, the colleagues, all the officials that are involved with making this decision.

I am so nervous, but I'm gonna get through this.

Um to all of my clients, colleagues, family and friends, my son, my daughter.

Yes, I have a daughter.

I want to thank you all for supporting my business because without your support, my business would have not been a success.

And I'm grateful for every one of you that took the time.

A special thank you to Miss Sylvia as an honorary like myself today.

I thank you for your support as well.

God bless you all, and I thank you.

You did great.

You did great.

Now we're gonna hear from Miss Sylvia.

You know, I was uh I was blessed to recently work with her with my church for fruit food drive.

And I've I've known her, but after that, I was like, wow, she's a wonderful person.

So it's very well deserved, and congratulations, miss Sylvia.

Good evening, and thank you to the city of New Rochelle and the African American Advisory Committee for this meaningful honor.

It is with much love that I congratulate my birthday twin honoree, Denise.

We've known each other for over 20 years, and over that time, the niece has not only been a friend and confidant, but also the fearless decision behind my hair.

Yes.

She is the one responsible for this.

Denise, you've somehow managed to make me look good while keeping me laughing through every bold choice.

Sharing a Sarna with you tonight makes it even more special.

And this is why I love you.

As most of you know, I was raised in New Rochelle and spent years serving in New York State and City governments.

To be able to serve and make a difference here is truly humbling.

I was taught a simple but powerful truth to whom much is given, much is required.

That principle has guided my commitment to service and my responsibility to give back to this community.

While my name is being honored tonight and recognized, this honor belongs to the entire hope community.

I could not do this work without the without the hope board of directors, whom some are here tonight.

Also the dedicated staff and volunteers.

I think some are here tonight as well.

And our community partners who consistently show up with compassion and purpose.

She laid the foundation for everything that I do.

And to my Shiloh Church family who are also here tonight.

Oh, excuse me, yes, sensational Shiloh Church family.

Thank you for continuing to guide and inspire me on this journey of service.

To my mom, don't cry, I'll cry.

You can cry.

To my mom, my siblings, my cousins, and all of my friends and allies.

Thank you for always being there for me.

Your unwavering support and belief in me make everything that I do possible.

I am deeply grateful to be part of a community that still believes in showing up for one another.

Together, we prove that when we lead with compassion and purpose, real change is not only possible, it is happening right here in the great city of New Rochelle.

Good night, and God bless.

Congratulations.

Okay, I got the phone.

I'm constantly losing the program.

But um right now I want to take uh this time out to thank our uh committee member Tina Mitchell for providing the beautiful uh bouquet of flowers for all our reasons, Christina Mitchell.

Okay, I'm supposed to give a closing statement.

It's been wonderful.

Like I said, it's always truly a blessing to come together with family for fellowship, and I just want to.

So I like to see the glass half full instead of half empty.

And it's indeed true that we've had difficult times, and that we are in adverse times right now.

But I always say that on the other side of adversity is opportunity.

So we as a people, as a community, and as a city, we have the opportunity to turn to each other.

And not away from each.

Amen.

So let us welcome with a big round of applause.

The newest show youth bureau, elite steppers.

Okay, okay.

We are here to celebrate the contribution and achievement of the African Americans in the city and the nation.

Please tell us more.

Lincoln Avenue supported a Raven Commercial Area, residential homes, and the second game, Lincoln Elementary School.

Did you know there are well-known residents and legacies in newer shows?

Tell us who battle of freedom, recipient Whitney Young Juniors, right?

And Jack musician Robert Mesala.

Did you know Hannah Plenty became a noble figure as a free black woman and property owner in the eighteenth century?

No way.

Our city clerk, Miss Kim Jones.

Our Youth Bureau Director Kelly Johnson.

Thanks for coming.

This was great.