03/04/2013
February 2013
In the month of February, we have been plenty busy as any other month with our youth. The organization was able to kick off the moth with our National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day, which took place on Thursday the seventh from 6-9 p.m. The event was a success and many showed up to enjoy themselves as they learned about themselves as well as much information dedicated towards HIV/ AIDS. There were two speakers present, Richard Jason and Ms. Christine. They did a wonderful job with their presentations and all were pleased with the knowledge they had received. HIV testing, by Circle of Care (Doris Willis), was done during the program for the benefit of all that wished to have it done. An Youth Art Competition was held as well where the youth were able to create posters dedicated towards HIV/AIDS. Also, give-a-ways were had for everyone to win prizes.
We then had our first annual Black History Program which was from 6-9 p.m. The program was filled with vendors, dancing, drumming, poets, entertainment, and food as well. The event went extremely well and everyone had a good time before, during, and after the program. It was held at the Boys and Girls Club at 6114 Broadway Ave, so it was convenient for our youth and their families to get there especially for those in and outside the community. On the twenty-fourth, we participated and vended in the Cleveland Natural Hair Care and Fitness Expo. Classes and performance were held during the expo as they showed off natural hair care, holistic healing, and wearable art. We finished off the month with a trip to Cincinnati that our students as well as those from East Tech High school and Carl and Louis Stokes Central Academy were all able to participate in. While there, we visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and took a guided tour throughout the building. Their exhibits were plentiful in history and information about slavery and our ancestry. There were even moments where we could sit and watch movies dedicated to motivation and the learning of what those enslave had to go through to make a difference; as well as a sense of realization towards what we are going and will be going through to make a change ourselves. Overall, the month was bountiful, busy, and enjoyable as well.