MEDINA, Ohio – This year’s Black History Month program at Second Baptist Church will feature the recollections of a number of people from the Medina community.
“Instead of being a confrontational, issues-of-the-moment type of event, it’s going to be a series of heartfelt, personal stories,” said Kathy Kraus, program vice president for the Medina County Branch of the American Association of University Women.
“It’s their history – stories of their past and their families now,” Kraus said.
This is the 15th year that the AAUW and the church have collaborated to present a Black History Month program. Previous events have included such things as excerpts from a play and a community conversation on race in Medina.
“Our History, Our Stories and Our Community” will be presented beginning at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the church at 451 Bronson St.
Speakers will include Dr. Brinca Hunter, Cheryl Mason, Cheryl Parzuck, Ashley Powell and Samantha Ponomarenko, among others.
Miles Reed from the Medina City Schools will present a short video on the McAfee family, and choirs from Claggett Middle School, Garfield Elementary School and the church will perform.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The program will be followed by light refreshments and fellowship in the social room.
Kraus said that this year, the organizers decided to focus on the success stories and struggles of individual members of the community, both black and white.
“Each of these families has a heartfelt story,” she said.
She said the goal is to give hope and bring all of Medina together to celebrate “the beautiful stories from our town.”
“The idea is we want to sit together in the church … not just one side of the church as white and the other side African-American,” Kraus said.
“We want to come together, with warm hearts and hands, to better understand each other,” she said.
“It’s going to say to these kids, these ones who are sitting in the audience, that there are no boundaries here in Medina. Our town is proud of us. If it touches some child’s life, how wonderful will it be?” she said.
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