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Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.

Crispus Attucks Community Center strives to improve the quality of life for youth and families in Lancaster by providing services that promote community prosperity, physical and mental health, and by offering programs and cultural events that preserve the African American heritage.

Here are the 2023 Black History Month events, sponsored by the Crispus Attucks Community Center: 

Saturday, Feb. 4 – Black History Month Fashion Show, 5:30 pm | Reynolds Middle School
Free Admission

The Black History Month Fashion Show is a celebration of black beauty, black style, and their impact on popular style and culture. The show is also meant to be an inclusive space, rejecting the norms/traditions of the fashion industry in regard to what the “model type” looks like. This event is free and is open to the public. Click here to register.
Interested in being a model or submitting your work in the show? Email vsmith@caplanc.org

Thursday, Feb. 9 – Soul Food Thursday, 11:00 am | Crispus Attucks Community Center

Saturday, Feb. 11 – Sounds of Blackness, 5:30 pm | Jackson Middle School
Free Admission

Journey through the African American Music & Civil Rights Movement. Directed by Starleisha Michelle Gingrich. Click here to register.

Starleisha Michelle Gingrich (she/her) is a storyteller, a creative, and a self-described mirror and a lens: a reflection of what she holds dear and a look into how she views the world. Starleisha studied theatre at Messiah University and Community-Based Theatre with Cornerstone Theater Company in Queens, New York.

In Lancaster, Sharleisha has blended her love of theatre and her passion for justice and representation by launching Disrupt Theatre Company, a theatre designed to tell stories from the often-ignored perspectives of Black, Indigenous, non-Black People of Color, queer and trans folks. A facilitator through YWCA Lancaster’s Center for Racial and Gender Equity, Starleisha is passionate about helping people assess their diversity, equity, inclusion and justice needs, and develop long-term plans and strategies to bolster their DEIJ efforts within their companies.

Thursday, Feb. 16 – Soul Food Thursday, 11:00 am | Crispus Attucks Community Center

Thursday, Feb. 23 – Soul Food Thursday, 11:00 am | Crispus Attucks Community Center

Saturday, Feb. 25 – Step Show & Dance Battle, 5:30 pm | McCaskey East
$15

Black History Month Step Show & Dance Battle features some of the best step teams and dance teams from the region and beyond for an afternoon of high energy performances. The Step Show & Dance Battle is one of the most anticipated annual events in the area.

Stepping is truly something that needs to be seen to be fully appreciated, the quick moves and split-second changes showcase just how much time and energy is put into the choreography. Beyond its entertainment value, the event is also highly educational as it relates to the concepts and themes of identity, culture, environment and society and their role in why these organizations came about and why they still exist today.

Click here to purchase tickets. Proceeds benefit Infamous Unstoppables Drill Team & Drum Squad, a program of the Crispus Attucks Community Center.

Sunday, Feb. 26 – Black History Month Quiz Bowl, 1:00 pm | E.R. Martin School
Free Admission

Join the excitement and watch students from across School District of Lancaster demonstrate their knowledge of current events, history, politics, sports and entertainment on Black History at E.R. Martin School located at 2000 Wabank Rd. Doors are open at 1:00 pm and it is free admission. Click here to register

We believe that each participant in this year’s quiz bowl is standing on the unique culture, heritage, and promises of our African ancestors. It is with this promise, that we create a better today, and invest in our shared tomorrow. Through our young people, tomorrow we will harvest buds of promise, producing the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders!

Community Events

A Concrete Rose 

  • Live from the Red Rose: Round 2 – Feb 2
  • Educator Happy Hour – Feb 3
  • Melanin and Mimosa Brunch – Feb 5
  • Culture Corner: Improv Open Mic – Feb 10
  • Live Music w/ Beautiful Migration – Feb 23

African American Cultural Alliance of Lancaster

Bethel AME Church

  • Living the Experience: Underground Railroad re-enactment. 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 at Bethel AME Church, 512 E. Strawberry St.

Black Composers and Black Poets

  • Saturday, Feb. 25  at 2-3:30pm – FREE
    • Family-Friendly
    • New Creation United Methodist Church 10 W. Farnum St.
      • Free Parking in church parking lot
Reserve your seat on Eventbrite:

City of Lancaster

  • Black History Month Free Story time at the Lancaster City Welcome Center – 38 Penn Square
    • February 11, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm by A Concrete Rose
    • February 18, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm by Read Rose Books

Lancaster Public Library & NAACP Lancaster Branch

  • Black History Month on Screen: Free film screenings at Lancaster Public Library, 125 N. Duke St.

Treadhouse

  • Community Class – Friday, February 24
    • Treadhouse is inviting every soul to take a class for FREE all day to members and guests.

YWCA Lancaster 

Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse

Fundraisers

Artist: Antwain Williams

Black Historical Figures such as Harriet Tubman, Shaka Zulu and Emmit Till along with Black Celebrities like Luther Vandross, Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin.  Each portrait will have a mini bio/fact sheet hung next to them and can go home with whomever purchases the work. He’ll also have some other items featuring his portrait work at the fashion show on Saturday night- mugs, magnets, additional prints and tee shirts.

Details: Most of the work on display will be framed prints in black and white, a couple of the pieces will be framed original work by Antwain and 20% of all sales will be donated to Crispus Attucks.

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Resources

 

To support the Crispus Attucks Community Center by making a donation, click here.

 

About the Crispus Attucks Community Center

Since 1927, the Crispus Attucks Community Center has been an anchor in Southeast Lancaster City. The organization has a proud history of providing educational and cultural programs to celebrate African American heritage, serving meals to individuals in need, and focusing on youth education and leadership development. Crispus Attucks takes immense pride in its mission to improve the quality of life for youth and families in Lancaster by providing services that promote community prosperity, physical and mental health, and by offering programs and cultural events which preserve the African American heritage. For more information, visit caplanc.org/crispusattucks

About the Community Action Partnership

The Community Action Partnership is Lancaster County’s largest anti-poverty organization, helping low income families move toward self-sufficiency. CAP’s service profile interrupts inter-generational poverty with programs that support families and individuals at every age and place in life, in the areas of education and child development, health and nutrition, household stability and safety and empowerment. For more information, visit www.caplanc.org.