Mystic Black History Month Program Coming Up

Information via Mystic Chamber of Commerce

MYSTIC, CT — February is Black History Month and the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Mystic & Noank Library, Mystic Seaport Museum and Booker Empowerment, LLC, are presenting our third annual Mystic Celebration of Black History Month Program.

The celebration kicks off on Saturday, February 3 at 10 a.m. by the Mystic flagpole where Connecticut’s 17th State Troubadour, Nekita Waller, will perform the Black National Anthem (Lift Every Voice and Song). That will be followed by a march up to Union Baptist Church.

The program at Union Baptist Church will be hosted by Kevin Booker, Jr. and include performances by djembe performer Matt Dean and Nekita Waller. Guest Speakers include Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, the Senior Curator of Maritime Social Histories at Mystic Seaport Museum; Melaijah Armstrong, Community Relations Manager for the Connecticut Sun and other special guests to be announced. Students from the youth group More than Words will speak in reference to their afternoon Panel Discussion at the Seaport. In addition, a number of local leaders will be present to speak on this special day.

The afternoon program begins at 1:30 at the Meeting House at Mystic Seaport Museum with a panel discussion by the students from More than Words on the student perspective of Black History Month. More Than Words is a youth leadership program composed of students from Fitch, Ledyard and New London High Schools, and students from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. The mission of the program is to promote respect for diversity, facilitate communication and build trust among the school communities. Monthly regional meetings are held to conduct leadership development workshops. The goal of the program is to develop a group of students able to respond to crises, work proactively to prevent problems and celebrate diversity. The program will conclude with music and song by individual performers uniting into a gospel choir. Seating is limited in the Meeting House and registration is highly encouraged for the afternoon events, please register at mysticchamber.org.

Bruce Flax, Mystic Chamber President, said “The Mystic Chamber is proud to have the Celebration of Black History month enter its third year with a fuller program at the Union Baptist Church as well as additional programming to expand upon the occasion. We are excited to work with local partners and share this event with the Community.”

This event would not be possible without the generous donation of the facility by the Union Baptist Church and the sponsorships from the WNBA Connecticut Sun, Eversource Energy, 85th Day Food Community, Chelsea Groton Savings Bank, Breezeline and Margarida Martins-Querido from Riverview Realty. This event is free and open to the public.

For the morning program at Union Baptist Church please park at the Church, 119 High Street, Mystic CT.

For the afternoon event, parking is available at Mystic Seaport Museum, North Lot (across from the Thompson Exhibition Building). A staff member will greet guests in front of the Thompson Building for check-in, and direct them to the Meeting House.