Mayor Dyer and Black History Month Steering Committee Announce Events
Last updated on January 28, 2021
City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the Black History Month Steering Committee Announce 2021 Virtual Events
WHAT:
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the Black History Month Steering Committee join Orlando’s diverse community to celebrate Black History Month and highlight the lasting contributions and positive influence of Black Americans in the Central Florida community.
Due to the ongoing impacts of the global pandemic, celebrations will be hosted online through a series of virtual workshops and panel discussions which will highlight this year’s theme: The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity.
Below is a list of this year’s events.
WHEN:
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
6 - 7:30 p.m. - Education and Mentoring Leaders of Tomorrow: Kickoff event
Virtual Event
Access to educational opportunities continues to be an obstacle in the African American community. This kickoff event will feature panelists discussing historical barriers to educational attainment in the African American community, as well as effective interventions such as mentoring, to help close this opportunity gap.
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
6 - 7:30 p.m. - Health and Nutrition: Rooted in History Through Food
Virtual Event
Participants will join a cooking demonstration of Hebni Nutrition Consultant’s Golden Glazed Chicken and learn firsthand from the creators of the Soul Food Pyramid and the Soul Food Plate.
Thursday, February 11, 2021
6 - 8 p.m. - Black Mental Health Matters
Virtual Event
Black Mental Health Matters is a movement led for and by the Black community. This event will feature live performances, a powerhouse panel, small group discussions and more, as participants work together to start important conversations about mental health and Black families.
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
6-7:30 p.m. - The Role of Faith and Spirituality
Virtual Event
Faith and spirituality have been one of the most powerful forces to move and motive Black people. Faith practices and spiritual beliefs have changed and continue to be more varied. Through this session, participants will explore some of the traditional and new models of praise and worship as well as education, business and social action.
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
6-7:30 p.m. - Family Storytelling: Keep your history alive!
Virtual Event
Valada Flewellyn, a local author and poet/storyteller, shares her story and offers helpful suggestions of ways participants can share and encourage storytelling in their family.
Thursday, February 25, 2021
6-7:30 p.m. – Celebrating African American Culture in Art, Music and Dance
Virtual Event
The arts are the heart and soul of the African American family and culture. Local visual artist, Chris Santos gives a virtual tour of the CityArts Factory exhibition: Roots/Raizes, and the Standing Ovation Dance troupe, led by founder, Terri Burns and The Jazz Orchestra at Dr. Phillips Center, will perform.
Thursday, March 4, 2021
8:30 a.m. - What’s Up Downtown Program - Empowerment of Black Entrepreneurs
Virtual Event
African American entrepreneurs are crucial to the economic health of the nation’s economy. Between 2007 and 2017, the number of African American firms rose 34.5%, from 1.9 million to 2.6 million accounting for roughly half (49.9%) of all small businesses owned by people of color.
In this virtual session, participants will join a panel discussing the state of empowerment and growth of African American entrepreneurs.