The Urban League of Greater Hartford
is highlighting the achievements and
contributions of African American,
Afro Caribbean and Afro
Latino cultures in our area.
It's our part of the annual
Black History Month celebration.
Here to tell us much more
about it is Karina Richardson.
She is the youth development
manager from the organization.
Corina, thanks for being with us.
Good morning and we're
glad to be back again today
and we're glad to be back in person,
right with this event.
It is very exciting,
first time since COVID
that it's back in person,
which is a big deal.
It really is. We've been hosting
this event annually since 2015.
In the last two years had had to be virtual.
We had to make some major adjustments.
But we're so excited to be back
in in person and inviting the
community to celebrate with us.
And right off the top we want to
remind people when it's going to be.
It's happening on Thursday.
And the the important thing to
remember here is that you don't
have to make a reservation.
You don't have to buy it. You just go,
absolutely. So Thursday, February 9th,
between 6:00 to 8:30 PM at the
Mark Twain House and museum.
We know there's been some.
Excitement at the Mark Twain House,
but it'll be in the museum side and they've
been great partners with us as well.
And the first hours of interactive
exhibit and the community members
can come in free of charge and
learn about black excellence,
history and culture.
In the second segment is our legacy honor
showcase and we honor and celebrate.
So phenomenal people here in
the city of Hartford.
Well, let's talk about some of those
that we are honoring and celebrating
because we have their pictures,
we want to make sure they get the
recognition that they deserve. Absolutely.
We have LB Gonzales Schwab,
she's been with the city of Hartford.
And been such a strong champion
for Health and Human services.
We have Melissa Williston,
she's a health and Wellness and
fitness coach and she's been such a
great advocate for health not only in
the city but with our project ready
scholars and with our students as well.
We have Andrea and Doug Hawkins
and they do the Birkins cafe.
They have three locations around the area.
Dwight Biggs is a graduating
senior at classical magnet high
school and then Travis Damir Terry,
he is a designer whose roots are
here in the city of Hartford and.
He's been making moves across the
globe with his designs in his fashion.
Now that is just great to see
those people get the recognition
that they deserve. Absolutely.
Let's talk about the theme this year.
It is a legacy revealed a glimpse of hope.
Talk a little bit more about that.
Well, every
year we start the theme
with a legacy revealed.
Whose legacies are we honoring?
Are we standing on and
acknowledging the foundations for?
But the legacies are still being made, right?
Even this weekend at Super Bowl,
they'll be the first black female coach
coaching at our on a coaching staff.
During the Super Bowl weekend.
So this year it's a legacy revealed.
A glimpse of hope after coming out of hope.
COVID so many people are so heavy.
There has been so much sadness,
so much despair.
But we are hopeful we can rise but
we can come back together in person
and we can look above and beyond
and see the light and continue to
move and step and walk in that light
together and have hope as we continue
and there's event on Thursday is a great
way for people who have been maybe wanting
to get involved with the Urban League
to really jump right in, right? Yes.
Yes. So we help. Look at jobs.
We help them find their first homes.
We help them get to college and help them
get educated and even help them get healthy.
But as a black organization,
we want to make sure that they know that we
empower communities and and change lives.
And we share this platform with
others in the community to be
able to showcase their services.
How do they acknowledge and
celebrate black excellence?
And we all can learn and grow
and be inspired together.
Now the resources are really widespread,
right? Talk a little bit more about
how you first got involved. So I.
I hate to put the spotlight on you
because you wanna spotlight all the
other people, but you, you know,
you tell us a little bit more
about how you got involved. I will
say my grandmother actually was living
in New York and I was living in Kansas
City and I was in between jobs and
I actually started to Urban League
through her encouragement and to start
to get connected to job services there.
And they were very helpful,
not enabling me to get a job,
but to help empower me with the tools
that I need needed to be successful.
So when I relocated back home to Connecticut,
I found the Urban League here and
they were able to help me again.
And then. With their celebration
of black history and culture,
there wanted to be a pivot and.
And to reimagine what a celebrating
black history and culture could be.
So I was excited to join that charge
and at about at 2015 with our youth
department and starting the legacy
revealed series and different themes
after that also legacy revealed
imprints on a nation full steam
ahead One Nation one assignment so
we're glad to be at a glimpse of
hope this year part of your grandmother's
legacy to you then I suppose
it is and and just acknowledging that
we all come from a long line and.
Legacies of so many others.
And whether we acknowledge them every
day or just pause for a moment to stop,
to say their name,
to remember their imprints on our
lives and how it can impact others.
And we hope to do that with several
unsung heroes in the city of Hartford
in the state of Connecticut and allow
people to get a glimpse of those as well.
Thursday is a great opportunity
to start another family tradition
or legacy for others who may be
watching and want to join in.
Thank you so much for being with us.
We do appreciate
it. Thank you too.
And we want people to see
the entertainment as well.
There'll be ethnic inspired.
Or derbes, of course. Yeah.
Well, and they'll be singing
and dance and poetry and so
many aspects of black culture,
African drum and dance as well.
So just come and celebrate.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Thanks so much for being with us.
We appreciate we're gonna have
more information on the website.
If you want to recap any of this.
Sounds like a phenomenal,
phenomenal event.
Thank you so much for
being with us and sharing.