"Black History Month Celebrations to Unite Philadelphia Community"
As Black History Month approaches, The Free Library of Philadelphia is gearing up to host a month-long series of events celebrating African American culture and heritage. The festivities will take place at branches across the city, with various events, workshops, author appearances, and hands-on STEM programs showcasing the richness and diversity of Black history.
At the Cecil B. Moore Library, one of the main event hubs, several programs are highlighted in a special series titled "Our Roots Reach Further: 1776 to Tomorrow." This initiative focuses on highlighting Black culture through storytelling, workshops, and creative expression, with a goal to promote healing, innovation, and unity.
One such program is the Queen Imperial Waistbeads Workshop set for February 2nd, where participants will explore the history and significance of waist beads in African traditions. The workshop includes a guided beading tutorial, but attendees must register in advance due to limited space.
On February 7th, children's author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is hosting a special storytime session featuring "Abdul's Story," which aims to promote imagination and representation in children's literature. Later that day, artist Doriana Diaz will lead an art workshop called "Collage as Healing for Black History Month," using collage and bookmaking to foster reflection and collective creativity.
Throughout the month, the library will host various other events celebrating Black history, including a Black Inventors Builders Lab and STEM-focused editions of this program. These events are designed to showcase the contributions of Black innovators and thinkers, providing opportunities for community members to engage with these stories through hands-on activities.
For those interested in exploring more Black History Month programming at The Free Library of Philadelphia, a full schedule and registration details can be found on the library's website.
As Black History Month approaches, The Free Library of Philadelphia is gearing up to host a month-long series of events celebrating African American culture and heritage. The festivities will take place at branches across the city, with various events, workshops, author appearances, and hands-on STEM programs showcasing the richness and diversity of Black history.
At the Cecil B. Moore Library, one of the main event hubs, several programs are highlighted in a special series titled "Our Roots Reach Further: 1776 to Tomorrow." This initiative focuses on highlighting Black culture through storytelling, workshops, and creative expression, with a goal to promote healing, innovation, and unity.
One such program is the Queen Imperial Waistbeads Workshop set for February 2nd, where participants will explore the history and significance of waist beads in African traditions. The workshop includes a guided beading tutorial, but attendees must register in advance due to limited space.
On February 7th, children's author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is hosting a special storytime session featuring "Abdul's Story," which aims to promote imagination and representation in children's literature. Later that day, artist Doriana Diaz will lead an art workshop called "Collage as Healing for Black History Month," using collage and bookmaking to foster reflection and collective creativity.
Throughout the month, the library will host various other events celebrating Black history, including a Black Inventors Builders Lab and STEM-focused editions of this program. These events are designed to showcase the contributions of Black innovators and thinkers, providing opportunities for community members to engage with these stories through hands-on activities.
For those interested in exploring more Black History Month programming at The Free Library of Philadelphia, a full schedule and registration details can be found on the library's website.
I MEAN, WHO DOESN'T LOVE A GOOD STORYTIME SESSION OR A HANDS-ON WORKSHOP?! IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND Representation IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, AND COLLAGE AS HEALING FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS SUCH A COOL IDEA! 
I ALSO THINK IT'S GRRRREAT THAT THEY'RE HIGHLIGHTING BLACK INVENTORS AND BUILDERS LIKE THEY SHOULD BE GETTING MORE CREDIT FOR THEIR Contributions TO SCIENCE AND SOCIETY! 
Black History Month is all about celebrating our heritage and promoting unity, which is so needed in today's world! 
I love how The Free Library of Philadelphia is hosting these events across the city - it's gonna be a whole month long celebration with workshops, author appearances, art sessions... everything! 
it's like we need more recognition of our own heritage you know? growing up in philly, i never really understood how much my great-grandparents had to go through just trying to survive and thrive in a city that wasn't always welcoming to them. but now that i'm older, i see the impact it had on our family's story... like, why did they move from the south? what struggles did they face when they got here? these kinds of stories need to be told and shared so we don't forget where we come from. plus, all the events sound super cool 
You know what would be lit? If they had a visual history project 
where people could create their own timelines of African American achievements and contributions. Maybe a giant timeline map 
with different branches of the library representing different eras and events.
. Like, what if they had a hands-on exhibit on African American inventors and their innovations? 
It would be so cool to see how the city's history intersects with the world of science and technology.
"Abdul's Story" sounds like an awesome book! I'd totally take my little ones to that storytime session 
. They need more representation in their books and stories, you know?
and i know a ton of people who'd love this event too! but u know what's even more lit? That it's all about promoting healing, innovation, and unity... like, we really need more of that in our communities