On August 8, from noon to 4 p.m., the Harrison Museum, located inside Melrose Plaza, hosted “Celebration of African Cultures,” an annual event now in its fifth year.
The goal was simple: to educate about African culture and identity while giving back to the community. In addition to featured dance performances, there was also live drumming, artisan vendors, authentic cuisine and interactive workshops.
“Anytime we get a chance to partner with the Harrison Museum, we are on board. This event was in collaboration with CommUNITY ARTSreach,” Lisa Spencer, Executive Director of Local Colors, said. “This was our first time doing it at the new Harrison Museum. What a lovely place to celebrate the distinct cultures of Africa.”
Ensuring that students had the necessities to start the school year was important to event organizers. Free and open to the public, many families took advantage of the opportunity.
“We wanted to celebrate children going back to school. Our event gave away school items and provided them with access to the whole Melrose Plaza,” Director of Community Engagement Donna Davis said. “We gave out over 200 backpacks filled with supplies. Thanks to the shoes that Fleet Feet gave us, we were able to give out more than originally anticipated.”
It never ceases to amaze Bernice Williams what a community can accomplish when people work together toward a common goal.
“I think it was American activist Marian Wright Edelman who once said, ‘We must invest in our youth and give them the tools they need to lead us forward,’” she said. “When organizers were creating this event, I’m sure this outcome is exactly what they had in mind. I found out today that Africa has over 3,000 distinct ethnic groups and 1,500 spoken languages.”
Museum Operations Manager Nakia Palmer says that last Saturday’s event went according to plan and will continue in the future.
“From drumming, dance and music to delicious food, artisan vendors and opportunities to learn and connect, we loved seeing families and community members come together to experience culture in so many ways,” wrote the Harrison Museum on its Facebook page.
“Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special, and a special thank you to our sponsors, Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Amaryllis Law, for supporting this celebration,” it continued.
For the most up-to-date information, visit www.harrisonmuseum.com
