by Tessy Abade
The Roanoke community gathered Feb. 12 at St. John’s Episcopal Church for a Black History Celebration centered on the theme, “Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly.” The event brought together community leaders, youth performers and residents to reflect on resilience, unity and collective responsibility.
Tabitha Cooper, Vice President of Human Resources at TAP, welcomed attendees and emphasized that Black history remains active and ongoing.
“Black history is not just about the past, but a living, evolving legacy that continues to shape and shake our community,” Cooper said.
Nicole L. Ross, Assistant Director of TAP, reinforced the theme, describing Black history as “a living testament to resilience, excellence and progress.” She noted that this year’s celebration calls the community to honor the past while intentionally shaping the future.
The “Do Justice” portion of the program addressed gun violence and accountability within the community. Rita Joyce, president of FEDUP with Gun Violence, delivered a direct message about the urgency of change.
“Gun violence is all over this country, but what we see more of is interpersonal gun violence amongst people that know each other. That has to stop,” Joyce said. “As a community in Roanoke, we are too small to be dealing with these acts of violence among each other.”
Joyce emphasized that meaningful change must begin locally and collectively.
The “Love Mercy” segment featured Ladies of Vision, a faith-based, non-denominational organization formed in 2012 to raise awareness about domestic violence within churches and communities. Annette Lewis, retired President and CEO of TAP and consultant, highlighted the ministry’s mission to transform hearts and minds through faith, healing and self-work. The organization promotes emotional and spiritual restoration while encouraging churches to serve as places of refuge and support.
Youth voices also played a significant role in the program. Daniel Horn, a Project Discover U student, performed an original spoken-word piece reflecting on the Black experience in America.
“It doesn’t make sense to me how in America, the land of the free, people experienced slavery. That’s not freedom. That’s tragedy,” Horn said. He later affirmed pride and identity, adding, “I love being Black because I love myself.”
The “Walk Humbly” portion featured Xavier Duckett, founder of The Humble Hustle Company, a nonprofit established in 2015 to provide community resources through creative engagement. What began as a T-shirt initiative with the message “Keep Giving” has grown into a broader movement focused on service, reinvestment and community empowerment in Roanoke.
Angela Penn, President and CEO of TAP, delivered closing remarks, reminding attendees that Black history is an American story of perseverance and progress.
“Black history is not a sad story,” Penn said. “It is resilience in the face of injustice, brilliance in the face of barriers. It is legacy, and it is living.”
Encouraging continued action beyond the celebration, Penn urged the community to commit daily to justice, mercy and humility through service, equity and unity.
