Description

Celebrate Black History

Saturday, February  3, 2024

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Mystic & Noank Library, Mystic Seaport Museum and Kevin Booker Jr. are presenting our third annual Celebration of Black History Month Program on Saturday, February 3, 2024 The program will start at the Mystic Flag Pole in Downtown Mystic, CT where we will have a performance of the Black National Anthem and then march to the Union Baptist Church, indoors, for performances and speakers. We are working with More Than Words comprised of local high school students to lead an afternoon panel at the Mystic Seaport Museum followed by a gospel choir concert.

Program Times

10:00 am  - Gather at Flag Pole by S & P Oyster House and March to Union Baptist Church

10:30 am-12:00 pm - The program at Union Baptist Church will be hosted by Kevin Booker, Jr. and include performances by djembe performer Matt Dean and Connecticut State Troubadour Nekita Waller. Guest Speakers include Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, the Senior Curator of Maritime Social Histories at Mystic Seaport Museum; Melaijah Armstrong, Community Relations Manager for the Connecticut Sun; Dr Gizelle E Tircuit, licensed psychotherapist and co-owns Madnolia Welness. Dr Tircuit's current project include supporting the Black and Indigenous People of Color group to address the historic trauma and social changes to the community; J. Levi MusiDon Nichelson, accomplished music and arts educator and Director at the CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Art Elementary; James Hodge, Wellness facilitator and Life Coach and Owner of Haj Wellness.  Students from the youth group More than Words will speak in reference to their afternoon Panel Discussion at the Seaport.

1:30 pm- 3:30 pm - The afternoon program at the Meeting House at Mystic Seaport Museum with a panel discussion by the students from More than Words on the student perspective of Black History Month. 

More Than Words is a youth leadership program composed of students from Fitch, Ledyard and New London High Schools, and students from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. The mission of the program is to promote respect for diversity, facilitate communication and build trust among the school communities. Monthly regional meetings are held to conduct leadership development workshops. The goal of the program is to develop a group of students able to respond to crises, work proactively to prevent problems and celebrate diversity. 

The program will conclude with music and song by individual performers uniting into a gospel choir. Seating is limited in the Meeting House and registration is highly encouraged for the afternoon events, please register at mysticchamber.org.

Parking for Morning Event

For the morning program at Union Baptist Church please park at the Church, 119 High Street, Mystic CT.

Parking for the Afternoon Event

For the afternoon event, Park in the North Lot of Mystic Seaport Museum (across from the Thompson Exhibition Building). A staff member will greet you in front of the Thompson Building for check-in, and direct you to the Meeting House.