Oak Park’s Pilgrim Congregational Church is gearing up for a big culture- filled Black History Month celebration as it also marks its 150-year anniversary.
“This is a celebration of our Blackness,” said Josephine Simmons, a long-time member of the church who planned the Black History Month event. “It’s three-pronged. We’re going to celebrate the gifts of our young people with song and dance. We’re going to celebrate entrepreneurship…our Black and indigenous people of color vendors in our community. We’re going to talk about health from the perspective of the need for attention on healthcare in our community.”
Themed “Showcase of Black History, Culture and Entrepreneurship, the free, two-day event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, February 24 and 25 at Pilgrim at 460 Lake Street.
Austin youth are included among the talent showcases that also feature the Just Cause Dancers from Forest Park.; the Betty Shabazz Kuumba Soul Singers and Drummers; Uniting Voices of Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir).
“The people who will be performing are just amazing,” Simmons said. “They’re ages five to maybe 12 or 14 and they are so disciplined.”
Along with song and dance, attention will be paid to health matters during the event with area hospitals and other integrative health care providers and practices partnering for the event.
“I was determined that we would bring in the two hospitals in Austin, right on the edge of Oak Park,” Simmons said. “I reached out to Loretto [Hospital]. I know a couple of people there, but I had to convince them that it was important that they be a part of this and also West Suburban [Hospital]. We’re very blessed that those hospitals agreed to get involved and are now very excited about it.”
Free clinical services include cardiovascular, blood pressure screening, women’s health discussions.
Black History Month is an opportunity to honor the achievements of African Americans, which includes Black-owned businesses. Highlighting them is also an opportunity to point out the ongoing challenges many of them face.
Black-owned and other businesses/vendors from the surrounding communities, which include Austin will be on hand to sell and showcase their products and wares.
“Most of them are working full-time jobs,” Simmons said of the vendors taking part in the event. “They have a passion for what they’re doing. We’re not going to charge anybody to come in. Vendors also are not charged a fee to take part.”
Keena Renee Bonds, owner of Spread the Love Body Butters and Scrubs with Essential Oils LLC, is one of the vendors taking part in the event. Actively engaged on social media, the upbeat entrepreneur works hard and rarely misses an opportunity to bring attention to her products as well as others.
“Opportunities like these are especially important to Black entrepreneurs because a lot of us don’t know how to start a business nor do we have the finances to start one, ” Bonds said. “Throughout our history, banks have been known not to loan Black entrepreneurs money to start a business. Also, these events give us an opportunity to introduce our products to the [public] before deciding if starting a business is something we want to do.”
Imani Spencer, Simmons’ daughter and Black children’s book author, also will take part as a vendor at the event. With The Kink in My Hair and The Kink in My Hair, Too, Spencer writes to empower Black children and recognize their coily, kinky hair is something to be proud of.
For more information about the Black History Month celebration, contact Josephine Simmons at 773-206-9485 or email or her at josimmons234@yahoo.com.