2025 BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAMMING

Our thanks to all who were able to join us on February 15 for our community Black History Month event at the Tremont Library, which honored Black Labor Through the Arts.

This year’s event included:

• Affrilachian Tales With Lyn Ford: The heritage and culture of Black Americans in Appalachia is a part of the unrecognized and untaught history of our country. Fourth-generation Affrilachian storyteller, Lyn Ford, introduces participants to a rich narrative connected to the hills, valleys and people of the Appalachian region. Storyteller, author, Ohio teaching artist, certified laughter yoga teacher, and published poet, Lyn is the recipient of a National Association of Black Storytellers Zora Neale Hurston Award, and is a 2023 Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellow.
• Urban Strings Columbus: Founded in 2007, Urban Strings Columbus recruits and supports underserved, urban, African American and Minority Youth to become string musicians. Their purpose is to share and perform all genres of music, from Classical, Sacred, R&B, Hip Hop and Contemporary music, including music by African American composers and arrangers. Urban Strings strives to enrich and inform the greater community of the beauty of all genres of music, performed on string instruments.
• Said Oladejo-Lawal Art Display – Said Oladejo-Lawal, the 2024 Labor Day Arts Festival Best of Show winner, was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his family. Inspired by his father, a contractor specializing in painting and design, Said’s passion for art began at an early age. After studying painting at Nigeria’s Yaba College of Technology, he expanded his skills with a Bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Said’s artistic journey evolved from pencils and crayons to photography, watercolor, pastel, and now acrylic. His vibrant, impressionistic style evokes deep emotions, often bringing abstract themes like music into visual form. Said is an active member of the Worthington Art League, the Guild of Artists & Artisans, and the Ohio Art League, and he hopes his work inspires a lasting connection with viewers.
  • Art Activity – Meet the artist, Said Oledejo-Lawal, and learn about his creative techniques while creating a masterpiece of your own.
• The UA Library’s Periodic Table of Black History – The UA Library’s Periodic Table of Black History allows library visitors to learn about Black Americans who have made history in the United States. All ages.
• Community Relations Committee (CRC) Welcome & Refreshment Table – Members of the CRC hosted a Welcome Table with refreshments courtesy of the Upper Arlington Community Foundation.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
2025 Iftar Dinner

6 pm, Thursday, March 6
Amelita Mirolo Barn, Sunny 95 Park

The community is invited to join us for the Second Annual Iftar Dinner, in celebration of Ramadan.

The Iftar Dinner is part of the CRC’s Welcome Series, which is designed to provide spaces for all members of our community to come together in new and exciting ways to recognize, celebrate and learn about the different cultures and experiences each of us brings with us, and to make sure that everyone who lives here, works here or is visiting our community feels welcomed and supported.

Registration for this year’s event opens February 3, so please check back for details and to purchase tickets.

2024 IFTAR DINNER

The CRC hosted its first Iftar Dinner on March 20, 2024, in celebration of Ramadan. CRC members Farida El-Hennawy and Hana Abdelbaki coordinated an incredible event that was attended by over 100 guests, including members of CIty Council, the UA Schools, various community and civic groups and members of the Muslim community.

Cherry Blossom Celebration

2024 Upper Arlington Cherry Blossom Celebration
Wednesday, April 10, Mallway Park

The Upper Arlington Community Relations Committee’s Second Annual Cherry Blossom Celebration was a big success, with many community members joining together in celebration of Spring and to learn about Japanese culture. This celebration of the grove of cherry trees by the Veterans Plaza was part of a broader series of activities scheduled across Central Ohio.

UA’s Cherry Blossom Celebration included:

• Friendship Bracelet Making & Origami Activities – coordinated by Asian American Community Services and UAHS AAPI Association, with materials supplied by Bohindi and support from Jim Collier, Andrej Rotter, Reconstructive Surgical Arts, and Starburst Media
• Guzheng Musical Performance – by UA High School Student, Elena Zhu
• Koto Musical Performance – by UA Resident, Lisa Reaves
• Coffee With Council – Upper Arlington City Council is hosting a booth, to meet with community members, share information on opportunities to serve on various Boards and Commissions, and to share some delicious cherry blossom buns with guests
• Community Relations Committee Welcome Table
• Cover to Cover Books Display

Enjoy photographs and a video highlighting this year’s event.

Greater Columbus Cherry Blossom Festival
April 6-14
The Third Annual Greater Columbus Cherry Blossom Festival brought together a series of activities that reflect more than 100 years of friendship between the U.S. and Japan. The festival was centered around approximately 100 cherry trees planted at Franklin Park in Columbus, whose presence are rooted in the traditions and celebrations established in 1912 when the Mayor of Tokyo, Japan donated 3,000 cherry trees to Washington, DC and then President, William Howard Taft who hailed from Ohio.

Click here for the details of the various activities planned throughout the week.

St. Mark’s Culture & Artisans Fair

The Community Relations Committee was pleased to be a supporting partner of the St. Mark’s Culture and Artisans Fair. This event received a $1,000 CRC Innovation Small Grant in 2023 and another grant for $3,000 in 2024. This event will also be part of the CRC’s UA Welcome Series in 2024.

2024 ST. MARK’S CULTURE & ARTISANS FAIR:

10 am-3 pm, Saturday, May 4, 2024
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
2151 Dorset Road, Upper Arlington

The event featured approximately 20 artisans from all over the world, showcasing and selling their handmade items, as well as delicious food and live music, and an opportunity to interact with the artisans and hear their stories.

The Fair was presented in partnership with CRIS (Community Refugee and Immigration Services) and many of the artisans were refugees, asylum seekers and others building a new life in the Central Ohio area.

Event attendees were able to explore a variety of arts and crafts from all over the world, have fun, and help us welcome and support some of our new neighbors.

Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony

6 pm, Monday, June 3
Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road

More than 100 community members joined with members of Upper Arlington City Council, the Community Relations Committee, and the City Administration for Upper Arlington’s third annual Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony. Upper Arlington Board of Education Member, Lori Trent, served as keynote speaker, Bonnie Erwin from Rainbow UA shared a beautiful poem, and Council President Ukeme Awakessien Jeter presented a Mayoral Proclamation for Pride Month. Our thanks to the Upper Arlington Library for provide Pride button making activities, and to Bake Me Happy for some delicious gluten free cookies.

Pride Month was born out of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, and the first Pride March took place on June 27, 1970 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the uprising and to demonstrate for equal rights. Over the years, what began as Pride Day grew into a month-long series of events designed to raise awareness and understanding, and to afford members of the LGBTQ+ community a sense of dignity and courage. In 1991, President Bill Clinton declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, and in 2011, President Barack Obama expanded the officially recognized Pride Month to include the entire LGBT community.

• National Library of Congress – About Pride Month

UA Pride

Rainbow UA’s 2024 UA Pride is in the books. This annual event received CRC Innovation Small Grant funding in 2022 and 2023, to help it become established. For 2024, the CRC incorporated UA Welcome Series activities within the UA Pride event.

CLICK HERE for more event info.

Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony

In 2022, the City of Upper Arlington added Juneteenth to its annual roster of public holidays. That same year, members of City Council and the Community Relations Committee initiated the community’s first Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony.

2024 Ceremony
Monday, June 17
Community members joined with members of City Council, the Community Relations Committee, and the City’s Administration for a UA Juneteenth recognition program and the raising of the Juneteenth flag.

The 2024 ceremony featured keynote speaker, Stephanie Hightower, President and CEO of the Columbus Urban League. A passionate advocate for social justice and racial equity, Ms. Hightower has transformed the organization into an effective force in helping individuals and families overcome poverty and achieve self-sufficiency. Ms. Hightower’s professional portfolio includes a wealth of experiences in athletics, education, and public service. Those opportunities propelled her toward the pursuit of excellence and to advocate for equality, equity, and fairness in her leadership roles in K-12 and higher education, government affairs, amateur athletics, and the not-for-profit human services.

A musical performance was provided by members of Urban Strings Columbus. Founded in 2007 by Catherine Willis, Urban Strings recruits and supports urban, African American and Minority Youth, providing them with instruction and inspiring them to become accomplished string musicians. The performers for our ceremony were Asa Simpson Cole, Joelius Porter, Tia Ward, and Alexis Cunningham.

About Juneteenth
Juneteenth is an annual holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the US. Juneteenth was first recognized and celebrated on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, when African-Americans were informed of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended, two and a half years after President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The holiday has since received its name by combining June and 19, it is also referred to as Liberation Day, Black Independence Day, and Freedom Day.

In 2021, the President signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as the newest federal holiday since the recognition of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. Many municipalities and communities around the US take this time to commemorate and celebrate this important day in history – to not only reflect on the impacts of this part of American history, but to consider the steps toward liberation that have been and continue to be achieved through building relationships based on trust, consistency and accountability. Recognition of Juneteenth also represents a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and support of the Black community.

The Juneteenth Flag was created by activist Ben Haith in 1997, and uses the same colors as the American Flag, to convey that all enslaved people and their descendants are American. A bursting star is featured prominently in the center of the flag. Running horizontally through that star is an arc that symbolizes the new horizon of opportunity for Black Americans.

To learn more about Juneteenth, click here.

UACA’s Neighbors Night Out

Saturday, September 14
Tremont Center

The Upper Arlington Civic Association held its first Neighbors Night Out event in September of 2023. This event was the recipient of a $5,000 CRC Innovation Small Grant, in support of its focus on providing a welcoming component for new or newer residents in our community. The Community Relations Committee also took advantage of this event to host a welcome table as part of the CRC’s UA Welcome Series.

Watch for details of the 2024 Neighbors Night Out.