The annual Black History Family Festival at Gail Borden Public Library celebrates 15 years this Saturday.
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The three-hour festival will feature musical performances, the recognition of six School District U-46 students winning $500 scholarships, and a keynote address from local motivational speaker Brittany Barber.
“Were fortunate in our community that we have these opportunities to learn, to celebrate, to gather,” Danielle Henson, the library’s Community Collaboration Coordinator, said Thursday. “I don’t think every community does this. People should come out and celebrate with us.”
The event attracts between 2,000 and 5,000 people annually, said Henson. Weather can play a factor in the attendance, she said. Last year’s festival came just as record-breaking cold caused pipes to burst in the library’s KidSpace area. Henson said the 2019 festival almost didn’t happen but library officials and their facilities employees worked to make it possible.
The festival was founded by former Elgin Community College trustee and U-46 educator Phyllis Folarin in 2006 in collaboration with the Gail Borden Public Library. According to the festival’s history, the festival’s origins were to provide programming highlighting literary and other accomplishments of African Americans.
In the 15 years, the festival’s demographics shifted, Henson said. More recent festivals have attracted more teenage visitors, as well as a more diverse crowd.
Saturday’s festival will feature performances from local African American artists Mike Lo, TJ Ptak and R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Rap band Accidentally On Purpose.
Motivational Speaker Brittany Barber will give the keynote address Saturday. Barber won the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award from the City of Elgin. In the festival’s announcement, library officials described her presentations as “engaging” and “challenging” for women, students, and others.
“She’s very enthusiastic and a champion for young people,” Henson said.
Six U-46 high school students will be recognized, receive $500 scholarships, and identified as Future African American Leaders at Saturday’s festivities. They include Jordan Snyder, of Bartlett High School; Marteena Mendel-Duckins, of Larkin High School; Arianna Ramos, of South Elgin High School; Alayzia Hairston-El, of Streamwood High School; Jasmine Jacobson, of Elgin High School; and Eryonna Wallace, of the Dream Academy.
As part of the recognition, the students will participate in a panel discussion to talk about their sources of inspiration and hope. According to the festival news release, the students are chosen by their high school principals based on demonstrating good citizenship, academics, extracurricular and community activities, and post-high school plans.
“Gail Borden Library is honored to host the festival, which recognizes the accomplishments of these students,” library board President Jean Bednar said in a written statement. “The festival celebrates the present but also looks to the future when encouraging young people.”
Younger children can work on crafts in the KidSpace area of the library, Henson said. There will be raffle drawings for a Kindle Fire Tablet, Elgin Symphony Orchestra tickets, a dining gift card and a popcorn basket from Mama Lee’s Popcorn. Henson said Elgin-based Mama Lee’s Popcorn will have a special popcorn mix for attendees to take home.
The Black History Family Festival is free to visitors and runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Gail Borden, 270 N. Grove Ave.
The festival is run by Elgin-based nonprofit Black History Family Festival. Sponsors include the City of Elgin, ECC, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Gail Borden Public Library, The Links Inc., School District U-46, and the Lake Shore Builders Restoration.