City of Laurel's 2024 Black History Month Celebration on Saturday, March 2, 2024

Welcome

ItiswithgreathonorthatIextendawarmwelcometo eachofyouaswegathertogethertocelebratethevibrant tapestryofAfricanAmericanhistory,andcultureduring the2024CityofLaurelBlackHistoryMonthCelebration program.

TheCityofLaureltakesimmenseprideinitsrichdiversity andthemyriadofvoicesthatmakeourcommunitythrive. Throughembracingourdifferencesandcelebratingour sharedhumanity,westrengthenthefabricofoursociety andpavethewayforabrightertomorrow.

ThankyouforjoiningusincommemoratingBlackHistory Month.Together,letushonorthepast,celebratethe present,andenvisionafuturefilledwithhope,opportunity, andequalityforall.

Sincerely,

KeithR.Sydnor

Lift Every Voice and Sing

Lifteveryvoiceandsing, Tillearthandheavenring, RingwiththeharmoniesofLiberty, Letourrejoicingrise Highasthelist’ningskies, Letitresoundloudastherollingsea Singasongfullofthefaiththatthedarkpast hastaughtus

Singasongfullofthehopethatthepresenthas broughtus

Facingtherisingsunofournewdaybegun, Letusmarchontillvictoryiswon.

Stonytheroadwetrod Bitterthechast’ningrod, Feltinthedayswhenhopeunbornhaddied; Yetwithasteadybeat Havenotourwearyfeet Cometotheplaceforwhichourfatherssighed? Wehavecomeoverawaythatwithtearshas beenwatered

Wehavecome,treadingourpaththro’the bloodoftheslaughtered, Outfromthegloomypast,tillnowwestandat last

Wherethewhitegleamofourbrightstariscast.

Godofourwearyyears, Godofoursilenttears, Thouwhohastbroughtusthusfarontheway; ThouwhohastbyThymight, Ledusintothelight,Keepusforeverinthepath, wepray.

Lestourfeetstrayfromtheplaces,ourGod, wherewemeetThee, Lestourhearts,drunkwiththewineoftheworld weforgetThee; ShadowedbeneathThyhand,mayweforever stand,

TruetoourGod,truetoournativeland.

Program

CeremonyOpening

CouncilwomanKylaClark,Ward2 CityofLaurel,Maryland

“LiftEveryVoiceandSing”

LaurelHighSchoolChoir

LedbyKevinLewis,ChoirDirector

Welcome

CouncilwomanKylaClark,Ward2 CityofLaurel,Maryland

AwardPresentations

CityofLaurelCouncilmembers

Introduction

CouncilwomanChristineJohnson, At-Large,CityofLaurel,MD

Poem

SaniyaPearson

2024PGCountyYouthPoetLaureate

MusicalSelection

LaurelHighSchoolChoir

LedbyKevinLewis,ChoirDirector

Introduction

CouncilmemberJeffreyMills,Ward2 CityofLaurel,MD

DancePerformance

LaurelHighSchoolDanceDepartment

LedbyShonnitaJohnson,Teacher

Introduction

CouncilwomanKylaClark,Ward2 CityofLaurel,Maryland

Poem

Dr.KhadijahZ.Ali-Coleman

2024PoetLaureateofPGCounty,MD

ThankYou

CouncilwomanKylaClark CityofLaurel,MD

CommunityDance

Joininandhavefun!

ThankYouforComing

Weareimmenselygratefulforyour attendancetodayaswecollectively embraceandcelebratetherichnessof Blackheritageduringthemonthof February.Letuscontinuetocommemorate andhonorBlackhistorynotjustduringthis month,buteveryday,asweworktowards amoreequitableandjustsocietyforall.

CITYOFLAURELMARYLAND 2024BLACKHISTORYCELEBRATION BUSINESSLIST

ARAMIDE

@aramideinc

AVSMETRO

@avs metro

BACKTOBASICSMUSICACADEMY E:backtobasicsmusicacademy@gmailcom

BEDAZZLEBOSS

@Bedazzle Boss

BREASIAPRODUCTIONS

@breasiaproductions

BUTLER&DAVISCONSULTING,LLC @Butlerdavismsw

CAKE’DBYNIQUA

@cakedbyniqua

COCO&SOYCANDLECO.

E:cocoandsoy

DOORSTOAFRICA

@doorstoafrica

FSCWORKSHOP @fscworkshop

FLOSSYCANDYLLC @SugaredFloss

*GOODTODABONEBBQ @goodtodabone

*JASANDFAMCARRIBEANFLAVOR @jasandfamcaribbean flavor

IBRTAXSERVICE,LLC @ibrtaxlady

KAPOOKIDS

@kapookidsjump

KAYCEECANDLECOMPANY

@kayceecandleco

OMOROSESALON&SPA

@omorose salon locs laurel

PAWPERFECT

@Pawperfect22

*PKGMOBILEKITCHEN,LLC @pkgmobilekitchenllc

POETDR.KHADIJAHALI-COLEMAN @khadijahonline

RENAISSANCE59ESSENTIALS @renaissance599essentialsllc

SHAKEANDSERVELEMONADES @shakeandservelemonades

TEESLUXURII’SBATHACCESSORIES @teesluxuriiorganics

UNIQUE&LOVELY @uniqueandlovelyllc

WILD4BEADS @wild4beads

WILBURN&ASSOCIATES,LLC @wilburnassociallc

COMMUNITYRESOURCES

BORNINTOSILENCE(SAILS) @bornintosilence

CITYOFLAURELPOLICEDEPARTMENT @laurelpolice

CITYOFLAURELVOLUNTEERS E:ckoubek@laurelmdus

CITYOFLAURELPARKS&RECREATION @laureldeptparksrec

INTERNATIONALASSOCIATIONOFHEAT &FIRSTINSULTATORS&ALLIED WORKERSLOCAL24

E:juliocaicedo@insulators24org

LAURELADVOCACYREFERRALSERVICE @laureladvocacy

MARYLANDCOMPTROLLER’SOFFICE

E:NJohnson@marylandtaxes.gov

MARYLANDCHAMBEROFCOMMERCE @mdbcc

MARYLANDDEPARTMENTOFHOUSING ANDCOMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT E:Alvaro.callejas@maryland.gov

NAVYFEDERALCREDITUNION

E:Michelle noland@navyfederalorg

MEET THE PROGRAM

MC’S AND TALENTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Meetthe

Laurel High School Choir

The Laurel, MD High School Choir is led by Kevin Lewis, Choir Director The Laurel High School Choir has performed for a number of regional events. The Laurel High School Performing Arts Department believes “that in order for students to gain high achievements in academics as well as their own self-fulfillment as an individual between art disciplines, is needed These relative experiences gives the student a connected understanding to their larger world.”

To donate to this program please contact Kevin Lewis or the Laurel High School PTA.

Meetthe Laurel High School Dance Department

The Laurel High School Dance Department is led by Ms.Johnson and Ms. Watson under the leadership of Michael Dinkins (Principal). The program is aimed towards educating the youth to follow their dreams as it aligns with their personal goals, passions, and positive desires for success

To donate to this program please contact Shonnita Johnson or the Laurel High School PTA.

kevinlewis@pgcpsorg

Meet Dr. Khadijah

Ali-Coleman MeetSaniya

Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, Ed.D., is a cultural curator, community organizer, nationally recognized speaker, and writer. A playwright, she has had more than a dozen of her plays presented publicly in venues throughout the country, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Theater Alliance, and Baltimore Theater Project. She was a Theater Alliance Quadrant Playwright from 20192021, a 2019 Fulbright-Hays scholar, a 2015 Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artist awardee, and a 2012 Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund Forty

Dr.Ali-Coleman

Under 40 awardee. Read more about Dr. Ali-Coleman at khadijahali-coleman.com @khadijahonline

Saniya (Poetry S.A.P.) Pearson is a 16-year-old student in Central High’s International Baccalaureate program. In January, Saniya was named as the 2024 Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate. In April 2023, she was awarded 1st place in the regional Young Master’s 2.0 Competitions Drama category. Later, she performed her spoken piece for the Links, Inc. regional conference. As the president of her sophomore class, she strives to be a voice for the student body utilizing her public speaking skills from performances and competing in her school’s mock trial and tennis team. Read more about Saniya Pearson, here.

SaniyaPearson

MEET THE CITY OF LAUREL MAYOR AND COUNCIL

MeetMayor MayorKeithSydnor

On November 7, 2023, Keith Sydnor was elected as Mayor of the City of Laurel and sworn in on November 27, 2023. First elected in November 2017 as a Council member and having served three terms, Keith is a dynamic and motivating leader who is dedicated to the progress of people, his country, and his community. Born and raised in Petersburg, Virginia, Keith has been a resident of Laurel, Maryland, since 2003. Keith is also employed with the Prince George’s County Public School System as a substitute teacher from March 2021 to the present. Read more about Mayor Sydnor, here.

Keith Sydnor Meet Council President

James Kole

laurelmayor@laurelmdus

James Kole was elected to his first term representing Ward 1 on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Councilmember Kole is the current City of Laurel Council President. James was appointed to serve on the City’s Historic District Commission and the Environmental Affairs Committee. He previously served on the City’s Ethics Commission. James was born and raised in Central Pennsylvania and attended Pennsylvania State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape ContractingDesign/Build, with a minor in Horticulture. James moved to the Laurel area in 2012 and is an avid gardener who loves to walk and work on his garden. Read more about Council President Kole, here

CouncilPresidentJamesKole

Meet Councilwoman

Kyla Clark

Councilwoman Kyla Clark (Pro Temp) was elected to her first term on the City Council on November 7, 2023, to represent Ward 2 and has been elected by her colleagues to serve as Pro Tempore. Councilmember Clark holds an MBA in International Marketing and Global Business, a B.S. and A.A.S. Her career has reached prestigious heights with esteemed institutions, including the United States Senate on Capitol Hill, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U S Department of Justice, and leading corporations like WebMD and The Black Congressional Caucus Foundation. Read more about Councilwoman Clark here. Follow her on social media.

CouncilwomanClark

@kylaclarkforlaurel

kclark@laurelmdus

Meet Councilwoman

Christine Johnson

Councilmember Christine Johnson was elected to her first term on November 7, 2023, representing the City At-Large Christine was born and raised in Prince George’s County. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland College Park. After getting married in 2002, Christine settled in Ward 1, raised 2 children, and has called Laurel home ever since She is the coowner of JayMedia Group, head of the publishing division. She enjoys learning new things, meeting and collaborating with new people, providing resources and helping the community, especially the children and senior citizens. Read more about Councilmember Johnson, here.

My mission in life is to always leave people better than I found them and to make a positive difference in my community.

THE HONORABLE VALERIE

NICHOLAS,

THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COUNCILWOMAN AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SERVED FIVE TERMS (10 YEARS WITH AN UNDEFEATED RECORD.)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

CITYOFLAUREL,MD

I am honored and humbled to be among the African American residents, sung and unsung, who have contributed to the great success of this City.

THE HONORABLE FRED SMALLS, PREVIOUS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SERVED 14+ YEARS

Meet Councilmember Jeffrey Mills

Councilman Jeffrey W. Mills was elected to his first term on the City Council on November 7, 2023, to represent Ward 2. Jeffrey is a second-generation Councilman in his family, following the footsteps of his father, The Honorable Councilman John W. Mills, Jr. Growing up in Seat Pleasant, Maryland, a working-class family, Jeffrey learned the importance of family, hard work, education, and public service. As a child, he worked with grassroots civic associations He worked for the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Prince George’s County Public Schools, and the State Highway Administration before becoming an entrepreneur. Read more about Councilmember Mills, here. jmills@laurelmdus

CouncilmemberMills

Meet Councilmember Carl Dewalt

Carl DeWalt’s career with the Laurel Police Department began in 1985 and shortly afterward he was able to purchase a home in Old Towne Laurel. His vision was to live with the citizens he was sworn to serve and protect. "Community Policing" has always been the fundamental principle that guided his career which extended for 28 years. He is a member of the Laurel Board of Trade, Laurel Historical Society, and American Legion Post 60, and a past president of Laurel FOP Lodge Number 11 He is a 30-year supporter of the Maryland Special Olympics. Innovator of the "Laurel Hometown Heroes Banners," he was also honored to be the recipient on three (3) occasions of the "Lelia McCeney" Memorial Award for unselfish devotion, kindness, and good deeds for the benefit of humanity! Read more about Councilmember DeWalt, here.

CouncilmemberDeWalt