City of Huntington unveils new downtown banners, website for Black History Month
The City of Huntington is celebrating Black History Month with a downtown street banner program that will honor 150 Black individuals who have ties to Huntington and who have made significant contributions on a city, state or national level.
The banners, which are being installed on 3rd and 4th avenues beginning Monday, Jan. 23, coincides with the launch of a website, www.huntingtonblackhistory.com, that includes photos and biographies of each individual who is featured on a street banner.
“These endeavors are the City of Huntington’s intentional steps toward defining Black History Month as a quintessential gift to the rest of the world through the life and experience of Huntington’s native son, Dr. Carter G. Woodson,” Mayor Steve Williams said. “Without the contributions of Dr. Woodson and all of the other individuals that we are honoring, Huntington would not be what it is today – a quilt of diversity and cultures that is accepting and loving of all people.”
Williams designated Curtis Jones, coordinator of safety, wellness and diversity for the City of Huntington, to oversee implementation of the street banner program. Jones formed a committee consisting of the following individuals: Sandra Clements, Dr. Cicero Fain, David Harris, Anita Hill, MaRia Hill, Sean Hornbuckle, DuRon Jackson, Teresa Johnson, Sylvia Ridgeway and RaShad Sanders.
The committee determined that individuals must have been a resident of Huntington for at least five years or have had a connection to Huntington and made significant contributions on a city, state or national level.
The committee selected honorees including artists, educators, entrepreneurs, attorneys, health professionals, pastors, athletes, community activists and elected officials.
The Black History Month street banners will remain on display in the downtown through the month of March.
A public reception to celebrate the launch of the Black History Month banner program is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, January 29, at the A.D. Lewis Community Center, 1450 A.D. Lewis Ave. Boujee Boards by Roz will provide refreshments.