A celebration of legacy, leadership, and culture on Feb. 23, 2024

(Black PR Wire) TAMPA – The Tampa Bay History Center is proud to announce the third annual Black History Month Reception, an evening of inspiration, recognition, and cultural celebration, set to take place on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. The event will be hosted at the Tampa Bay History Center, located at 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the reception.

This year’s reception is honored to feature distinguished guest speaker Senator Arthenia Joyner, a trailblazing leader whose contributions have significantly impacted the course of history. Senator Joyner will share her insights and experiences, adding a powerful dimension to the evening’s program.

The Tampa Housing Authority proudly supports this event as the gold sponsor, exemplifying its commitment to fostering a community that values and preserves Black history.

Civil rights legend Reverend Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., a Tampa native, will join Senator Joyner on the program. Reverend LaFayette will present the annual award named in his honor, recognizing an individual who has played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Black history throughout the years. Guests will have the unique opportunity to have Reverend LaFayette autograph his book, In Peace and Freedom, at the reception.

For the first time, attendees will experience Travails and Triumphs, a new permanent exhibit covering 500 years of local Black history, providing a captivating journey through historical milestones. Additionally, the event will feature an African fashion show with the latest styles and colors from Ghana and Nigeria, courtesy of Tampa’s African Extravaganza. Guests are welcome to wear optional African attire.

In a special initiative, the Tampa Bay History Center will present a donation to a Hillsborough County elementary school with the most outstanding Thurgood Marshall History Club for the 2023-2024 school term. This contribution aims to support and encourage the next generation of leaders and historians.

Tickets for the third annual Black History Month Reception are priced at $75 and can be purchased online at www.tampabayhistorycenter.org. The ticket price includes valet parking for attendees’ convenience.

Join us on February 23, 2024, as we come together to celebrate the Tampa Bay area’s Black history, honor remarkable individuals, and create lasting memories at the Tampa Bay History Center’s third annual Black History Month Reception.

About the Tampa Bay History Center

Located on Tampa’s Water Street, the Tampa Bay History Center includes three floors of permanent and temporary exhibition space focusing on 12,000 years of Florida’s history and culture. A Smithsonian Affiliate museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the History Center includes the Touchton Map Library and Florida Center for Cartographic Education, and the Witt Research Center, and is home to the Columbia Cafe. One of Tampa’s premier cultural venues, the History Center’s hands-on, interactive exhibits and theaters provide an entertaining and educational experience for visitors of all ages. For more information, visit www.tampabayhistorycenter.org.

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