Join a year-long period during 2020 of monthly programs looking to highlight the contributions of black community in the areas of cultural change, arts, literature, food, and music, as well as increase awareness around aspects of implicit bias and racism through and in these programs. The intention is to increase the communities understanding of the value of the African American Center for Cultural Development and ensure a more permanent home for future programming in this sort. These programs are to address a need to come together and advance engagement in programs that increase understanding of racial discrimination and promote racial reconciliation and healing for the purpose of facilitating practical engagement in the community. This will hopefully promote increased understanding and conditions of change within out own community.
February's event will be "Tea and Conversation with Mrs. Sarah Johnson". Mrs. Sarah Johnson was a runaway slave who used the Underground Railroad and found her way to Olean, NY. Read more about "Aunt" Sarah. Please join for the lecture, the discussion and the refreshments afterwards! This event will take place February 23rd, beginning at 3pm at the Fannie Bartlett Center, 302 Laurens St., Olean. The African American Center for Cultural Development is currently working on securing a permanent location.
Due to uncontrollable circumstances, the Center's location is currently a mailing address only. The building in which they were located (W. State St.) is being sold and the Center is looking to raise funds to match the $225,000 Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant they were awarded from the state, meant to help renovate a former East State Street church into the center's new home! Please support as you can, it is very much appreciated! Private Message on Facebook for donation details and also follow them for events/fundraisers to be held at different locales throughout Olean. Mailing address is 108 S. Eighth St. The Center is still very much alive and going, missing only a physical address.