Black History Month Celebration Takes "Footsteps Through History"

On Friday, Feb. 20 at 9 a.m., the Assistant Director and Curator of the Washington, D.C.-based African American Civil War Freedom Foundation and Museum, Hari Jones, was the featured speaker for this year’s Black History Month Celebration, Footsteps through History: Moving Towards Change Through Mental Wellness, held at San Bernardino Valley College. This was a partnership event between the Black Voice Foundation, San Bernardino Valley College Black Faculty and Staff, the Department of Behavioral Health’s African American Awareness Sub-Committee of the Cultural Competency Advisory Committee, Wells Fargo and the Successfully Motivating African American through Resiliency Training (S.M.A.A.R.T.) Program. The event included a presentation from André Bossieux, Program Manager of the Department of Behavioral Health of San Bernardino One Stop TAY Center, who spoke about “Using History to Sustain Our Black Youth,” and Hari Jones, Assistant Director of the African American Civil War Museum, who presented on “Footsteps Through History: Civil War and Reconstruction." Jones is one of the foremost authorities on the role of African Americans in the Civil War, and his new perspective on this subject reveals how extensive and well organized Americans of African descent were in their efforts to end slavery and gain their rights as citizens in league with the Constitution. The event also included a historical display, resource fair and food. The purpose of the celebration was to further understanding of the African American culture through education and collaboration and to promote mental health awareness. It was an opportunity to remember and recognize the many accomplishments and contributions of African Americans to the nation. San Bernardino Valley College President Gloria Fisher gave a welcome to the audience and encouraged present and potential students to look at community colleges as viable options to their career pathway. Assistant Director of San Bernardino County Behavioral Health (DBH) Veronica Kelley, LCSW, gave the audience statistics concerning mental health and the African American community in San Bernardino County. Kelly went on to promote and highlight DBH programs, resources and opportunities that may benefit community members. Jonathan Buffong, a mental health education consultant for the department, made the connection that the same resiliency that African Americans used during their history are the same resiliency traits needed for individuals going through the recovery process who have mental illness. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School SMAART Program students were also in attendance for the presentation. The program Executive Director Terrance Stone and Mental Health Specialist Amanda Vann reported that the students were blown away by the information they received and were excited to research additional elements of African American History.