The African-American Research Library & Cultural Center Fifth Anniversary Celebration

The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) celebrated its fifth anniversary in October 2007.

Festivities surrounding the occasion included a wide range of community-oriented activities as well as three fund-raising events, a luncheon with the theme, A South Florida Harlem Renaissance: Celebrating Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, held on October 6, 2007, Best Ribs in Town Cook-Off on October 13, and an evening event, Cotton Club Comes to AARLCC, held on October 19.

The luncheon raised money for the Friends of the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. 

The Best Ribs in Town Cook-Off and Cotton Club Comes to AARLCC raised more than $130,000 for the Samuel F. Morrison Endowment Fund, which supports programming efforts at AARLCC. The Broward Public Library Foundation established the endowment fund in support of AARLCC.

Other events included Telling Our Stories, Archiving Our History, a panel discussion on archiving family and local history as well as an evening of oral stories from the African tradition by noted griots held October 12, 2007.

A community health fair and family day, Unity in the Community, was held on October 13, 2007.   The event was the work of successful partnerships throughout the community. One of the highlights of the day's events was The Best Ribs in Town Cook-Off, presented in part by Tri-Rail, South Florida's tri-county commuter train, and grocery store Winn-Dixie. Local chefs and barbecue aficionados gathered to participate in the competition and take home an array of prizes and awards. Participants' ribs were judged on appearance, tenderness and taste. Attendees also enjoyed free health screenings and demonstrations, storytelling, films, musical entertainment fire safety and crime prevention tips and more.

Cotton Club Comes to AARLCC

An extraordinary evening event, held October 19 at AARLCC, was designed to celebrate AARLCC's five years of community service with The Harlem Renaissance: A South Florida Experience celebrating the art, music and culture of Harlem and the African Diaspora in America. Tickets to this benefit were $150 per person, with proceeds going to the Samuel F. Morrison Endowment Fund.

Fifth Anniversary Celebration Schedule of Events:

October 6, 2007 - Friends of AARLCC Annual Luncheon at the Signature Grand Ballroom, 11:30 a.m. The proceeds from the luncheon support library programs and events such as Kwanzaa, after school activities and exhibit receptions in the museum.
 
October 12, 2007 - Telling Our Stories, Archiving Our History, 7 p.m. A panel discussion on the importance of telling stories and archiving family and local history. The special guest speaker was Francine Henderson, Administrator of the Auburn Avenue Research Center on Black Culture in Atlanta, GA. Other panel guests included Kitty Oliver, Oral History Professor, Florida Atlantic University (FAU).  

October 13, 2007 - Best Ribs in Town Cook-Off, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Barbecue lovers from all over town participated in creating the best ribs in town.

October 13, 2007 - Community Health and Family Day, Noon to 5 p.m.   The whole family is invited to participate in a focus on the family day that will include free screenings and information on a variety of health topics that are prevalent in the black community such as diabetes, prostate cancer, HIV/AIDS and high blood pressure. Activities for children and adults will also be included. All ages are welcome! 

October 19 - Cotton Club Comes to AARLCC, 6:30 to 10 p.m.
This celebration commemorated the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance period with an internationally-acclaimed multimedia gallery exhibit, celebrity chef tastings, sidewalk jazz café, author and poet lounge, speak easy jazz venue, live entertainment and more. 
 
October 26, 2007 - African Ceremonial Rededication of the AARLCC by Dr. Osewegie Ebohon, Benin, Africa. 

Click here to download a special timeline brochure for the fifth anniversary!