By: Anthony Volkar, Yolo County Office of Education
Yolo County is celebrating Black History Month throughout February with a month-long series of events and activities designed to engage, educate and inspire the community. This year’s celebration is a collaboration between local agencies, schools, and organizations, featuring quilt exhibits, a special launch event, and other community activities.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Stitching Together Stories: Celebrating Black History through Quilts, Education, and Engagement”. The theme highlights how quilts have preserved cultural heritage, told powerful stories, and sparked important conversations. The planning committee hopes that Black History Month will provide the community an opportunity to deepen its understanding of Black history through creative expression and meaningful dialogue.
The month kicked off on February 3 with a kickoff celebration at the Yolo County Office of Education. Over 100 attendees gathered to honor Black history and culture through guest speakers, musical performances, a quilt display, and the recognition of a community leader.
Dr. Mari Gray, an associate professor at California State University, East Bay, shared her research on the Great Migration – the period when millions of African Americans moved from the South to the North between 1910 and 1970.
During the kickoff celebration, the planning committee recognized Marlene Bell, a retired educator, for her long-term contributions and service to the community.
From February 5-28, five quilt displays will be set up across Yolo County, each showcasing a collection of quilts by Khristel Johnson, a retired educator and master quilter.
The planning committee invites community members to participate in a fun, interactive activity by completing a passport. Those who visit all five quilt display sites, get their passport stamped, and return the completed passports by March 3 will be entered into a prize drawing. Passports can be picked up at any Yolo County Library branch or the Yolo County Office of Education in Woodland.
The quilt displays are located at the following sites:
● Davis: Mary L. Stephens Davis Branch Library, 315 E 14th St.
● Esparto: Capay Valley Health and Community Center Lobby, 17340 Yolo Ave.
● West Sacramento: Arthur F. Turner Community Library, 1212 Merkley Ave.
● Winters: Winters Community Library, 708 Railroad Ave.
● Woodland: Erwin Meier Administration Building Atrium (lower level), 625 Court St.
Community members are also invited to participate in the “I Am” Quilt Activity. By creating an 8.5” x 11” quilt square, participants can submit their designs to be included in a countywide quilt display to be showcased at the end of Black History Month.
Classrooms and school groups are encouraged to participate in the quilt activity. Completed quilt squares should be submitted to any Yolo County Library branch or the Yolo County Office of Education by March 3.
This year marks the first official countywide celebration of Black History Month. The Yolo County Office of Education formed a planning committee of volunteers, who plan to continue the countywide celebration annually.
The events of Black History Month were made possible with financial support from the Yolo County Office of Education, Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (Cultural Competence Committee), the City of Woodland, Davis Joint Unified School District, Esparto Unified School District, Washington Unified School District, Woodland Joint Unified School District, and Winters Joint Unified School District.
For more information about Yolo County Black History Month, visit ycoe.org/blackhistory or follow Yolo County Black History Month on Facebook.
