VaBHMA Directors

Prayer Breakfast Coordinator

Tanya Alexander

Scholarship Team

Stacey Burnard, Xavier Richardson, Dr. Denise Lambert, Sylvester Rainey, Dr Sherry Springs,

Darrlynn Franklin

VIP Greeters

Jon Newell, Donald Craig

Donna Coursey, LaShunda Carter

Sponsorship/Partnerships

Dr Joann Credle, Ed D,

NOVA Annandale Black Student Alliance

Student Escort Coordinator

Pamela Lamar

Security Team

Eugene Kinard, Bill Hagerman, Thomas Williams

Entertainment Coordinators

Carolyn Stewart

Dinner/Pageant Coordinator

Betty Banks

Community Outreach

Nichole King-Campbell

VaBHMA 2024 Planning Director

Darrlynn Franklin, Meeting Coordinator

Karen Graves

GLAM Coordinator

Shakeita Collins, Danielle Wilson

Vendor Coordinator

Redeema Rock

VaBHMA PRESIDENT

William Jones

VaBHMA Treasurers

Cheryl Johnson, Donna Coursey

VaBHMA Chief of Staff

VaBHMA Chief of Staff Robert Hall,

VaBHMA Vice-President Donna Coursey, Ticket Sales & Seating Coordinator

Debra Graham

VIP Coordinator

Dr Susan Williams

Keynote Speaker Coordinator

Dr Susan Williams

Quantico Chapter President

Lavonne Robinson

Media Coordinator

Felisha Williams Battle

Guest of Honor Coordinators

Lisa Crittenden, Phebe Monise

Bonita Patillo, Pam Nephew

Education Directors

Eugene Williams, Pamela Nephew, Larry Marks, Sr.

Marketing Director

Yvonne Reed-Carlock

Broom Jumping Coordinator

Angele Covington, Lisa Donald

Decorators

Betty Banks, Jennifer Stith, Wanda Hill Warren

Membership Coordinator

Tangie Phair rd Annual Virginia Black History Month r’s Black History Celebration We have a and entertainment planned for you this en working hard behind the scenes for veryone enjoys their time here with us. nt to celebrate African American history achieved over the years They ask, why is it ect on those things that happened so long ent generation of how things were? Look cted the first African American to the office of President of the United States Why is there still a need to look back when the future looks so bright? We cannot go back and change things in the past, so why reflect on them?

My response has always been, that if you live long enough in this world to see a few sunrises and sunsets, you’ll come to the conclusion that there is nothing new under the sun History always seems to repeat itself. George Santayana, the famous philosopher, poet, and novelist famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it "

Dr Carter G Woodson, the Father of Black History Month put it this way, “if a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated ”

When I see young men walking with their pants hanging down so low that they can barely walk, or when I hear music that glorifies the degrading of black women the first thought that comes to mind is that “they do not know their history ”

One must understand that Black History does not start with "the dark night of slavery" that began in the United States some 400 years ago Black History begins thousands of years before when the Egyptians were building pyramids, recording their history in written stone, and living in cities way before other cultures were established

James Baldwin, the great 20th-century African American poet, novelist, playwright, and activist said, “If you know whence you came, there is really no limit to where you can go ” We were kings and queens, embodied with our own language and culture and living in the land that we had owned for centuries When you know your history, you walk differently, you talk and think about yourself differently, you dress differently, you speak with confidence, and you carry yourself with a sense of pride that no one can influence you to believe otherwise

Tonight you will hear some amazing stories of strength, endurance, and the sheer perseverance of African Americans in the face of adversity who continued moving forward So, sit back, listen, learn, and enjoy the moment You see, the reason we celebrate is to ensure the current generation carries the torch of knowledge and truth to pass it on to the next generation of African Americans

Sincerely,

Bill Jones President, VaBHMA