CLEVELAND, Ohio – Authors, entrepreneurs and a community forum on the lasting importance of the legacy of Carl and Louis Stokes highlight March’s events for Stokes: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.
Cuyahoga Community College’s yearlong celebration to honor the Stokes brothers has been embraced by more than 60 organizations.
Dozens of community events have been scheduled to mark the 50th anniversary of Carl Stokes’ historic election as mayor of Cleveland and the accomplishments of U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes.
The effort, which is a collaboration between eight Northeast Ohio organizations, will culminate with policy and leadership development recommendations unveiled in October during an event at the City Club of Cleveland.
The commemoration is being led by Tri-C’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland Foundation, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Commission on Economic Inclusion and The City Club of Cleveland.
Following are March events. A full calendar of events can be found at stokes50cle.com.
Through July 30
Black in America: Louis Draper and Leonard Freed
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cleveland Museum of Art, Gallery 230, 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland
This exhibition explores the daily lives of African Americans during the Civil Rights era through photographs by Louis Draper, a black fine art photographer, and Leonard Freed, a white photojournalist.
For more information visit: clevelandart.org/events/exhibitions
March 9
Myra Armstead: Cleveland, Harlem and the African-American Community 1915-1945
4 p.m. Cuyahoga Community College East Campus, Mandel Humanities Center, 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills.
Myra Armstead, a professor of historical studies at Bard College, will discuss the social, cultural, economic and political re-education and innovation of African Americans in northern urban centers over these three decades.
The period forms a backdrop against which to examine the experiences of Carl Stokes and Langston Hughes during this phase of their lives – a time that served as a rehearsal for post-World War II civil rights activism on the part of the nation’s black community.
Free and open to the public.
March 10
Entrepreneur Expo
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Cuyahoga Community College East Campus, Mandel Humanities Center, 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills.
A showcase of current and past Tri-C students who have either successfully started a business or are in the process of doing so. The event will also include a workshop and information intended to assist aspiring entrepreneurs.
Sponsored by The Burton D. Morgan Foundation. Contact: Andrew Bajda, andrew.bajda@tri-c.edu
March 15
Black Nerd Problems: Depictions of African Americans in Popular Media
7 p.m. Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood.
From the recent success of “Luke Cage” to the controversy surrounding nontraditional casting in the upcoming “Spiderman” film, we can see how African Americans have fit, been positioned, or sometimes snuck into, the media we digest and how they factor into entertainment.
Co-creator and editor-in-chief of Black Nerd Problems (blacknerdproblems.com), William Evans delves deep into what science fiction, comics and other popular media say about black life.
(Includes admission to This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement, so event-goers are encouraged to arrive early to explore the exhibition.)
Space limited. Call 216-593-0575 or visit http://www.maltzmuseum.org/event/black-nerd-problems/ to secure your seat.
Registration/Ticketing: $12 general, $6 Maltz Museum Members
March 15
Fred Talks – Inspiring the Future: Building the Next Generation of Public Sector Leadership
5 to 7 p.m. Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland.
The Cleveland Foundation is inviting the community to a free event to reflect on the importance of public sector service.
Local public sector leaders will share their thoughts on the lasting importance of the Stokes brothers’ legacy of public service, advocacy, and activism, followed by a community conversation on inspiring the next generation of formative public leadership.
Global Cleveland President Joe Cimperman will moderate a panel discussion featuring Cleveland Neighborhood Progress Senior Director of Advocacy, Policy and Research Erika Anthony, Cuyahoga County Chief Talent Officer Douglas Dykes, South Euclid City Councilman Jason Russell, and Cleveland Foundation Senior Vice President, Program India Pierce Lee. Attendees will be invited to join the conversation in a community discussion.
This event will also feature a very special excerpt performance by the participants of Cleveland Public Theatre’s Brick City Theatre program: “Reflecting on the Stokes Brothers’ Legacy.”
Registration: https://stokes50fredtalk.eventbrite.com
March 16
An Evening of Reflection and Song
6 p.m. – Antioch Baptist Church, 8869 Cedar Avenue, Cleveland.
The Rev. E. Theophilus Caviness and The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. discuss the local and national impact of Carl and Louis Stokes and the Civil Rights Movement.
The discussion, free and open to the public, will be followed with a performance by North Carolina’s Grammy-nominated Winston-Salem State University choir.
March 20
Young adult authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
7 to 8:30 p.m. – Cuyahoga County Maple Heights Library Branch auditorium, 5525 Library Lane, Maple Heights.
Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely will discuss their book, “All American Boys.” In this Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning novel, two teens – one black, one white – grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension.
Event is free. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Mac’s Backs – Books on Coventry.
March 23
Marilyn Tobocman Standing Up for Others: The Making of an Advocate.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Cuyahoga Community College Metropolitan Campus, Black Box Theatre (MCCA 107), 2900 Community College Avenue, Cleveland.
Having started her legal career later in life, Tobocman will share the journey which led to her becoming principal assistant attorney general for civil rights with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and working in fair housing law.
A panel discussion with experts working on local Fair Housing issues will follow her presentation.
Moderator: Russ Mitchell, WKYC TV3 News Anchor
The event is free and open to the public.
March 26
Lori Stokes remembers Louis Stokes.
3 p.m. – The Temple-Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Boulevard, Beachwood, Ohio.
Explore the political and civil rights legacy of a groundbreaking Clevelander as Lori Stokes, co-anchor of New York City’s Eyewitness News This Morning, shares memories of her father, the late Louis Stokes, as well as excerpts from his biography, “The Gentleman from Ohio.”
She and moderator WEWS TV-5 news anchor Leon Bibb will be joined by Maltz Museum founder Milton Maltz;, theologian, speaker, author and activist Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr.; co-chairman emeritus of Forest City Enterprises, Inc. Albert B. Ratner; and Plain Dealer columnists Phillip Morris and Brent Larkin.
Register for the event at 22382.blackbaudhosting.com/22382/Gentleman-from-Ohio–Lori-Stokes
Cost $12 general, $6 Maltz Museum members, $8 AARP members.
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