February is Black History Month in the City of Palm Springs and the entire community is invited to participate in a host of fun and educational events planned by the City’s Black History Month Committee. This year’s theme is “Black Migrations and Urban Realities.”
Black History Month Awards Gala, took place last Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Honorees were Father Andrew Green, pastor at St. Paul Church of the Desert, local Coachella Valley artist Bernard Hoyes, local volunteers John Caranci and Keith Howard, Riverside County sheriff’s deputy Tim White, Anne Kalisek, administrator from Palm Springs Unified School District, Desert Highland resident Dieter Crawford, Jeff Grubbe, Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, along with local Tuskegee Airman Bob J. Friend, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Gala also featured a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and the popular World War II P-51 Mustang airplane known as “Red Tail.”
Here is a list of events coming up:
Sip & Paint Night, 4 p.m. Feb. 9. Antigua Kitchen & Bar, 105 S. Palm Canyon Drive.
Black History Month Art Exhibit & Reception, 2 p.m. Feb. 10, Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive, featuring the work of African American artist Todd Gray.
Adult Basketball Tournament, 10 a.m. Feb. 16, Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 Tramview Road.
32nd Annual Black History Parade and Town Fair. Parade is Saturday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. along Palm Canyon Drive. Town Fair runs noon to 6 p.m. in Frances Stevens Park on the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Alejo Road.
For more information about events, visit www.PalmSpringsBlackHistory.org
