Washington D.C. Temple Celebrates Black Heritage Month
KENSINGTON, Maryland — On three February weekends during the traditional Black History Month celebrations, Black members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) will speak, teach, and perform at the Washington, DC Temple Visitors’ Center in Kensington, Maryland.
All events are free.
Former NFL Raiders superstar Burgess Owens and his wife, Josie, will share their inspiring experiences with messages for all ages: “Can You Be Spiritual and Succeed in the World.”
Ahmad S. Corbitt, President of the Cherry Hill, New Jersey Church Stake (diocese) covering South Jersey, will share his experiences as a convert and his rise in leadership in the Church. He serves as Director of the Church’s New York Office of Public and International Affairs.
Bernard Balibuno, a Hutu/Tutsi, who is program officer, Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University, will also speak.
A family history workshop on Afro and African-American research for anyone interested in tracing their genealogical roots will be held. (See below for times and topics)
Sam Warren, a member of the original “Drifters” musical group and a recent convert to the Church from the DC area, will perform.
Alvin Jackson, bishop of the Kensington, Maryland Ward, formerly a Boeing Company director of legislative affairs, and manager of governmental affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers’ Association, basketball player and coach, will speak on the topic “Why I Believe” (in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
Also performing is the DC Shiloh Baptist Church’s Wallace Charles Smith Fellowship Ensemble under the direction of Marvin A. Ford and Para Palmore.
The Visitors’ Center will display local, historical and international Black history artifacts and collages. Movies revealing the lives of some of the original and contemporary Black members, from Gladys Knight to Black Mormon pioneers, will be shown.
Betty Cannon is Coordinator for the Black Heritage Celebration, with the assistance of her husband, Mark Cannon, former Administrative Assistant to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger.
Schedule of Events
February 12, 2006, Sunday
7:00 p.m.