UPCOMING EVENTS @ THE T. THOMAS FORTUNE CULTURAL CENTER
WHEN: August 1, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Ranney School, 235 Hope Road, Tinton FallsTICKETS: $75 and $125. The $175 ticket price includes a signed book from Dr. Greason. The money raised will go to the T. Thomas Fortune Foundation’s educational programming.
The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center and the Ranney School will salute and celebrate Dr. Walter Greason, who was recently appointed professor and chair of the department of history at Macalester College in St. Paul Minnesota. We are celebrating him, his contributions and giving him well wishes as he moves to the Land of 10,000 Lakes!
Dr. Greason is President Emeritus of the T. Thomas Fortune Foundation, and we are honored to have had him be a central part of the Cultural Center and its progression. Dr. Greason will continue to work with the Cultural Center in an advisory role. Greason said, “Very few scholars ever see their research used during their lifetimes. Among those, it is unique for academic work to lead to the creation of a National Historic Landmark. For me, the foundation and Cultural Center represent a miraculous dream come true.”
The event will also feature the winner of the T. Thomas Fortune Academic Merit scholarship and a performance by a jazz ensemble from Ranney School!
What’s Happening This Summer at the Cultural Center
Regarding educational programming, the Cultural Center will be hosting a series of summer enrichment forums for teachers (and open to the general public), Unlearning What You Thought You Knew: A Culturally Immersive Forum on Race and Social Justice. The event will be a five-part series that encourages the self-reflection of teachers when educating the next generation. The series will include stimulating discussion, films, music, and art about understanding the history of racial divides and how to move forward as a united people. WHEN: The first session of the summer enrichment forums will be July 12th, 13th, and 14th from 6 to 8 p.m. The second session will be July 19th and 20th from 6 to 8 p.m. as well. WHERE: T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, 94 Drs James Parker Blvd, Red Bank
The Cultural Center has another exciting upcoming event featuring one of our own! Alexandria Lewis, a Fortune Teller, poet, and public speaker will be teaching Amandla Poetry classes for ages 12 through 18. Lewis’s classes will teach different forms of poetry. In the Nguni language the meaning of Amandla is “power”—power of the pen regarding social justice issues. The four-week program will culminate into an open mic night for participants to share their poetry. These classes are in partnership with Project Write Now. WHEN: July 22nd to August 12th on Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. WHERE: T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, 94 Drs. James Parker Blvd, Red Bank
Gilda Rogers, the Executive Director of the Cultural Center, will be leading her Sidewalk Smiles Conversations Writing Workshop at the Cultural Center. Hosted by Project Write now, Rogers will be sharing her “Sidewalk Smiles: Tried & True Affirmation Cards to Live By” while encouraging others to find the fun and creativity in writing. Each participant will receive a package of cards to keep, written and created by Rogers. All proceeds support the Amandla & Poetry summer writing class for teens. WHEN: Thursday, July 29, 2021, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, 94 Drs. James Parker Blvd, Red Bank FEE: $25
The Cultural Center will celebrate Count Basie’s Birthday. Basie is Red Bank’s native son and was the first African American male to win a Grammy Award for jazz. The event will feature live jazz music on the front lawn of the Cultural Center. This will be an evening you will not want to miss! WHEN: August 21st from 6 to 8 p.m. WHERE: T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, 94 Drs. James Parker Blvd, Red Bank
For further questions please contact evelynfortunefoundation@gmail.com, follow us on Instagram @t.thomasfortune and Twitter @TThomasFortune9 and like us on Facebook @tthomasfortuneculturalcenter; please visit our website at https://www.tthomasfortuneculturalcenter.org to subscribe to our newsletter and to stay up-to- date on all things Fortune. All events will take place at the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center (not including the fundraiser event for Dr. Greason, which will take place at Ranney School.)
