TROY, Ohio — The Lincoln Community Center in Troy is kicking off its Black History Month events on Monday and it has unique offerings looking back at the history of Miami County.
The gym at the Lincoln Community Center would normally be packed with people for Black History Month events, but this year because of the pandemic, the events are being moved online and going virtual, which is something organizers hope will reach more people.
Nicole Burton, LCC Executive Administrative Assistant, said, “The first one is going to be educating and informing how a lot of our minority families came from down south to the midwest region through the underground and the different spots throughout the area that we know are denoted of that in history.”
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The Lincoln Community Center partnered with the Troy-Miami County Library in making mini-video documentaries highlighting the history of the area. One documentary features the Ohio Underground Railroad connection, while others feature history events that date back to the mid-1800s, including the history of the center itself that’s seen so much change and growth.
LCC Executive Director, Shane Carter, said, “We’ve really been, if you will, the hub for the African American community in the city of Troy, we’re proud of that. But we’ve also been very much so a multicultural, multi-generational center.”
Burton and Carter speak passionately about the work and research they’ve done in preparing the videos and presentations to share a glimpse of something many might not know about.
“It means everything to me. It really reminds me through a tough year why we do this here at the center. Why we believe in education, why we believe in uplift and why we believe in informing the community,” Carter says.
The first vide link will go online Sunday with several more to be posted throughout the month.