Black Family Day 2018 will be the biggest, single annual event celebrating the “black family unit” by Memphis Chapter Jack & Jill of America, Inc.
“Sunday will mark the 31st Black Family Day event, but never have we hosted on this level,” said Vanecia Belser Kimbrow, Esq., president of the Memphis chapter, which incorporated as one of the original 10 on Aug. 28, 1946.
“The National Civil Rights Museum is the most prestigious, public venue in Memphis. We expect thousands to come out and enjoy the music, food, prizes and tools for becoming financially fit.”
Sunday, May 6, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Black Family Day will offer live performances, booths set up to assist entrepreneurs, food trucks, live performances by local vocalists, dancers, spoken word artists, and other family-friendly activities.
The local Jack & Jill chapter has issued an open invitation to converge on the grounds of the National Civil Rights Museum to “celebrate the culture, heritage, strength and endurance of the ‘Black Family.’”
“We invite people of all cultures and ethnicities to come out and celebrate along with us,” said Kimbrow. “Our theme this year is ‘Celebrating the Black Family and Empowering Our Community Through Economic Development.’ We want to equip individuals with the information they need to build fiscally fit personal – as well as business – financial foundations.”
For the kiddos, there will be face-painting and balloon art. Also featured will be some of the city’s “hottest DJs, along with gospel performances, cool jazz and R&B classic soul performances. Add a mobile arcade, some karaoke, arts and crafts, and prize drawings – all in all, a fun-filled, amusing day for the whole family.
“This is also our kick-off of ‘Fiscally Fit Family Challenge’, a black business and economic empowerment fair, a collection of vendors touting home ownership and financial literacy,” said Kimbrow. “Being fiscally fit doesn’t require a lot of money, but good personal habits such as saving, budgeting and financial planning make a strong economic outlook for anyone.
“That’s why we are so happy this year to name Pinnacle Bank as one of our major sponsors. Personal finances are the number one cause of stress in America. That stress can impact our jobs, our sense of well-being and our personal relationships. We want everyone to have access to those tools needed to become more financially fit and sound.”
The Fiscally Fit Family Challenge is interactive and web-based, offering quarterly in-person and online video sessions, which help families devise a budget, commit to saving and launch a small business, if desired, as well as become debt-free. Participants will vie for prizes in the most improved, top family, entrepreneurial, young adult, youth, and kid categories. (More information is available at: www.jackandjillmemphis.com.)
According to Kimbrow, Black Family Day was first held here in 1987 and has grown each year. FedEx is also a major sponsor.
Auta Boykins Toney, Memphis chapter program director, said the day is about “providing for all children the same advantages which we desire for our own.”
Toney commended the National Civil Rights Museum for its support and the vendors participating to provide economic information and assistance.
“We want to acknowledge the power of the ‘Black Dollar’ by featuring local, small business vendors and entrepreneurs marketing their products and services during this year’s Black Family Day.”
Memphis Chapter Jack & Jill of America, Inc. has nearly nearly 300 mothers, fathers, children and teens.
(For more information, visit the Eventbrite page at https://bit.ly/2jplzKG.)
