Extension Kenosha County and the Kenosha Public Library will host a “Black History in Kenosha” discussion as part of the ongoing “Nia” program after school from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 16.
Darren Maddox, whose grandfather was the first Black man to buy a house in Kenosha, will share his family's story and discuss Black history in our community. Professor Ed Schmitt of UW-Parkside will bring historical documents used in his college course, “Researching Kenosha's Black History,” to review and discuss with youth.
This event will be held at the Kenosha Southwest Neighborhood Library, 7979 38th Ave. It is completely free of charge; advanced sign up is encouraged but not required.
On Saturday, March 25, the Nia program will travel to Chicago to explore the Museum of Science and Industry and the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.
Students will meet at the Kenosha Southwest Neighborhood Library at 8 a.m. and will return at 6:30 p.m. Lunch and morning and evening snacks will be provided. This event is free of charge and advanced sign up is required.
To sign up for the Nia trip to Chicago, please fill out the sign up form at kenosha.extension.wisc.edu/youth/nia-pathways-and-purpose-for-the-future-kenosha-county and return it to erica.ness@wisc.edu, to the Kenosha County Extension Office at 19600 75th St #2, Bristol, WI 53104, or if you are a student at KUSD, to your school’s African American Youth Initiative Lead.
These events are a component of Nia: Pathways and Purpose for the Future, a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the historically Black university North Carolina A&T, to support Black and Brown youth in eighth through 12th grade across the two states to find their purpose after high school.
Following these events, Extension will continue to host Nia after-school events with local partner, the Kenosha Public Library, every third Thursday of the month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and will offer events and programming throughout the summer.
Nia is a program focused on exploring Black culture and connecting youth with leaders from the Black community, and all youth who are interested are welcome to attend the events.
The sign up form for Nia can be found at kenosha.extension.wisc.edu/youth/nia-pathways-and-purpose-for-the-future-kenosha-county. To learn more about the Nia program, the upcoming trip to Chicago, or about Extension’s other youth leadership initiatives, please contact Extension Educator Erica Ness at erica.ness@wisc.edu or 262-857-1934.