City of Kyle Hosts Dialogue for Peace and Progress 2023 – Celebrating Black History Month
Published:
<< Back to NewsThursday, February 9, 2023
DATE/TIME: Friday, Feb. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Hybrid Event that will take place at Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center St., as well as on Kyle10, the City’s YouTube channel, and the City of Kyle Facebook page
WEBSITE: CityofKyle.com/Dialogue
KYLE, TEXAS – The community is invited to join the City of Kyle for the Dialogue for Peace and Progress 2023 – Celebrating Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The Dialogues for Peace and Progress are an event series that take place in conjunction with Black History Month, Juneteenth and Hispanic Heritage Month and work to join community members and leaders for open and honest conversations to raise awareness and, if necessary, facilitate change in the City of Kyle.
“The City of Kyle is proud to continue our Dialogue for Peace and Progress – Celebrating Black History Month event,” Kyle Arts and Cultural Commission Chair Vanessa Wesbrook said. “This event is an important part of building our community by providing a safe space to have open, honest, and at times difficult conversations while giving Kyle community members a chance to reflect on any positive or negative changes experienced within the past year.”
A group of panelists from a multitude of perspectives, backgrounds and generations have been recruited to speak during the discussion, including High School students Kahlen Barnes and Saema’J Graham, higher education professionals Mark Trahan and April Barnes, AMVETS chaplain Kenneth Bell, Deputy Juvenile Public Defender for Travis County Rubén Castañeda, and former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Director Wilma L. Javey.
“We are excited for this group of panelists to join us for this important conversation and greatly appreciate them taking the time to share their stories, thoughts and experiences,” Westbrook said.
Throughout the month of February, the Kyle Public Library will also be hosting a Celebrating Black History Month Program and Display for the community. The book display will feature Afrofuturist works that explore the intersections of science and technology with the African diaspora. The Kyle Public Library will also host Black History Month Storytimes on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. The library will also be posting book recommendations on social media relating to Black History Month.
Kyle City Hall will also play host to various pieces of art done by Simon Middle School Students. Their work, completed with the theme of “Perspectives of Black History” will be on display to the public from Monday, Feb. 13 through Friday, Feb. 24 From 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Dialogues for Peace and Progress event will be held in-person at Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center St., but other options for participation are encouraged, including streaming online through Kyle10, the City’s YouTube channel, and the City of Kyle Facebook page. For more information, go to CityofKyle.com/Dialogue.
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The City of Kyle is located in the heart of the I-35 Innovation Corridor, just 26 miles south of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport & 50 miles north of San Antonio International Airport. Kyle is the second largest city in Hays County and is poised to become the largest — with a population that grew from 5,000 citizens in 2000 to just over 50,000 in 2020. We are the designated Pie Capital of Texas and home of the annual Pie in the Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival. For more information, go to CityofKyle.com.
