Don’t miss this series of Black History Month events hosted by PPS

Photo above by TopSphere Media via Unsplash. 

Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) is honoring Black History Month with a series of events and learning opportunities celebrating culture, literacy, and academic excellence. They’ve announced that this year’s celebrations were designed to “highlight the District’s commitment to empowering students through knowledge, representation, and community engagement.”

Events include:

#BlackInLaw: This initiative celebrates PPS alumni who have pursued careers in the field of law. Throughout February, PPS will highlight the journeys of these distinguished legal professionals, showcasing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Featured alumni include Amber Owens (2004), Paul Ellis Jr. (1987), Rhonda Dinkins (2008), and Homer Walton (1969). By sharing their stories, PPS aims to inspire the next generation of leaders in the judicial system while reinforcing the importance of diversity and justice in shaping our communities.

Black Men Read: The third anniversary of this literacy initiative promotes reading and empowerment among young learners. Launched by Superintendent Dr. Wayne N. Walters, this initiative brings Black male leaders into classrooms across 35 schools to read to students in grades K-2. Black Men Read seeks to rewrite narratives, uplift youth and inspire a love for reading. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27. Interested volunteers can sign up by visiting pghschools.org/BHM25.

31st Annual African American History Challenge Bowl at Pittsburgh Greenway (1400 Crucible St, Pittsburgh, PA 15205) takes place on Feb. 28. This competition will display the historical knowledge of students in grades 6-8, while high school teams will compete for the chance to represent Pittsburgh at the national level. The event not only fosters academic excellence, but also strengthens cultural awareness and pride. Last year’s winners, Pittsburgh CAPA students Oluwatobiloba Olaore and Arinola Bejide, exemplified this excellence by becoming the 2024 National Champions of the 100 Black Men of America African American History Challenge Bowl. Representing the 100 Black Men of Western PA, Inc., they triumphed on the national stage at the convention in Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition to these events, schools across the District will host activities throughout February to honor Black history, culture, and contributions. These include:

• Pittsburgh Brookline: Soul Food Connections, Feb. 13, 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.; Cultural Trust Collaboration Celebration, Feb. 20, and 1Hood Media History of Rap and Its Origins Presentation, Feb. 19.
• Pittsburgh Allderdice: Black Student Union Open Mic Event, Feb. 28, during 8th and 9th periods.
• Pittsburgh Langley: PSCC Meeting, Feb. 24, 4:30 – 6 p.m. featuring Black History 365, where families will create paintings of historic African Americans.

A full schedule of events can be found at pghschools.org/BHM25.