The City of Joliet is encouraging Black residents to come out and tell their stories as part of a research initiative to help revitalize the Black community in Will County.

People with photos and artifacts reflecting local Black history can bring them to the Joliet Area Historical Museum on Saturday.

Area youth shared their research on the lives and legacies of Black American artists, educators, actors, musicians and astronauts on Sunday at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb, part of the church's annual Black History Month programming.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet will host three days of free, all-ages performances for Black History Month – and each performance is unique.

The Lombard Historical Society has announced its schedule of Black History Month events for February 2025.

More than 50 Malta Elementary School students got to don costumes and present their own research Monday as part of the school's Black History Month Wax Museum Presentation program.

Danita Sims, Tiffany Tucker and Malia Jones, three are Black women hoping to spark social change in DeKalb, are leading the way in helping those in their community succeed through their work with local nonprofits and businesses.

The Plainfield South High School Black Student Association is inviting the community to help open the free Feb. 23 Black History Month showcase by singing the Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice.”

Luther Johnson says African American museum project is underway and March 23 event is on the schedule.

Arts in Action, a collaboration between the DeKalb County History Center and the Ellwood House Museum, started Black History Month by sharing the stories of Black DeKalb County residents. The initiative hopes to collect more local Black history for its educational materials.

Lockport Park District will be celebrating Black History Month throughout February with various programs scheduled at the Fairmont Community Center.

The African American Business Association of Will County has planned a new community service event called Day of Light to celebrate Black History Month and honor the mission of Martin Luther King Jr. after the annual MLK Day of Service was cancelled for inclement weather.

The 41st annual Profiles in Excellence event takes place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at Greenbelt Cultural Center, 1215 Green Bay Road in North Chicago.

Diamond Robinson received the Ike Mercer Certificate of Achievement in a ceremony at the Dixon City Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The award is given to a person of color in celebration of Black History Month.

“STAMP: A Story of Black America and US Postage” will be presented twice on Saturday at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theater in Joliet. “Hymns and Gems for Him,” an inspirational concert, will be on Sunday, also at the park.

For Michael Calhoun of DeKalb, his locks are more than just a hairstyle. “It’s a way of life,” he said. For Mariyah Ofei, Calhoun's loctician, Black hair styles show the wearer’s creativity. ”We try to speak power into our hair,” Ofei said.

LeBlanc-Parks was a longtime educator at the Jack Mabley Developmental Center and she’s a substitute teacher and tutor in local schools.

Joliet museum to host Black History Month exhibits, events

Living history presenter will take part in service 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 20 at The Worship Center

American Red Cross honoring the legacies of Drs. Charles Drew, Jerome Holland

Ike Mercer memorial awards were presented to Tameka Deatherage and Devrick Sayles.