Black History Month at the Library

Henrico County Public Library is committed to engaging and inclusive programming and services year-round.  We also observe commemorative months, which enable us to focus our efforts throughout the year on celebrating our diverse community.  This February, library staff have planned a wide array of events for adults, children, and teens that recognize the enormous cultural contributions and civil rights achievements of African Americans for Black History Month.  You can also visit your local library to peruse a Black History Month-themed display in February and find related reading and research material year-round at HCPL in print and online.  Read on for a highlight of Black History Month events at HCPL. 

For a complete list or events and their descriptions, please visit our events calendar.

Other ways you can engage with black history, literature, and culture at HCPL include: 

  • Joining our Black Authors Book Discussion Group at Fairfield Library 
  • Encouraging teens in your life to join the Diversity Club for Teens at Varina Library 
  • Visiting the Trailblazers Wall at Fairfield Library for interactive, multimedia biographies of black people who changed the course of history in Henrico, the state, and the nation 
  • Keeping an eye on our events calendar for regular programming about black history and culture. 

Upcoming Black History Month events at HCPL 

Classic Film Series at Fairfield Library 
Feb. 3, Mon, 1:30 PM  Their Eyes Were Watching God 
Feb. 10, Mon, 1:30 PM  Remember the Titans 
Feb. 24, Mon, 1:30 PM  Fences 

The Black Film Canon at Libbie Mill
Feb. 3, Mon, 2:00 PM  Straight Outta Compton 
Feb. 4, Tue, 2:00 PM  Do The Right Thing 
Feb. 10, Mon, 2:00 PM  Cooley High 
Feb. 18, Tue, 2:00 PM  Creed 
Feb. 24, Mon, 2:00 PM  Get Out 
Feb. 25, Tue, 2:00 PM  Boyz N the Hood 

Revisiting the Founding Era Discussion at Varina Library 
Feb. 4, Tue, 7:00 PM

Black History Month Trivia for Teens at Tuckahoe Library 
Feb. 5, Wed, 5:00 PM

I am 400: The Art of Jerome and Jeromyah Jones at North Park 
Feb. 5, Wed, 6:30 PM

Book Discussion: The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American History in the Old South at Twin Hickory Library 
Feb. 5, Wed, 7:00 PM

Coretta Scott King Read-Aloud at Fairfield Library 
Thursdays in February, 6:00 PM 

VMFA Presents: Frederic Remington and the Buffalo Soldiers at Libbie Mill Library 
Feb. 11, Tue, 6:00 PM  

An African Culture Experience at Varina Library 
Feb. 15, Sat, 2:00 pm 

Petersburg Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen at Libbie Mill 
Feb. 15, Sat, 4:00 pm 

Teen Book Night at Varina Library 
Feb. 18, Tue, 7:00 PM 

African Tales with Dylan Pritchett   
Feb. 19, Wed, 6:00 PM at Fairfield Library 
Feb. 22, Sat, 10:30 AM at Twin Hickory Library 
Feb. 22, Sat, 2:00 PM at Libbie Mill Library 
 
Revisiting the Founding Era Conversation at Tuckahoe Library 
Feb. 19, Wed, 7:00 PM 
  
VCU Presents: School Desegregation in Virginia at Tuckahoe Library 
Feb. 20, Thu, 6:30 PM 
 
20 and Odd: Africans’ Arriva in 1619 screening at Twin Hickory Library 
Feb. 21, Fri, 10:00 AM 
 
Reconstructing Family: Post-Emancipation Records at the Library of Virginia at Sandston Library 
Feb. 22, Sat, 10:30 AM  

African American art at the VMFA at Glen Allen Library 
Feb. 27, 6:00 PM 


Bright Star Theater Presents: Black History Hall of Fame 
Feb. 22, Sat, 10:00 AM at Sandston Library 
Feb 22, Sat, 1:00 PM at North Park Library 


Bright Star Theater Presents: Rosa Parks and Friends at Gayton Library 
Feb. 29, Sat, 4:00 PM

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Henrico’s internship program expands to students at Cristo Rey High

Students from Cristo Rey High School in Richmond have been interning with Henrico County since the beginning of their school year. They register citizens to vote, record county taxes, manage general services of the county and help libraries. And they’re only freshmen.  

Cristo Rey is a private high school that exclusively serves students of limited income. As the founding class of the 37th Cristo Rey school in the nation, the Richmond students are part of a 12,000-student body who work with more than 1,700 businesses nationally. 

The Corporate Work-Study Program allows students to gain valuable work experience and help finance their tuition while taking a full load of classes that will prepare them for college and life after school. 

Henrico implemented its internship program in 2012 to help high school and college students develop workplace readiness skills, gain appreciation for public service and become marketable to future employers. To date, the county has had 482 interns complete the program. Henrico agreed to be a founding corporate partner with Cristo Rey students when the school opened in fall 2019.  

Elizabeth, who works in the Department of Finance, said, “It’s the little steps that get you where you want to be.” She plans to remain committed to her studies at Cristo Rey and hopes to pursue college after graduation. She appreciates the internship opportunities because she knows this will give her a leg up in the workplace and when applying to colleges. 

The students’ exposure to a professional workplace at such a young age has given them experiences that most students don’t get until after high school. 

For example, Celiana, who works in the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, said she has learned computer and office skills that will give her more job opportunities in the future. Joshua, who works in the Department of General Services, said that he has learned how to talk to adults in a way that has built his confidence and leadership skills.

“The Cristo Rey interns are learning about the responsibilities of holding a job and how to conduct themselves in a professional environment,” said Debbie Lumpkin, Internship Program Coordinator. “They are providing support to our staff in carrying out daily duties and learning about the department in which they are working. The students are eager to learn and explore career possibilities.” 

As members of Cristo Rey’s founding class, interns hope that this program grows so that others can reap the benefits just like these students have. They all advocate for Cristo Rey and want to see the school grow into a staple for the Richmond community.

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Healthy for Life! How to Live Your Healthiest Life – Adding positive habits and breaking bad habits, part three

+ Eat Healthy Fats-Limited Meat and High-Fat Dairy 

Does my body need fats? 

Yes, it does. Dietary fats are essential to give your body energy and support cell growth. They also protect your organs and help keep your body warm. Fats help your body absorb some nutrients (vitamins A, D, E and K) and produce important hormones, too. Your body definitely needs fat.  

Fats: They’re not all the same. 

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are the best choices. Look for food products with little or no saturated fats and do your best to avoid trans fats. Saturated and trans fats tend to be more solid at room temperature (like a stick of butter), while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats tend to be more liquid (like liquid vegetable oil and olive oil). 

Fats can also have different effects on the cholesterol levels in your body. The bad fats, saturated fats and trans fats raise bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in your blood. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can lower bad cholesterol levels and are beneficial when consumed as part of a healthy dietary pattern. 

You can live heart healthy! 

Throughout the day, you’ll make decisions that affect how well you follow heart healthy lifestyle habits. Do I eat a hamburger with fries or soup and salad? Do I go for a walk or not? Be prepared for these moments of decision and strategize how best to guide yourself into making the right choices. Pretty soon, with continued practice, these moments of decisions will simply become habit. 

For more resources on healthy habits, visit Power Henrico.

 

Each February we celebrate National Heart Health Month by motivating our coworkers to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent heart disease. Research shows we are more successful at meeting personal health goals when we join forces and work toward a common goal. Register today for the Healthy Heart Challenge.  

National Wear Red Day is February 7. 

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