Rosedale Jets and Rochdale Cheerleaders Collaboration perform for the crowd
Photo by Athena Dawson
The office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz hosted their annual Black History Month Celebration at the Rochdale Village Community Center on Thursday, February 15th.
Hundreds of people filled the grand ballroom of the community center located at 169-65 137th Avenue in Jamaica and ate locally catered food as they enjoyed the programming for the evening.
The event also featured local Black business owners that showcased their products at tables that lined the event space. “Last year I went to Ghana for the first time so I knew I wanted to come back and do some different things…I love that people love my jewelry. It’s very intentional the colors of how everything is designed.” said Bernadette Clemons, owner of Clemons Creations Jewelry Designs. Clemons created the brand as her handmade afrocentric “passion project” during the pandemic.
Delali Haligah, a local artist and creator of Osun Designs- which pays homage to the Yoruba goddess- has a long history with the Rochdale community. “ It still feels like family. I know people here. I came back and started dealing with the sister who runs things here and even started a fashion week in 2010, “she said. Other businesses at the event featured customized cupcakes from Craft of All Trades, and homemade hair care products from 4 Us HairSkin LLC.
The main event started with a solemn invocation by Bishop Johnny Youngblood, followed by a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and Black National Anthem-Lift Every Voice- by local singer Shemeka Fennel. The emcee of the evening, EADA Joyce Smith started the program acknowledging the community. “ I grew up in Hollis and we would look at Rochdale Village in awe… we wanted to celebrate tonight all that Rochdale Village is, all that Queens is and all that we are as a people. We have overcome a lot and we have many more miles to go. We know…
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