GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – Memorial Health System closed out Black History Month by hosting a program honoring African Americans in the arts.
For the third year, the Memorial Hospital Gulfport staff and community members came together in celebration of black excellence.
Memorial Hospital Board President Carlos Bell says he’s excited to have the program and looking forward to the next one.
I’d like to see as we evolve more involvement with our local elected officials,” Bell says. “Hopefully, one day we can have the thing packed out. This program is really a staple for us to understand and enjoy the heritage and the culture of the black community.”
The Black History Month Program opened with a performance by singer-songwriter Lekeisha Cotten harmonizing classic hymns like, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “Precious Lord.”
“There has never been a greater time to be alive,” Cotten says. ”Nobody can live these moments like we can live them because we’ve been chosen to live in this time. it means so much to me to be asked to do this and to just help us continue to be great as people.”
Those in attendance were also graced by local mother and daughter praise dancers of Chosen Arts Academy, Connie and Catelyn Obillo.
“Praise dance for the black community has given us an opportunity to demonstrate God’s love for us that we matter to him and to others, and to bring forth unity into the body of Christ,” Connie says.
Morning Star Baptist Church pastors John Whitfield and John R. Kelly, Ph. D. served as the event speakers.
Dr. Kelly says he wants to leave everyone with one important message.
“Art itself, and all forms has the way of bringing people together,” Dr. Kelly says. “We need to explore that. embrace it and don’t be afraid to try something different.”
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