Black History Month Events To Inspire and Educate in Fort Dodge

(Alpha Media – Brooke Bickford) This week Black History Month will be celebrated with an incredible lineup of speakers and events presented by Athletics for Education and Success, otherwise known as AFES,  and the Privilege Institute. 

The theme is Black Wall Street, a time of wealth and affluence for the black community of  Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early 1900’s. 

Founder of AFES, Charles Clayton has  teamed up with Dr. Eddie Moore Junior for the event.

Clayton said the main purpose is to encourage success and wealth building and to inspire people, that no matter where you begin, it is never too late to do great things.

That discussion will begin with those who are currently in jail at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility and at the residential halfway house about overcoming obstacles:

“I’ve got a felon in my past and have turned my life around over the last 20-25 years Doctor Moore at one point got arrested, even was a drug user and has gone on to get his doctorate, he’s an author,” Clayton said. “Hopefully we can motivate some of these men to say, even though right now you may not be in the right chapter of your life where you want to be, that book is not done. You can still write the greatest finish that you want and hopefully kinda motivate them to turn their lives around and stay on the right path.”

Thursday and Friday, Clayton says there will be guest speakers at all of the elementary schools and the middle school throughout the day. He explains why it’s important for young people to see people of all different backgrounds excelling in their lives and professions:

“It’s good for every kid to see those professionals and know that we have African Americans here in town that work in our hospitals as nurses and doctors and we have professionals that work at the correctional facility, we have law enforcement,” Clayton said. “A lot of things that go unnoticed sometimes. Really try to force that issue and get those people in those schools and in front of those kids.”

Saturday will be jam packed with uplifting speakers from the community. and will begin with breakfast at 10am and an opening prayer at 10:30 before an introduction by Clayton on Black Wall Street and other famous thriving black communities in history.

Guest speakers begin after that including Lisa Shimkat, Leah Glasco and Stacy Sillimon.

A dance performance by Bakari Inc. Youth Dance Group.

11:00 Broke Mindset with Doctor Eddie Moore Jr.

11:30 Investment with Jason Brown

12:00 Buying Property with Gene Boykin

11:30 Johnathan Roberts

12:00 Closing remarks and networking + social time