Honoring Black History: A Season of Legacy, Learning, and Love
Celebrating Black History isn’t limited to the month of February; it’s a year-round commitment to honoring legacy, empowering youth, and building bridges in our community. From engaging service projects to powerful artistic expression and immersive cultural experiences, this year’s observance has been a vibrant reflection of the people, stories, and shared history that shape the Avenue community.
A Legacy of Service: MLK Day Community Clean-Up
We began the season of reflection and action by participating in the 11th annual MLK Day of Service. In partnership with Councilman William Carroll, Mobile Baykeeper, Mobile Kappa League, and Mobile United, our team joined dozens of community members to clean up District 2. This powerful day of unity and action exemplified Dr. King’s enduring message—that everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.
Seeing our community come together with a shared purpose to beautify our streets and honor Dr. King’s legacy was a reminder of the strength we find in collective care.
Creative Expression: Black History Month Through After School Art
Throughout February, our After School Art program at Calloway-Smith Middle School became a living canvas for cultural celebration. Led by the incredibly talented and passionate local artist Cherrelle Smith (better known to students as Mrs. CeCe) the program introduced students to Black artists who have transformed the world through creativity and courage.
Each week, students explored the powerful visual narratives of Kara E. Walker and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Inspired by their stories and techniques, our students created their own silhouette art and expressive abstract paintings, boldly channeling history, identity, and imagination through every brushstroke. These lessons weren't just about learning art, they were about discovering voice, pride, and possibility.
To see more of the powerful artwork and lessons from our After School Art program, visit our Instagram for the full Black History Month spotlight series (start here). From Kara Walker’s striking silhouettes to Jean-Michel Basquiat’s bold brushstrokes, you’ll find inspiring stories, student creations, and a deeper look into how art connects our students to history, identity, and self-expression. Click the links below to explore the series.
Black History Month Social Media Spotlight Series:
Post 1: Meet Mrs. CeCe, The Heart of After School Art at Calloway-Smith
Post 2: Kara E. Walker, Inspiring the Next Generation of Artists
Post 3: Students Bringing Kara Walker-Inspired Art to Life
History in Motion: A Magical Journey with The Princess and the Frog
Thanks to a partnership with Mobile Ballet, 75 first-grade students and 8 teachers from Florence Howard Elementary School were invited to experience the magic of The Princess and the Frog through the Discover Dance program. From Tiana’s Enchanted Jamboree at Bishop State to a live performance at the Saenger Theatre, this arts-filled journey brought joy, movement, and inspiration to young audiences.
We were especially proud to see one of our own—local singer and Fuse Project volunteer Symone French—shine in lending her voice to the starring role of Tiana. Her performance reminded students that their dreams are valid, their stories matter, and that they, too, belong on the stage.
Remembering the Past: Honoring Bloody Sunday
In March, Fuse Project proudly sponsored People United to Advance the Dream-Mobile’s annual trip to Selma in honor of the 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery March. This powerful pilgrimage serves as a living classroom connecting community members to the triumphs and sacrifices that helped secure the right to vote.
Standing in solidarity with our partners and neighbors, we were humbled to support this journey and reaffirm our commitment to justice, equity, and remembrance.
Passing the Torch: Read Across America Day
We celebrated literacy and legacy during Read Across America Day at Florence Howard Elementary School and Pathway K-5. Joined by community leaders like Pastor Marvin Charles Lou, Jr., Rev. David Edwards, and several Fuse Project supporters and Junior Board members, we spent the day reading to students and sharing the magic of storytelling.
These moments—quiet but powerful—remind us that Black history is not just something to be remembered. It is lived, shaped, and passed on with every book read, every hand held, and every lesson shared.
From art and activism to storytelling and service, we’re proud of the ways our team and community came together to celebrate Black history, not just as something behind us, but as something we are building together. At Fuse Project, we believe that honoring history means investing in the future—one child, one story, and one act of kindness at a time.
