January 2026

Commemorating Black History Month 2025

Pasadena Villagers facilitated four free public gatherings open to everyone in the community to celebrate the impact and legacy of African Americans. Especially as the African American community in Altadena and Pasadena were deeply affected by the Eaton Fire, the older adults who are part of Pasadena Village wanted to continue to offer opportunities for connection and lifelong learning. Throughout February, Villagers facilitated gatherings celebrating the impact and legacy of African Americans.

They kicked off Black History Month with an insightful presentation by John Williams, Executive Director of the Center for Restorative Justice on February 6. Several people gathered at Washington Park Community House for an overview of the history of Black History Month, which started as a one-day commemoration of Frederick Douglass on February 14, and then Carter G. Woodson initiated Negro History week, and finally in 1976, President Gerald Ford proclaimed that it would be celebrated the entire month of February. John Williams, and those in the audience, reminded us of the fragility of our freedoms, the danger of history being forgotten, and the critical importance of continuing to learn and share stories.

John has worked toward peacemaking and racial reconciliation for almost 30 years. He leads groups on multiethnic civil rights tours to encourage people to become more proximate with people, places, and the past. The Center for Restorative Justice is offering the next Pasadena Pilgrimage on April 12.

Villager Jim Hendrick facilitates Pasadena Village’s monthly poetry group. On February 20, about a dozen older adults gathered to share and comment on work of African American Poets. Jim stated, “The healing power of poetry is needed right now…the February Poetry Gathering was a special celebration of the work of African American poets.” Read more about that gathering in this article.

Dick Myers, Villager and Board President, organized two guest presenters for Pasadena Village’s 1619, The Lingering Imprint group. The group was inspired by the New York Times’ magazine issue, 1619 Project. It is a safe place to talk about the history of racism in America, to understand its origins and its residual impact. New participants are always welcome to join their third Friday sessions at noon on Zoom. Dick shares past discussions and future topics on the 1619, The Lingering Imprint Blog on the Village website.

On February 21, about 20 participants logged on to delve into Conversations with West African Art with art enrichment facilitator Helane Rheingold. She described the areas in sub-Saharan west Africa, where the slaves were forcefully removed and brought to America. One of the masterpieces she shared was from the Benin kingdom, a pre-colonial African state located in what is now the southern region of Nigeria. The kingdom supported two guilds of artists who created masterpieces in bronze and ivory. Participants shared what they noticed about the differences between two sculptures from an ancestral altar, the head of an Oba (king ) and head of an Iyoba (queen mother), and what they could discern from the iconography of both pieces.

Dick Myers also invited William "Bill" Gould V to share about his family history on February 28. Bill shared about his great, great grandfather William B. Gould who escaped slavery in 1862. William went on to become a Civil War Navy veteran, a family man, and a respected member of his community in Massachusetts where he settled with his wife and eight children. William’s life is chronicled in the biography Diary of a Contraband, which highlights his journey, how he overcame considerable odds, and ultimately succeeded in finding liberation and achievement.

Dick stated, “Black history is American history. But, there are forces afoot deliberately attempting to erase much of our collective history. It is important that we make the effort to stay aware and hear the untold stories. It is up to all of us to not let our history be erased. Our programs at Pasadena Village celebrating Black History Month represented our effort to keep the truth alive.”