Mission Commission will be hosting a special luncheon on Sunday, February 26 in the Fellowship Hall, after the 10:30 am Worship service. Our Guest speaker, Gilda Rogers, is the Executive Director of the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center in Red Bank. She will speak on “American History is Black History”, something we don’t always learn in school.
As an award-winning journalist, Gilda is also the author of three books including: Out of the Ashes Came Hope, the memoir of Monsignor William J. Linder, founder of New Community Corporation, in Newark and the catalyst in the rebuilding of Newark’s Central Ward, after the ’67 Riots. She will be speaking to us about how American History is Black History, something we don’t always learn in school.
Gilda led the grassroots effort to save and preserve the former home of T. Thomas Fortune, now a National Historic Landmark, located in Red Bank, New Jersey. Fortune was one of the greatest Black journalists and newspaper editors of the 19th and early 20th Centuries.
At the Cultural Center, Gilda also curated two exhibits. The first one is “A Love Letter to Count Basie: From The Great Migration to The Harlem Renaissance”. Native of Red Bank, Count Basie was a jazz pianist and a great bandleader. The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank is named after him. The other exhibit is “Ancestral Ascension,” honoring the Parker family of Black medical professionals serving Red Bank. Drs. James Parker Boulevard in Red Bank is named after them.
Gilda was named in 2017 the “Humanitarian of the Year,” by the Monmouth County Human Relations Commission. The American Association of University Women in 2018 named Gilda as one of the honorees for its “Women of Achievement” award.
Join us in welcoming Gilda Rogers to FPC Matawan!