The Young Women’s Outreach Center will be sponsoring the sixth annual Black History Oratorical Contest at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library’s Schechter Auditorium.
The event will give youth a chance to read, learn, study and finally speak upon and be knowledgeable of any historical black topic or what black history means to them. At the same time, this event will help build self-esteem, and reading, interpersonal and communication skills.
Youth, parents, youth group leaders and school principals and staff members are encouraged to get involved and sign up participants.
Students will compete and be judged in three categories — elementary, middle and high school. Prizes and awards will be given to the best participating students that deliver the best three-minute memorized speech. Judges will look for the best subject knowledge, eye contact, poise and delivery.
All students should register as soon as possible by contacting Angela Harris or Jeriesha Brake at our 252-527-7844. All youth are welcome.
Black History Month is an annual observance month in the United States for the remembrance of important African-Americans and events. Americans have recognized and celebrated black history annually since 1926. It was first known as “Negro History Week” and later as “Black History Month.” However, it is little known that black history had barely begun to be studied or even documented when the tradition originated.
Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that the blacks gained a respectable presence in the history books.
“And now, with this achievement that has been accomplished, it is an advantage to educate all youth of the great achievement of black history and what Blacks, Whites, Hispanics and all nationalities can achieve today,” said Joyce Clark, executive director of the Young Women’s Outreach Center. “Together we can make a big difference in our world today.”
YWOC is a private, non-profit organization that offers an array of services, events and activities to youth, families and individuals to become productive contributors to themselves, to their families and to their community. The agency provides counseling, referrals, job training, mentoring, parenting, prevention and intervention programs and services, educational programs, community events for youth and families, among other services. YWOC helps males and females regardless of age or ethnicity in need of a service.
For more information or to volunteer, call Clark at 252-527-7844 or drop by the office Mondays through Fridays, 119 E. Blount St.