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Poetry reading, group line dancing and a cappella and gospel singing shaped the lively atmosphere of Menlo Park’s 19th annual Black History Month Luncheon and Gospel Fest, held Feb. 22 at the Menlo Park Senior Center in the city’s Belle Haven neighborhood.
The celebration drew a crowd from around the Bay Area, selling out with 130 tickets. According to Senior Center recreation coordinator and event organizer Avideh Yaghmai-Samardar, most of the attendees – about 90 percent – were seniors, and attendees came from Oakland, San Mateo, San Jose, and Mountain View.
Vice Mayor Cecilia Taylor also participated in the celebration.
Those attending the event wore bright colors, and the paper decorations were made by seniors at the center. Other decorations included cardboard cutouts of notable African-Americans such as Michelle and Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman.
“I’m inspired by the sharing of cultures at the Senior Center,” Taylor said.
By Kate Bradshaw
By Kate Bradshaw
By Kate Bradshaw