Celebrations and more

NEW HAVEN — Southern Connecticut State University will present a free program Thursday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The event, sponsored by the SCSU chapter of the SUOAF/AFSCME union and the SCSU Multicultural Center, will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Lyman Center for the Performing Arts.
The program includes the Unity Boys Choir, Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School Dance Group, Amistad Academy Middle School Orchestra, Philippine-American Association of Connecticut, SCSU Stepping Up Drill Team, students Raul Ruiz, Fred Knowles, Lytasha Blackwell, Frank Brady, Chris Singleton and professor Tony Russo.
For tickets, call 392-6154. For more details, call the Multicultural Center at 392-5888.

2-day celebration in New Haven
NEW HAVEN — The New Haven Black History Coalition will present its fifth annual Black History Celebration at Gateway Community College, Long Wharf Campus.
“Tell All the Children Our Story” will include:
- 4-8 p.m. Friday, “A Celebration of Black Art,” highlighting new works by local artists, Gateway Community College Art Gallery. The exhibit will be runs through Feb. 29.
- 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, a day of lectures, workshops.
Keynote speaker is Stephen L. Carter, author and the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Yale Law School. Carter’s novels include the new “New England White.”
Hands-on workshops include bookmaking, jewelry-making, the life of Bessie Coleman and Afro-Caribbean doll-making.
For more information, contact Curlena McDonald at 624-3923 or at cmcd04@snet.net.

Music and literature at Woolsey Hall
NEW HAVEN — The New Haven Chorale will welcome the Heritage Chorale and actors from the Yale School of Drama at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 to celebrate black Americans’ contributions to music and literature.
The performance will be held at Woolsey Hall at College and Grove streets.
There will be readings from the works of Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Maya Angelou. Music will include spirituals, gospel and contemporary compositions and audience sing-alongs. Guest soloist will be tenor Albert Lee, a city native.
A lecture on “What Does America Mean To Me? Race and Citizenship in the Formation of the United States” will be presented at 3:15 p.m. in Woolsey Hall by Jonathan Holloway, master of Yale’s Calhoun College, and professor of history. A free-will donation will benefit the Greater New Haven NAACP’s scholarship fund.
Tickets are free for students; $15 for seniors, $20 for adults and $35 for prime seating. Tickets are available at the door, and by calling 776-SONG, and at Foundry Music in New Haven, Books and Co. in Hamden, Sound Runner in Branford, Breakwater Books in Guilford, and R.J. Julia’s in Madison.

Gospel concert Feb. 24 is free
HAMDEN — A free gospel celebration concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in Alumni Hall of Quinnipiac at University.
Performers include Ernest Davis Jr.’s Wilmington Chester Mass Choir of Wilmington, Del., Youthful Praise Choir of Bridgeport, the Kergyma Community Choir of New Haven and Quinnipiac’s Praise 2 Him Ensemble. For more information, call 582-8732.

W. Haven students will be recognized
WEST HAVEN — In recognition of Black History Month, the city’s 13th annual black cultural celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 27 in the Harriet C. North Community Room at City Hall, 355 Main St.
The Black Heritage Committee will honor middle school students and others who have made contributions to the city.A free lunch will follow the ceremony. Food committee chairwoman Carol Jenkins is accepting donations.