Events Calendar Feb. 21 – Feb. 28

Discussions will continue each Sunday thereafter until the entire book is covered. Contact Bob Bender at 954-531-1928 or email bob@benderworld.com

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Led by dynamic Artistic Director Robert Battle, a Miami native, the renowned troupe returns Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. through Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. to Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Visit arshtcenter.org

4th Annual Ascension Awards: The Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County celebrates the best in black business, 11:30 a.m. at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd. Tickets $50-$55, call or visit blackchamberpbc.com

Food-Raiser for Foster Kids: Zona Fresca will host a fundraiser to benefit ChildNet from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. at Zona Fresca, 1095 S. University Drive in Plantation. Visit childnet.us

Friday, Feb. 22

A Visual Display: My Black History a Photo and Art Contest: The City of Miami Gardens presents a night of art and photography in celebration of Black History Month featuring spoken word performances by local artists, 6 – 9 p.m. at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex, 3000 N.W. 199th St., Miami Gardens.

Saturday, Feb. 23

I AM SUCCESS Workshop: Black History Edition: An interactive, multi-sensory workshop bridging history with the present to empower and motivate teens, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Purvis Young Art Museum, 255 N.W. 23rd St., Wynwood. Tickets $35 in advance, $45 at the door (if space available), include lunch and interpretive artwork (inclusive of a Purvis Young piece). Purchase tickets at iamsuccesworkshop.com. Call Renee M. Hollinger at rmhollinger@live.com or 305-924-5773.

Holland Scholarship Luncheon: The F. Malcolm Cunningham Sr. Bar Association hosts speaker Judy Smith, Esq., crisis manager and (the real Olivia Pope whose life work inspired the ABC-TV hit series Scandal), noon at the Ritz-Carlton, 100 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. For tickets call 561-655-9279 or visit cunninghambar.org

Key West Cemetery Stroll: Honoring Black History Month, an opportunity to learn firsthand about African Americans who contributed to Key West’s history. Gravesites visited include George Adderley, Willie Ward, Roosevelt Sands Sr., Frank Adams, Nelson English, Thomas Romer, Ellen Welters Sanchez, Sandy Cornish and the U.S. Battleship Maine Memorial.

The strolls will last approximately 90 minutes; groups limited to 30 people will depart from the Frances Street gate every 20 minutes beginning at 9 a.m. A donation of $10 (cash or check) per person to the Historic Florida Keys Foundation is recommended, pre-registration is required. Call Cemetery Friends Committee member Cynthia Edwards, 305-294-8503.

Occupy the Community: Join  Mary Ann Jones for a discussion on racism and its impact on mental health in our community, 3 p.m. at Palm Beach Lakes High School
Auditorium, 3505 Shiloh Dr., West Palm Beach.

Town Meeting: A discussion of how black and brown children become victims of Florida’s Broken Juvenile Justice System, 10 a.m. at Calvary Community Church, 1109 Australian Ave., West Palm Beach. Contact Perri Demps at 561-584-4781 or email pmdresources@gmail.com

Health, Safety Fair & Blood Drive: Free health screenings, community service vendors, gifts, door prizes, dancers, music, entertainment for kids, hosted by the Progressive N.W. Neighborhood Association and MLKCC, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the MLK Landmark Memorial, Currie Park, 2200 N. Flagler Dr., West Palm Beach. Call James Thomas, 561-827-2489 or Edith Bush, 561-832-4682.

Sunday, Feb. 24

Black Archives Forum: The fifth in the continuing series will feature Richard W. Harris Jr. presenting the legacy of the late Rev. Edward T. Graham, longtime pastor of Overtown’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2 p.m. at the Ward Cultural Tourist Gallery, 249 N.W. Ninth St., Miami.
Free and open to the public, call 305-636-2390.

Monday, Feb. 25

The Beast in Florida Book Discussion: Author, educator and historian Marvin Dunn will discuss his newest book which addresses a century of racial violence in Florida, 6 p.m. at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-357-2810.

Thursday, Feb. 28

Carrie P. Meek Leadership Achievement Awards: Join the Black Heritage Council of Nova Southeastern University for the Eighth Annual Outstanding Educational Leadership Achievement Awards Ceremony, which recognizes and honors distinguished leaders in education from South Florida, 6 p.m. at the Signature Grand, 6900 W. State Rd. 84, Davie. Millennium Middle School Interim Principal Henry Brown is this year’s keynote speaker. Tickets $50 for adults, $30 for children and $500 for corporate table of 10. Visit fischlerschool.nova.edu/bhc

11th Annual Heritage Day: The Urban League of Palm Beach County annual event will feature journalist Rick Christie as keynote speaker, noon – 1:15 p.m. at the MLK Memorial at Currie Park, 2400 N. Flagler Dr., West Palm Beach. Call 561-833-1461 or visit ulpbc.org

A Raisin in the Sun: Lorraine Hansberry’s powerful, classic drama about a poor back family living on Chicago’s South Side, through March 3 at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Visit palmbeachdramaworks.org

Free FCAT Tutoring: For the second year, the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) at the Delray Beach Public Library, 100 West Atlantic Avenue, will offer free FCAT tutoring January through March 2013 for all children in Grades 3, 4 & 5. Prior registration is required. Visit delraylibrary.org