Reverend Kyles, pastor of Monumental Baptist Church since 1959, was the guest speaker at the Memphis HUD Office on February 21. As a participant in many of the civil rights struggles throughout the South, he is recognized as a resource of information on the Civil Rights Movement. A nationally recognized speaker, Reverend Kyles has received many honors and awards, including the Tennessee Living Legend Award.

The honor of introducing Rev. Kyles was given to Jonathan Cruthird - a 4th grader from Memphis HUD's adopted school, New Hope Christian Academy.

Other events included testing employees' knowledge of Black History, and went on throughout the month. The winners were: Vera Cheers, Public Housing Revitalization Specialist; Bettye Jones, Public Housing Revitalization Specialist; Glenda Clark, Contract Coordinator; and Carolyn Baldwin, Program Assistant.

Agnes Henderson, Acting Public Housing Revitalization Supervisor, read Maya Angelou's "And Still I Rise." Following the program, a Soul Food Fest gave employees a chance to enjoy delicious chicken, neck bones, candied yams, turnip greens, macaroni & cheese, and peach cobbler.

On February 27, the Young Actor's Guild and the children from New Hope Christian Academy visited the Memphis HUD Office. The children sang and recited, in their own way, their views of what black history meant to them. The Young Actor's Guild graced HUD staff with a scene from their upcoming play entitled "Soul Revue," and finally, group of energetic young people performed "Sounds of Memphis," a tribute to Memphis musicians.

Many Memphis staff contributed, but much of the success of this year's event goes to Memphis Black History Month committee members Dorothy Cleaves, Demetra Daniel, Lisa DuBois, Donzaleigh Frazier, Marjorie George and Joseph Thomas.