News & Notes - 6/22/23 Southfield Sun

Southfield honors the city’s first Black councilwoman
SOUTHFIELD — The city of Southfield and various partners are hosting a special tribute for the city’s first Black councilwoman, Barbara Talley, from 4-5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 26, at the Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road.

The ceremony will honor Talley, the “Mother of Civil Rights in Southfield,” by naming the circle drive in front of City Hall “Barbara Talley Way.” Talley’s noble contributions to Southfield during her time on City Council (1983-1989) include an affirmative action plan for hiring minority police, fire and management personnel, and elevating women in city government. Talley also founded the Southfield Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force in 1985, which hosts the annual “MLK Peace Walk,” the largest tribute to MLK in Michigan. Talley is still active in the community and serves with the Task Force, Hope Church, AKA Sorority, the National Congress of Black Women and the Southfield Historical Society.

The tribute is free and open to the public. It is in partnership with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Southfield Alumnae Chapter, Hope United Methodist Church, Southfield Historical Society and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Pi Tau Omega Chapter.

For more information, call Dorothy Dean at (248) 790-0531.

 

Umoja to host fundraiser for the Nine Mile corridor project
SOUTHFIELD — Umoja Fine Arts Gallery, 16250 Northland Drive, Suite 102, is hosting a fundraiser for the Friends of Southfield Public Arts to benefit the Nine Mile corridor project 5-7 p.m. June 28.

In July, the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission was awarded a $45,000 Planning and Assistance Program grant by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments to fund a feasibility study to determine how Nine Mile Road corridor communities, located between Hazel Park and the city of Farmington, can collaborate to share resources and connect cities with almost 17 miles of continuous nonmotorized pathways.

Mayor Kenson Siver will be in attendance to provide residents with more information regarding the project as it pertains to Southfield. Currently, the city is working on the area from Greenfield Road to Lahser Road. Guests will enjoy an evening of creativity with the opportunity to mingle with Umoja Fine Arts artists in residence Marcel Stewart and Rosemary Summers.

Light hors d’oeuvres and libations will be served.

Tickets are tax-deductible donations that can be made for $50, $75 or $100 through PayPal at sfldpublicarts@gmail.com. Checks made out to Friends of Southfield Public Arts will also be accepted.

For more information on the project, visit www.candgnews.com.