Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills(Los Angeles) celebrated Black History Month February 25 with a free, family-friendly event. The evening featured a community resource fair and reception with light refreshments followed by a one-night-only spectacular of music, dance, poetry and speeches by special guests celebrating Black icons, culture and history.

The event commenced at 4 p.m. with the community resource and networking fair, which offered local education, health, housing and volunteer resources, along with complimentary refreshments and beverages.

At 6:30, Forest Lawn, in partnership with producer Charles Lane, presented a performance from the sold-out opera Omar, which included choreographer Yusuf Nasir (the opera’s dancer and choreographer); musical director Rickey Pagoet; a troupe of singers and dancers; soloist Una Van Duvall; baritones Cedric Berry, Caleb Curry and Ebony Fay; a five-piece band; poet Peter J. Harris, who introduced a new generation of emerging young poets; narrator Michael Ellington; special guest speaker Sidney Hurd, an African American quilter; and keynote speaker Stephany Powell, Ph.D., former L.A. Police sergeant and director of Law Enforcement Training and Survivor Services for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.

“Forest Lawn’s Black History Month is one of the most anticipated community events of the year, and the addition of the resource fair this year brings more depth and community engagement to the event,” said Rodolfo Saenz, Forest Lawn senior vice president of marketing. “From stage performers and poets to craftspeople and musicians, we look forward to celebrating Black culture in many forms…” forestlawn.com