ROGERS PARK — A Black History Month celebration Sunday at Loyola Park will honor Rogers Park’s first black residents and feature talks from local black business owners.

Loyola Park’s 20th annual Black History Month celebration will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the park’s clubhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.

The event will feature talks from eight black entrepreneurs, according to the Loyola Park Advisory Council. Speakers include Terry Gant, owner of Third Coast Comics; Natasha King, owner of Jungle Love Herbs; and Betty McDaniels of Lakeside Treasures.

The Loyola Park celebration will include a discussion of the Pollard family, Rogers Park’s first black residents, whose members paved the way in the NFL, Northwestern University and the motion picture industry. An effort is underway to rename a neighborhood park after the Pollard family.

An art exhibit featuring work by students from Chicago Public Schools and other local art programs will be on display.

Black History Month party organizers will be collecting gently used books for the park’s children’s library, and donations are encouraged.

To learn more about the event, click here.

Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every penny we earn funds neighborhoods across Chicago.

Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.

Thank you for subscribing to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), newsroom run by reporters. Every penny we make funds Chicago neighborhoods. Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.

Listen to “It’s Alright: A Block Club Chicago Podcast” Here: