A Joyful Black History Month Celebration at Brushwood Center

On February 22, 2026 the community gathered at Brushwood Center for a beautiful and inspiring Black History Month event.

Joyful! A Celebration of Black History Month, is a concert curated by singer Angela Walker, accompanied by a culinary experience by chef Jeffrey Williams.

“Let Out Your Joy”

The program of musical selections by Angela, Patrick A. Pearson, and Tranelle Duffie traced the history of the African American experience and reflected on the role of music in the community. The audience clapped, sang, and cheered as Angela, Patrick, and Tranelle guided them through spirituals and gospel songs, from enslavement to the Civil Rights Movement to the modern day.

“The music was wonderful and the spirit was beautiful,” said one audience member.

Angela M. Walker is a U.S. Navy Veteran, musician, motivational speaker, community navigator, and Veterans’ advocate. She holds a master’s degree in Education and Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. She has taught at the City Colleges of Chicago and worked as a Veterans Service Officer Representative for the
State of Illinois, as well as a marketing consultant and health navigator. She is the founder of The Brave Project.

In addition to her advocacy, Angela offers calming presence and grief support in hospice and hospital settings and promotes expressive therapy and positive psychology through her presentations. She performs as a songstress year-round for local and national Veteran service organizations, civic groups, and private events.

Angela says,”I think when you immerse yourself in the arts, you just lose yourself a little bit, but it also gives you time to meditate and think about the things that are important to you and to think about those inner dreams that need to come out… I’m able to express myself. And when you express yourself, you can let out your pain. You can let out your questions, you can let out your joy. It comes out and you share it with others. And then in turn, the audience shares their joy with you. And I can see that when I’m performing, I can see when people are being receptive to the music and
the songs.”

“This Food is Love”

In the kitchen, Jeffrey Williams of From Hood to Table presented a hands-on demonstration about significant foods in African American culture, explaining the culinary history as well as the recipes. With a little help from participants, he prepared fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, greens with smoked meat, cornbread dressing, and cornbread.

Jeffery is a Chicago-raised private chef, and Waukegan urban farming and sustainability teacher focused on solving the
food crisis throughout urban landscapes. After six years of supporting and coaching high school students, he found peace and a safe space in his backyard during the pandemic. He connected his passions for cooking and gardening and founded From Hood To Table. He aims to prioritize access to the best and freshest food by teaching communities how to
grow and use what they have to make compost and organic inputs. He intends to build a bridge to the past and connect Black and Brown communities to a more sustainable and flourishing lifestyle.

Thank you to Angela, Patrick, Tranelle, and Jeffrey for creating such a special day at Brushwood!