Greens Festival Celebrates Black History Month

February 20, 2019 2:04 PM
by Carla Fantozzi

This article originally appeared in the February edition of Seascape. 

Join Virginia Avenue Park (VAP) and Parent Connection Group (PCG) on Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as they celebrate Black History Month with the annual Greens Festival. This year’s festival theme is Young, Gifted and Black, and will feature cooking demos with celebrity chefs, a community Greens cooking contest, a Black History exhibit, musical performances, book readings and more!

The first Greens Festival four years ago was envisioned by Janeen Jackson, then co-chair of Parent Connection Group at VAP. She and her fellow members wanted a unique way to celebrate black history through food and cultural activities. Borrowing from other Greens Cooking events, they designed an event that integrates healthy Soul Food cooking with cultural history education. Greens recipes are contributed mostly by Pico community participants and range from Southern to African to Caribbean traditions. Winning recipes are demonstrated by the community member alongside a professional African American chef at the festival during the weekly Farmers Market. Additionally, the Greens festival features live music, book readings and cultural crafts that celebrate the history and diversity of the Black community in Santa Monica.

PCG serves as a resource for African American/Black families at Virginia Avenue Park. Established in 2014, PCG supports families as they navigate the City and school district, while celebrating and sharing black history and culture with the larger community.

This year’s event is presented in collaboration with the VAP, PCG, Pico Branch Library and the Santa Monica Farmers Market. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Virginia Avenue Park at 310.458.8688.

Authored By

Carla Fantozzi
Principal Community Services Program Supervisor