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BY ORA NELSON

Carver Community Center is hosting its Black History Gala of 2020 on Feb. 8 in Florala, Ala.

The event will have both a speaker and “the best soul food this side of the Mason-Dixon line” available.

“People come expecting soul food, and soul food is what we serve,” said Hazel Bryant, vice president at Carver Community Center.

Clavin Mulkey, a Troy University graduate of both its undergraduate and master’s programs in education, is returning to his hometown as the guest speaker at the Gala this year.

“We are looking forward to hearing him talk about what made him successful so that he may be an inspiration to the young people that come to the event,” said Bryant. “He’s a good example of a person that does their work well and is rewarded in life for it.”

The Gala was created to recognize black history and to give people in the community a chance to speak about their experiences.

The Center began hosting the Gala five years ago to show the entire community “that black people have accomplished many things” that can be looked over in the past and present.

“One of the things I want to do is put together a pamphlet or some information to hand out at the event about black women in science and engineering,” said Bryant.

The Carver Community Center building was previously an all-black junior high school. After the end of segregation, it became home to the nonprofit organization there today. The Center is always in need of volunteers for its tutoring services and various programs offered for both children and seniors within the community.

The event will be at 5 p.m. at the Rodney J. Evans Center in Florala.

Tickets to the Gala are $20 for adults and $10 for students. To purchase tickets, please call Carver Community Center at 334-858-5330.