During King’s time in Simsbury, he witnessed a desegregated world for the first time their cars with balloons, streamers and other birthday fanfare and joined in the procession down Hopmeadow to mark this remarkable achievement in our community.” She says the ongoing goal is for “visitors to be educated, engaged in selfdiscovery, and inspired to live a life of inclusion, acceptance and tolerance.” King was born on Jan. 15, 1929. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968. For 10 years, Simsbury students have worked hard to meet fundraising goals and design the memorial, with the help of architect Jay Willerup, Tara’s husband, who donated his time and expertise. Funds for the $150,000 project were raised through the sale of personalized bricks on the pathway, along with contributions from individuals and businesses. Donations covered construction costs and created a fund for educational and enrichment programming as well as future maintenance. Simsburybased Simscroft-Echo Farms Inc. has served as the contractor. After so many students have worked on the memorial, Simsbury High senior Joao Galafassi says they are all excited to see it finally completed. He notes that when King visited town and sensed a “call to justice,” he was about Galafassi’s age. Similarly, the Simsbury students are at a point in their lives where they are eager to see change, Galafassi says. The MLK memorial will become an official stop on the Connecticut Freedom Trail. + www.MLKinCT.com www.SimsburyFreeLibrary.org
ShopBlackCT listing grows sevenfold nearly 1300 businesses, a sevenfold increase, including many in the Farmington Valley. Visitors may search by Avon resident Sarah Thompson is the city/town or by category, for everything founder of ShopBlackCT.com from restaurants and salons WITH Black History Month upon us, it is to accountants, event planners, dentists, fine artists and everything in between. important to recognize how vital BlackThe volunteer team of 35 behind owned businesses are to the American the site provides free support to the economy and celebrate the many businesses, helping them focus on contributions Black entrepreneurs have what they do best and alleviating their made throughout history. marketing costs. Supporting Black entrepreneurship By choosing to support Black-owned generates growth and opportunity in multiple ways through our communities. businesses, consumers also contribute to shrinking the racial wealth gap, fosterMore than 2 million Black-owned businesses in the United States generate ing local job creation and tackling systemic racism. billions of dollars in gross revenue and But it takes more than just a few employ about 920,000 people, according people — it takes all of us to create this to Fundera.com. shift. It’s time to move from empathy to Yet Black-owned businesses receive action, and make intentional choices with less business financing, less often and how we’re choosing to allocate our dollars. at higher rates, with just 1% obtaining To search for Black-owned businesses a business loan in their first year. by town or category, to view featured Compounded by the affects of the businesses or submit a business for COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to listing, visit ShopBlackCT.com + face disproportionate challenges to succeeding and expanding. www.facebook.com/goshopblack One way to help? Support local Blackwww.instagram.com/shopblackct owned businesses. ShopBlackCT.com has been featured ShopBlackCT.com — a volunteeron NBC CT, WFSB-3, FOX61 News, driven, not-for-profit website — is making WTNH News 8 (New Haven ABC it easy to find Black-owned businesses affiliate), News 12 CT (cable news TV throughout Connecticut. station), Hot 93.7 FM and other media Launched in July 2020 with 175 outlets besides Today Magazine businesses listed, the site now features By Sarah Thompson Special to Today Magazine
TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – FEBRUARY 2021
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Simsbury resident Tara Willerup, vice chair of the Free Library board, says a bigger in-person dedication is planned when COVID restrictions are past. The unveiling featured a brief outdoor ceremony at the Free Library with the Simsbury students, Curtiss, Willerup and Art Miller, director of Black Catholic Ministries for the Archdiocese of Hartford. The Simsbury High gospel choir presented a moving online musical performance of “I Need You To Survive” — a song that has been recorded and popularized by gospel music artist Hezekiah Walker. After the ceremony, a car procession on Hopmeadow Street celebrated King’s birthday and the new memorial. Willerup explains that people “decorated