Celebrating Black History

By Rebecca Wells-Gonzalez

McKeesport, PA (February 22, 2013) –With

To celebrate Black History Month, ResCare

Workforce Services in McKeesport, PA,

invited civil rights historian and labor

rights activist Jamaal Craig to speak to the

youth about African American history and

the Freedom Riders.



holidays such as Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras and President’s Day, February is truly a month to celebrate. It’s also a month to remember. Beginning in 1976, Black History Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the

contributions and important roles of African

Americans in our country’s history.



To celebrate, ResCare Workforce Services in McKeesport invited Jamaal Craig, a civil rights historian and labor rights activist, to speak to the youth in their program about African American history in the United States, specifically the Freedom Riders.



“The youth were quite surprised with the

information Mr. Craig provided and were

surprisingly unaware, before his visit, of many aspects of the civil rights movement,” Kathleen McGrath McQuillan, project manager for the ResCare Workforce Services operation, said. “Through his visits with us at Mon Valley Bridge and also the New Kensington site, he has become a valuable resource for our youth in all areas of civil rights, as well as history, politics and how all of it relates to them as individuals.”

Mr. Craig did such a wonderful job that he has been invited back to

share the movie “Freedom Riders” with the youth. After showing the movie, he will lead a discussion focused on how concepts from the movie relate to the youths’ lives today.

Mr. Craig left the display that he used for his presentation for students to read at their own pace. The display details information about the Freedom Riders and their stories. Kathleen McGrath McQuillan, project manager, was pleased that he left the display.

“Everyone who visits the Mon Valley Bridge will benefit from this display on the Freedom Riders,” Ms. McQuillan said.