On Saturday, February 4th, Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson (At-Large) and Oak Street Health hosted a Grios Black History Month celebration honoring 11 Philadelphians who are cultural guardians, storytellers, and history makers, in partnership with Independence Blue Cross. The event took place at Upper Room Missionary Baptist Church.
Rooted in West African tradition, grios (also griots) is best known as narrators of oral history. They are storytellers, poets, historians, genealogists, and musicians who keep the past alive for future generations. The goal of this event was to recognize individuals keeping Black history alive in Philadelphia and beyond.
Honorees included:
Miriam Alexander, member of Upper Room Missionary Baptist Church;
Margaret Allen, member of Upper Room Missionary Baptist Church;
Monsignor Federico A. Britto, pastor of St. Cyprian Catholic Church of Philadelphia and the only African American Monsignor in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia;
Asia Cooney, president of the Philadelphia Housing Authority Resident Advisory Board;
Marquita DeVeaux, owner of Favors LLC;
Ronald Hinton, president of Allegheny West Foundation;
Russell Jackson, member of Upper Room Missionary Baptist Church;
Atlas Jones, member of Upper Room Missionary Baptist Church; and
Majeedah Rashid, chief operating officer of Nicetown Community Development Corporation
Alvin E. Echols, attorney and founder of North City Congress, and Reverend Leonard Smalls, founder of the Church of Christian Compassion, were honored posthumously.
The event also included a donation presentation sponsored by Independence Blue Cross and Oak Street Health that will benefit Upper Room Missionary Baptist Church’s food pantry.
