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Black History Month was originally “Negro History Week” created by historian, Carter G. Woodson in 1926. The “week” coincided with the birthdates of Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Black History Month was first proposed by black educators at Kent State University in 1969. The first Black History Month was celebrated in 1970. The year I was born. However, it still took six years for it to be recognized and celebrated nationally after it was publicly recognized by President Gerald Ford.

Over the past week, we’ve played self-love bingo at cafe night every day of the week. It’s the same as regular bingo, except players had to use the phrase “I am” in front of each word after calling BINGO. Not only was it fun, but it was beautiful to hear the same people who initially were embarrassed to call a bingo, gradually become more confident in the words they were saying.

The power of good conversation really comes to light at a Speed Mentoring. This month, we were fortunate enough to have top-notch professionals from all over the city come for a Speed Mentoring event— FSH’s take on professional networking, set up like speed dating. Some of the professionals who came to speak with our participants included the mayor of Louisville, the CEO of the Humana Foundation, and graduates of the Family Scholar House program.

Beyond my desire to have a safe place to live and raise my children, Family Scholar House has given me the opportunity to go back to school to become a nurse. FSH’s support has given me confidence in my abilities as a woman, mother, and future nurse. My family continues to learn and grow together. In fact, I love spending time with my kids as we do our homework together!

The holiday season is a special time for everyone, but there are moments at Family Scholar House that are unlike anywhere else. The past month, I have been helping with our Adopt-A-Family program, assisting donors and participants. Hundreds of families are blessed with presents, but there’s one family’s pick up I will never forget.

Playing and laughing with the other kids, attending fun community events, and always feeling a strong sense of family and support–that’s what I think of when I recall the time spent growing up at Family Scholar House. It was over eleven years ago when my mother, little brother, and I all moved into the cloister apartments and joined what was then called Project Women.