DOWAGIAC —  Last year, the theme of The Black Family Celebration asked the questions, “How did we come to this? How do we fix it?” At this year’s 19th annual event, the question is answered with a new theme, “We Fix it by Becoming a Village Again.”

The Black Family Celebration will be hosted on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Walter Ward Park in Dowagiac. The two-day event will have food, games and entertainment at no cost to the community. The event’s purpose has been to promote and unify the African American community in Dowagiac since 1991.

Tyree Blackamore, the event coordinator of the Black Family Celebration Revival Committee, which hosts The Black Family Celebration, remembers attending the event as a teen.

“The first one was in 1991,” Blackamore said. “I was in high school at the time. I remember going to it. My grandfather being a city councilmember of Dowagiac, he had a big part in it.”

This is the first year Blackamore has taken over the role as event coordinator after he said the event experienced a decline in participation. To combat this, Blackamore created the Black Family Celebration Revival Committee, which is made up of volunteers. The committee started working on this year’s event immediately after the 2018 event concluded.

“If someone didn’t step in with new ideas, it could have basically folded,” Blackamore said.

In order to provide more activities, the committee reached out to local businesses and asked them to participate as sponsors.

Honor Credit Union, Family Fare, Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, Marathon, Bakeman Barbers, Walmart, McDonald’s, C. Wimberly Ford Inc., and Curly Q’s BBQ answered the call.

One of Blackamore’s goals for the events is to increase attendance and attract more participation. With a degree in media arts from Michigan State University, Blackamore created a marketing plan, printed fliers, and made the event have a presence on social media. He also created a website for the event, blackfamilycelebrationdowagiac.com, so the community could get more information.

Blackamore has invited local pastors and Cass County Commissioner Clark Cobb to speak at the event in relation to the theme. Dowagiac city council members will also be in attendance.

“I see a lot of ways we’ve gotten away from the traditional ways of community and philanthropy,” he said. “We’ve gotten away from all of that. I really believe that if we all come together, unite and work together, things will be better for our children, for us and for society as a whole.”

Blackamore said The Black Family Celebration does not exclude anyone and the public is welcome to attend. Vendors will also have stations set up to sell merchandise.

“There is something for everyone,” he said. “We really want the community to come out and just enjoy themselves.”

In addition to the speakers, free barbecue will be offered from Curly Q’s BBQ. A one-mile walk and run, and a basketball tournament will also take place the day of the event, with opening ceremonies to begin at 9:30 a.m.

On display to welcome attendees to the event will be a new sign installed at the entrance of Walter Ward Park. A group of volunteers and a donor gifted the sign, which has a photo of Walter Ward. The sign gives the community a face to put with the name, Blackamore said.

Already, he has had community members reach out and give donations, solidifying his confidence that this weekend’s event will bring people together, he said.

“Before I took it on, one of my biggest fears was not having the participation of the community,” Blackamore said. “Since taking it on, I am so proud that I did. It has really brought people together. I am very confident that Saturday is going to have a huge turnout.”