In an effort to spur community support and energize fundraising for a planned Black Cultural Center, Attorney Joe North and his family including his wife Benita, son, Joe North Jr., daughter, Kem Longo, and Joe’s father, James North, presented a check for $100,000 to the Lee County Black History Society on March 15 at the Williams Academy Black History Museum at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers. “Over the years, this community has supported me in ways I could not even have imagined,” North said. “My wife and I discussed what we could do to give back to the community that has given us so ..read more

By Erica Van Buren, Fort Myers News-Press February 21, 2023 The Williams Academy Black History Museum, a staple in the Dunbar community, highlights the accomplishments of historical figures that called Fort Myers home. “The Williams Academy Black History Museum opened in January 2001,” said Charles Barnes, chairman of the Lee County Black History Society. “The building was an old schoolhouse built in 1912. It was actually the first government building funded to educate Black kids in Lee County. In 1995 the building was slated to be demolished by the Lee County School district.” Barnes said Ja ..read more

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Job Summary: The primary responsibilities of the Executive Director are the management of the Lee County Black History Society (LCBHS), which includes operation of the Williams Academy Museum, and the management of the LCBHS Collection. In conjunction with the LCBHS Board of Directors, the Executive Director undertakes long- and short-range planning, policy development, budget preparation and monitoring, and development of LCBHS programs and services. The Executive Director manages office staff, interns and volunteers and established committees that support the core work of the organization. T ..read more

Movie Night planned Feb. 10; Heart Hustle health event Feb. 25 The Lee County Black History Society is hosting two events for Black History Month, including Movie in the Park Feb. 10 and Heart Hustle, a health and wellness event Feb. 25. On Friday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., the society will show “Teach Us All,” a 2017 documentary that examines educational inequality after the 60th anniversary of the 1957 Little Rock school desegregation crisis through case studies in Little Rock, New York City and Los Angeles. The movie screening is free and will be shown on a giant screen outside in the ..read more

As Black History Month begins in 2023, people who live in the Dunbar community say they’ve come a long way, but there’s more to do. Keoshia Brown, a science teacher at Dunbar High School, has a message for Black parents and anyone else who wants to listen. “We are Black history, I am Black history, and it is our responsibility to make sure we remember it and we discuss it and talk about it and teach our children,” Brown said. “You don’t send your Black child to school to learn about Black history. Wake up.” READ MORE ..read more

Office Manager needed to help shape and support the future of the organization The Lee County Black History Society (LCBHS) is looking for a passionate community member to manage operations in the office of the LCBHS and the Williams Academy Black History Museum in Clemente Park in Fort Myers as an Office Manager. The office manager is responsible for keeping the office running smoothly and overseeing administrative support. The job can range in duties and responsibilities, from reception, copy editing and support, to handling a specific type of paperwork or filing for a specific department. R ..read more

The annual Movie in the Park screening ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Friday, Dec. 9 The Lee County Black History Society is hosting two popular events for the holiday season, including its 10th annual Holiday in the Park and annual Movie in the Park. Holiday in the Park will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers. With the theme “Celebrating African American Inventors at Christmas,” the free community event includes food and music, the Soul Santa Parade, community tree lighting, tours of the Williams Academy Museum with the African American inventor’s exhibit ..read more

Date: May 10, 2022 Three showings of a documentary about Florida Black history are planned May 13, 14 and 20 FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 10, 2022) – In celebration of Emancipation Day in Florida May 20, the Lee County Black History Society offers free screenings of “Invisible History: Middle Florida’s Hidden Roots.” The movie will be shown at Roberto Clemente Park, 1936 Henderson Ave., Fort Myers. On Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m., the movie will be shown in the park. One Saturday, May 14 at 3 p.m., the movie will be shown in the community room at the park. Space is limited, and participants should pre-r ..read more