Harding Elementary students learning about local connections to Black history

YOUNGSTOWN — As part of Black History Month, Harding Elementary educators are teaching about the accomplishments of Blacks, including some close to home.

Principal Teri Coward says Black history is American history and school staff want to provide information to students about the many Blacks throughout history who blazed trails for those who came after them.

Students choose someone to research and email Coward a paragraph they write from their research. She reads the information during each day’s morning announcements to share it with the school.

“The depiction of Blacks in American history impacts the character of Black children who don’t get to see positive images of Black Americans,” Coward said in a news release. “Teaching Black history gives scholars many options toward success they may not know exist.”

Crystal Henderson, Harding’s school counselor, took to the school’s social media to inform students and families of the many achievements by Blacks in medicine, politics, academics and many other fields.

Some of those featured on the school’s Facebook page include Youngstown Municipal Court Judge Carla Baldwin and the late architect P. Ross Berry who designed the original Rayen School and the Mahoning County Courthouse.

“We want our scholars to know that many African Americans persevered and made a difference is our society,” Coward said.

The project includes introducing students to Blacks with ties to YCSD, too.

“Harding celebrates past and current African American contributors, especially focusing on African Americans whose accomplishments may not be very well known as of yet,” said Maureen Donofrio, Harding’s assistant principal. “We’re very proud to say that we introduced our scholars, via morning announcements, to one of YCSD's very own, Sonya Lenoir, who was instrumental in organizing the BLM [Black Lives Matter] march in downtown Youngstown.

"We want them to see that you don't have to be famous to be a catalyst for change," Donofrio said. "Perseverance, passion and courage can create big change.”

Lenoir is a Youngstown Rayen Early College graduate.

This story was originally published February 16, 2021 at 4:23 AM with the headline "Harding Elementary students learning about local connections to Black history."