Aurora in Black (2026)

05/09/2026

💍❤️ CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLYWEDS: ZAY & MONTRELL

As they approach their two-month wedding anniversary (and now that photos are public lol), we proudly congratulate our nephew and niece, Montrell & Xzaviour, on their beautiful nuptials held on a beautiful summer weekend in downtown Aurora. . . COMPLETED BY JUMPING THE BROOM AS A NOD TO OUR HISTORY AND THEIR FUTURE!

We’ve had the joy of watching these two grow up in Aurora and give back in service to our community, and we couldn’t be prouder to see them begin this next chapter together as husband and wife.

AND THEIR LOVE STORY GOES WAY BACK . . .

They met on the very first day of high school at Metea Valley High School, sitting in the same social studies class. From that day forward, they became inseparable. But here’s where the story gets even sweeter: they later discovered that their families were connected long before they ever met! Their grandmothers spoke often, and their mothers shared childhood memories together as proud graduates of East Aurora High School, something Montrell and Zay knew nothing about when they first crossed paths.

SOME MIGHT CALL IT COINCIDENCE. WE CALL IT DESTINY.

❤️CONGRATULATIONS, NEPHEW & NIECE! May your marriage be blessed with a lifetime of happiness, friendship and the same love that brought you together all those years ago.

Metea Valley Alumni Association

05/09/2026

⚾ THIS YEAR AT THE NATIONAL BLACKBALL SYMPOSIUM: Aurora’s own historian and author SHERMAN L. JENJINS takes the stage today at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri for a special presentation on a remarkable athlete whose story deserves to be remembered and told in Sherman’s book:

🏀⚾ Ted Strong, Jr.: The Untold Story of an Original Harlem Globetrotter & Negro League All-Star

🎤 Special Presentation by Sherman Jenkins
💻 WATCH [6:06-6:40]
www.tinyurl.com/ShermanatSymposium

03/09/2026

🖤 SEPTEMBER 3: A MEMORABLE DATE IN BLACK HISTORY

There are certain dates that live forever in Black culture.

SEPTEMBER 3 IS ONE OF THOSE DATES.

Because as the story has been told for generations:
🎶 “It was the third of September,
that day I’ll always remember,
’cause that was the day
that my daddy died.” 🎶

And just like that, you heard the bass line in your head. 😂

More than 50 years after the Temptations recorded “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” those opening words remain among the most instantly recognizable lyrics in Black music.

So today, we pause to recognize September 3 - the day Papa left us. 😭😂

🎶 Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died…
all he left us was alone. 🎶

🕊️Rest easy, Papa. Your complicated legacy lives on every September 3. 😂

03/09/2026

🌟 HONORING A LUMINARE ACTIONAIRE: HER LIGHT INSPIRES ACTION!

🖤💛 The NCBW Aurora IL Metropolitan Chapter will honor Educator Extraordinaire CYNTHIA LATIMER with the INAUGURAL LUMINARE AWARD HONOREE FOR EDUCATION.

🍎 For 33 years, Cynthia devoted her career to Aurora’s schools, serving as a special education teacher, elementary principal, Chief Officer for Special Populations, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, and ultimately Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, overseeing preschool through 12th-grade instruction until her retirement in 2014. She then was appointed to serve on the Illinois State Board of Education, guiding public education throughout the state of Illinois.
_______

🏆HER LEGACY HAS EARNED HONORS … AND INSPIRED THEM:

❤️ In 2009, Cynthia was named LEADER OF THE YEAR by the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board.

🖤In 2012, Boys II Men named its annual women’s honor after her: THE CYNTHIA LATIMER PHENOMENAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD.

💚In 2026, Cynthia made history as the recipient of the INAUGURAL SCHEKETA HART-BURNS MOTHER OF THE MOVEMENT AWARD during Aurora’s Juneteenth Ceremony
_______

🐘 🔺 Cynthia is a proud Soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, carrying forward the Sorority’s longstanding commitment to scholarship, service and social action.
______

Join us in celebrating Aurora’s own Cynthia Latimer and other Luminare honorees at:
🏆 The Inaugural Luminare Awards & Scholarship Fund Raising Gala
📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026
📍 Belle Salle Banquets • Aurora, Illinois
🎟️Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/LuminareAwards

01/09/2026

🎰 💰 TALK ABOUT HITTING THE JACKPOT: Congratulations to our very own, Kathleen, who turned a $3 BET into a whopping $90,664.27 WIN at Hollywood Casino Aurora! 🤯💵

📈🔥 Let’s put that into perspective: Kathleen walked away with a $90,661.27 profit … an incredible return of more than 3 MILLION PERCENT!

🙌🏾In our Ice Cube Voice: “Today was a good day!”

😂Hey Sis, let us hold something!!

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS, KATHLEEN! ENJOY THAT JACKPOT!

31/08/2026

❤️🖤💚BLACK ON THE BLOCK WAS 🔥!

What better way to close out the final weekend of National Black Business Month than by intentionally supporting Black-owned businesses!

💼Aurora in Blackheaded to Chicago this weekend for Black on the Block, where more than 100 Black-owned businesses came together on the grounds outside the iconic Soldier Field for a powerful celebration of Black entrepreneurship, creativity, culture and community.

From fashion and art to food, music, merchandise and more, Black entrepreneurs were front and center, showcasing their products, building their brands and doing BUSINESS!

‼️A special AURORA shout out to LIT by LEX Candle Company LLC! (second photo) We were especially proud to support our very own brilliant young entrepreneur, Lexi Davis, creator of Lit by Lex, her handcrafted natural candle company. Lexi believes a good vibe has three essential ingredients: COLORS. MUSIC. CANDLES. 🎨🎶🕯️ Each scent is connected to a song and her Color Series, inspired by the color of the album where the song can be found. That’s not just a candle, that’s a whole vibe! Keep shining, Lexi! YOUR BOOTH WAS POPPIN' TODAY!!!

Shout-out the young brother Taylor Bennett for hosting!!

❤️We shopped.
🖤We connected.
💚We celebrated.
💛And, most importantly, WE SUPPORTED! (Yes, that Diana Ross print now has a permanent home in Aurora!)

👏🏾Salute to the Black on the Block team and all of the entrepreneurs, artists and performers who transformed the grounds outside Soldier Field into a destination for Black business and culture this weekend. IT WAS GREAT RUNNING INTO SO MANY AURORA FOLKS!

✊🏾🖤 National Black Business Month may be ending, but supporting Black businesses is a YEAR-ROUND commitment!

30/08/2026

❤️ JOLIET, THE JOY WAS REAL: Congratulations to the Black community of Joliet on the phenomenal return of the BLACK JOY PARADE! What a triumphant return for a tradition that has been a cornerstone of the community.

🖤 The pride was palpable. The energy was unmatched. And Black Joy was EVERYWHERE!

💚 From children and senior citizens to students, schools, businesses, community organizations, nurses, dancers, musicians, civic leaders, law enforcement and more, generations of Joliet came together in celebration of Black excellence. And yes… there were even LIVE HAIRCUTS happening on the barber college float! 💈

💛Leading the celebration were Grand Marshals Bettye Gavin, retired member of the Joliet CC, and Joseph Awinongya Jr., hometown boxing champion, Team USA competitor and 2028 Olympic hopeful!

✊🏾Special salute to Black Joy Parade Chairman Boise Walker, the educator extraordinaire Mr. Ernest Crim III, and the entire Black Joy Parade team for the vision, leadership and work that brought this treasured tradition back to the community.

🙏🏾Aurora in Black is honored to have be invited to experience the joy and grateful to Joliet's Black leadership for joining us earlier this year for Aurora's Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony at Aurora University. THIS KIND OF INTER-CITY SUPPORT MATTERS!

🎉Congratulations, Joliet, on a standard-setting display of BLACK JOY!
Joliet Unity Movement
Joliet Central Activities
Joliet Chapter - National Hook-up of Black Women, Inc
Joliet City Center Partnership
Joliet Slammers
Joliet Black Police Officers Association
City of Joliet Special Events
African American Business Association of Will County

TopFans

29/08/2026

📬 AUGUST 29 IS JAYLEN LOCKHART DAY IN AURORA! HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY TO OUR VERY OWN HERO!

In 2024, The Honorable Richard C. Irvin officially proclaimed August 29 – Jaylen’s Birthday - as “Jaylen Lockhart Day” in recognition of the hometown hero’s courage and quick thinking.

💙 THE STORY: While delivering mail on his US Postal Service route in November 2024, Jaylen saw Aurora resident Guy Miller fall and hit his head while walking his dog. Jaylen immediately stopped his route, rushed to Miller’s aid, alerted neighbors and then went to Miller’s home to find his family and bring them to him. The doctors said Jaylen’s quick-thinking actions likely saved Guy’s life! What began as an act of kindness between two strangers ultimately created a lasting friendship between their families.

📺 Jaylen’s inspiring story went national, with coverage on all major networks, including ABC’s Good Morning America and ABC World News Tonight with David Muir: https://www.facebook.com/reel/873785878077762

28/08/2026

✊🏾 AUGUST 28 IS A DATE THAT CARRIES HISTORICAL WEIGHT:

❤️ August 28, 1955: Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Mississippi.

🖤 August 28, 1963: Eight years later, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.

💚 August 28, 2008: On the 45th anniversary of the March on Washington, Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for POTUS!

💛 From Emmett Till to Martin King to Barack Obama, August 28 tells a powerful story of where we have been, how far we have come and the work that remains.

From Tragedy.
Through Struggle.
Toward Triumph.

Know the Journey.
Celebrate the Progress.
Continue the Fight.

28/08/2026

❗️AURORA, GET READY!
‼️THE Reverend Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant is coming!

Yes, you read that right! THE Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant is coming to Aurora as the Guest Preacher for the kickoff of SOCIAL JUSTICE WEEKEND at Cathedral of Grace - St. John AME Church!

❤️A Preacher.
🖤An Activist.
💚A National Voice for Justice.

Dr. Bryant is one of the most dynamic and influential voices in the Black Church today. He serves as Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, a megachurch with more than 10,000 members and a far-reaching ministry that extends well beyond the walls of the sanctuary. Bringing faith to the front lines, Dr. Bryant uses his platform to confront injustice, champion our communities and challenge a new generation to
🔴Stand Up!
⚫️Speak Out!
🟢Take Action!

🙌🏾 Join Host Pastor Reverend Jesse Hawkins for what promises to be an unforgettable night of empowerment:

📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
⛪ Service Begins: 7 p.m.
🚪 Doors Open: 6 p.m.
📍 Cathedral of Grace St. John AME Church
2950 Bilter Road | Aurora, Illinois

✊🏾Aurora in Black is honored to be a Public Relations partner for this historic event!

‼️DON'T MISS IT!‼️

Aurora in Black

05/09/2026

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