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Newark issues Black History Month proclamation, honors long-time community leader Jean Ficklin
Summary
Mayor Michael Hannon presented a Black History Month proclamation and recognized Jean Ficklin and the Afro American Cultural and Historical Society for community work; several speakers accepted the proclamation and reflected on labor and resilience themes.
Mayor Michael Hannon presented a proclamation recognizing Black History Month and honored Jean Ficklin and members of the Afro American Cultural and Historical Society during the Feb. 25 Newark City Council meeting.
Hannon read portions of Proclamation No. 1930 (Black History Month), referenced the 2025 national theme “African Americans and Labor,” and described Ficklin as a longtime local leader and founder of the Afro American Cultural and Historical Society. The mayor noted that the Story Time Room at the Alameda County Library bears Ficklin’s name and said Ficklin retired after 33 years as an educator with the Newark Unified School District.
Jean Ficklin, joined by Raquel Thomas, Adrianna Frazier Burrell and Tatiana Jones, accepted the proclamation and thanked the council and the community. In remarks, Ficklin and other speakers described Black History Month as an opportunity to reflect on contributions, resilience and the work of ancestors, and one speaker connected the month’s labor theme to the lifetime dedication of family members who ran small businesses.
Councilmembers and residents gathered for a group photo after the proclamation, and Mayor Hannon encouraged residents to celebrate the month’s events and cultural activities in Newark.
