The H.L. Neblett Center will introduce Western Academy during a fundraising banquet Aug. 24 that begins at 6 p.m. at the H.L. Neblett Center.
Western Academy is a Saturday education academy to help close the achievement gap among black males in grades three through six in the Owensboro Public Schools district. This will be the first pilot program in the Owensboro area, although similar programs exist in Lexington and Louisville, Ky.
Olga McKissic, Executive Director of the Neblett Center said that the school is modeled after the Black Male Working (BMW) Academy in Lexington, and the co-founder of the BMW Academy, Roszalyn Akins, will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
McKissic said she is excited to share Akins with the community because the BMW Academy has grown from a Saturday school program to a whole academy, Carter G. Woodson Academy, which opened in 2012 and serves boys in grades six through 12.
The event will have live music by Charlene Blay and the 2nd Edition, a local jazz ensemble.
The menu will feature soul food, including fried and barbecue chicken and rib tips, a variety of sides and cobblers for dessert.
There will be a silent auction featuring 15 to 20 pieces of art created by children who participate in the Neblett Center’s after school program.
“Local artist Leeza Dukes came and taught art for the month of July,” McKissic said. “The pieces are incredible.”
Ticket sales have been steady and although the last day to RSVP was Friday, McKissic said they are still accepting reservations.
“It’s going to be good,” McKissic said. “You need to get a ticket.”
To learn more about Western Academy, click here.
