The Dayton African American Cultural Festival is a vibrant celebration of African American culture, bringing together the community through music, art, and education. Held annually, this festival offers a rich experience, showcasing the diverse talents and contributions of African Americans in the Dayton area and beyond.
The Dayton African American Cultural Festival is taking place at Island MetroPark, which is located at 101 E. Helena Street in Dayton. Island MetroPark is enjoyed by people from all over the area for community events, picnics, and water play!
A Day of Festivities
Join us on Saturday to experience an African village with drumming and storytelling, explore displays of paintings, authors and illustrators, and learn about educational opportunities throughout the area. Live music performances will include R&B, hip hop, jazz and blues.
Live music, African drumming, Gospel, Jazz, R&B, Blues, Hip Hop, Dancers, Live Performances & more! Wright Dunbar Day is happening on July 5 from 1-6pm on the block of South Williams Street. Vendors, restaurants, food trucks, live music, museum experiences, and more will be open to the public.
Dayton African America Cultural Festival (DAACF) 2023 promo
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The Visionary Behind the Festival: Sylvia Jeanne Pate
From 1990 to 1994, Sylvia Jeanne Pate served as the Director of the Dayton Black Cultural Festival. Her leadership and vision were instrumental in shaping the festival into the significant cultural event it is today.
Sylvia Jeanne Pate was born in Wheeling, West Virginia. Her family lived in Steubenville, Ohio, Manhattan, New York, and ultimately move to Lima, Ohio where she graduated from Lima South High School. She attended Bowling Green State and Wright State Universities.
Sylvia served 31 years in the federal government, beginning in 1956 as a clerk typist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Ohio. She continued her education at the Air Force Professional Personnel School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, The Air Force Institute of Technology at WPAFB, and the American Management Association in New York.
A Trailblazer in Civil Service
While at WPAFB, Sylvia held positions as secretary, administration officer, program analyst, personnel staffing and management specialist, and equal employment manager. Department of the Air Force (Pentagon, Washington D.C.) - the first African American in this position. She was instrumental in getting all of the branches of the Armed Forces to honor “Black History Month” in February. She later was appointed to the first manager for the Air Force Black Employment Program and served as spokeswoman for all matters pertaining to the equal employment of women and blacks. Sylvia also was responsible for the department’s Overseas Employment Program.
In 1999, she was first appointed, then elected to the Jefferson Township School Board, later as the President of the Board. Sylvia was involved in her church New Hope Lutheran in Dayton, Ohio, where she started their first food pantry. She also served for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), including Interim Director of the Commission for Women in Chicago, Illinois.
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Event Details
Address: 101 E. Dayton African American Cultural Festival
Festival Highlights:
- Live music performances
- African drumming and storytelling
- Displays of paintings, authors, and illustrators
- Educational opportunities
- R&B, hip hop, jazz, and blues music
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