CLEVELANDURBANNEWS.COM-CLEVELAND, Ohio-The African-American Museum of Cleveland will host a masquerade ball on Sun., Oct. 20, 2019 beginning at 6pm at the museum at 1765 Crawford road in Cleveland's Ward 7 on the city's largely Black east side, the event a dressy affair to raise money for renovation of the city's historic Black cultural institution.

Contact the museum at (216) 721-6555 for more information.

Tickets for the fundraiser, which can also be purchased at the door, are $50 for individuals and $75 for corporate and VIP tickets

A dinner,  a live band titled 'Kevin Conwell  Band and Footprints,' and featuring saxophonist Russell Thomas, and music by D.J Ellery, will be provided.

The community event will also feature a live auction, all proceeds to go to the museum, organizers said.

"We urge people to join us at this necessary fundraising event to help keep African and African-American history alive, current and relevant in Cleveland, particularly for our children," said museum executive director Frances Caldwell, Caldwell also a community advocate and community activist.

Caldwell said Ohio Sen. Sandra Williams of Cleveland, community activists, corporate supporters, precinct committee member and museum volunteers are among those who are expected to attend the fundraising gala.

Founded by the late Icabod Flewellen in 1953, the  African-American museum in Cleveland, which is governed by a six-member board, became the first independent African American museum to open in America.

It is a nonprofit cultural and educational museum that aims to share the achievements of African -Americans and their ancestors and to educate people on the struggles and achievements of Black people in Cleveland and nationwide.

Cleveland has a legacy of Black history, including the late Carl B. Stokes, who made history in 1967 when he was elected the first Black mayor of Cleveland and of a major American city, and his late older brother Louis Stokes, the first Black congressman from Ohio.

Garrett Morgan is a native of Cleveland who invented the traffic light and gas mask, and famed writer Langston Hughes graduated from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

A host of other local Blacks have contributed to the city's historical makeup and have also paved the way for Black success and enfranchisement in Cleveland.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog. Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com