From the most inward parts of each of us to our surrounding families, schools and organizations there is the need to strengthen the foundation of our communities. One fundamental way to fortify the Black community is to bolster our marriages thereby causing a chain reaction of mental, emotional and physical health in ourselves, our children, community organizations, careers, and families of faith
Black Marriage Day (www.blackmarriageday.com), the fourth Sunday in March (March 23, 2008) is dedicated to celebrating the institution of marriage within our community. This year the founder, Nisa Mohammed has also included the weekend of March 30th due to the Easter holiday on the previous weekend. In support of the Wedded Bliss Organization (www.weddedblissinc.com), Black Marriage Day looks to celebrate Black Marriage Day on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at East District Family Resource Center with a day full of marriage education classes, workshops and roundtables for singles, couples, and youth from 12 noon to 5pm. We encourage you to celebrate Black Marriage Day, in March of 2008 in your particular community of faith, community organization, and within your family.
Marriage belongs to the community, not solely to the couple. In communities where marriages are healthy and successful property values are higher, there are better schools, lower crime rates and the people are healthier. In communities where the divorce rate is higher than the marriage rate and marriages fail to happen, lower property values, poorer schools, crime, health concerns, and many other risk factors abound. Communities have a responsibility to help change the culture of marriage by encouraging organizational collaborations between community groups and institutions of faith, celebrations that increase the value of marriage and courses that provide services to strengthen marriages.
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Black Woman Press will celebrate Black Marriage Day with classes, workshops, and roundtable discussions for youth, singles, engaged couples, dating couples, cohabitating couples, and married couples of all ages. Topics will include Grieving the End of a Relationship, Sex, Physical Health, Financial Health, Blended Families, Communication, Cheating, Child Rearing, Discussing Sex with Your Child, and Relationships Smarts a class for youth. Following the day of marriage education classes in March we are looking to partner with organizations like yours to continue marriage education classes and seminars. Please check our website beginning in for updates and further information www.blackwomanpress.com/bmd.
If you decide to celebrate Black Marriage Day on March 29, 2008 please go to www.blackmarriageday.com and post your game, celebration, or service of recognition. It is not difficult to celebrate marriages where you are, go to www.blackmarriageday.com for ideas.
This day of workshops is open to African-Americans of all faiths and ages. Often we as a community do not take advantage of tools made available to us when it comes to our relationships because we don't want anyone "in our business". Don't pass up this opportunity to educate, yourself, your mate, and your children. Come out and receive good information and relationship skills. In order to register for workshops click on the registration page, and register early space is limited!
If you, or any member of your organization, would like to join us in our efforts to help plan, publicize, or offer marriage education please email us at blackwomanpress@aol.com or sign up for our mailing list at www.blackwomanpress.com and click on the mailing list. Please see the links page for partners and information on curriculum.
We look forward to seeing you!