Thank you everyone for being here. Thank you for weathering the storm today. I just wanna start off with thanking the Thunder for stopping so that we could follow through with our program today. So let's give ourselves a round of applause for still showing up if you don't mind. I really appreciate everybody sincerely from the bottom of my heart.
We worked really hard on this for quite some time. So I thank God that the weather cleared up just enough that we can pull this off today. So if everyone could have a seat. So as you can imagine, the program has changed slightly and some people aren't here that could be here today. So please forgive me if we call a name and somebody is not here and we just have to kinda roll with the punches today.
So everybody okay with that? Yes? Alright. Alright. Alright.
We're gonna give you just a moment for folks to get settled. Excellent. Again, thank you all for being here tonight. This is a very, very special weekend. We are here to celebrate Liberian independence, which will be marked as of tomorrow, Saturday, July 26.
So we are starting off our celebrations today with a formal flag raising ceremony. So I'll begin with introducing myself and you all have the program there and we will take it from there. My name is Christine Page. I am the founder and executive director of Bliss Gives. Bliss Gives is the organization that's hosting this flag raising program today and other activities of the day.
Bliss Gives is a nonprofit organization that we began about nine years ago. And our mission is to host events that bring people together for connections, growth, and education. So we hope tonight you will get connected with someone. We hope you will grow in the area of learning about Liberians and get educated about our culture, our history, and remember the people that are here today that have made a very significant impact in our community. So with that being said, I would like to invite Joel Edwards forward.
Joel Edwards is an opera singer. So we are so pleased to have mister Edwards here tonight. Mister Edwards? Thank you so much for being here today. Thank you for having me.
Thank you for staying. Please take your time and grace us with your presence. Thank you.
Can you see my the dawn's early light. What so proudly we heard at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight.
Absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence, mister Edwards. So on the agenda here, if you flip it over, you will see the Liberian National Anthem, and you can feel free to sing along. I am going to call forward Hannah Talawali Gibbs, and she is going to grace us with her beautiful voice. Come on forward.
For the Liberia National Anthem.
Oh, hail Liberia. Hail. Oh, hail Liberia. This glorious land of liberty shalom be ours to you her name. Grain be your fame and mighty be above.
To you her name, Greenbeautiful and mighty be appalled, and mighty be appalled mighty be appalled. In joy and gladness with all united. We start all freedom without being Lord, live thy bereaved land, all home of glorious liberty by God's command, a home of glorious liberty by God's command.
Amen. Let's take just three seconds and let that sink in. Thank you very much. That was absolutely beautiful. Next, we would like to have our opening prayer.
We would like to call forward brother Julius Banto. Brother Julius Banto? Okay. Brother Julius could not continue to make it here for this time, so I'm going to do the opening prayer y'all. Are you ready?
Here we go. Father God, in the mighty name of Jesus, we thank you for allowing this day to happen. Father God, you cleared a path so that we could actually show up today. Father God, we pray that you show up and show out in the mighty name of Jesus. Father God, we pray that you bless this program from the beginning until the very end, father.
And we pray that everyone leaves differently than they came today with more knowledge, more education, and more awareness about Liberia and Liberians in the state of Rhode Island. We thank city hall and we thank you God for just giving us the ability to pull through and push through with this program. Lord, continue to bless us as we go. In Jesus name, I pray. Next, we would like to call forward counselor Rachel Miller of Ward 11.
She is the president of the Providence City Council. Thank
Thank you, everyone. And, first of all, can we get another round of applause for Hannah and Joel? That was such a powerful, powerful way. Truly, thank you. And I'd, of course, like to thank Christine and Bliss for putting this together, for all of us for hanging in no matter what time it is.
And I would like to recognize the other elected officials who are here with us today. We have representative Grace Diaz, councilman Miguel Sanchez, councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, and of course, our congressman Gabe Amo. Thank you for joining us. I'm so pleased to welcome everyone here to City Hall, to celebrate the many contributions of the Liberian community to our city. But before we go much further, I have to recognize one of our own one of our own city family, and proud Liberian immigrant, mister Napoleon Aske.
Napoleon joined, the city council family this term and, holds down the fort during all of our meetings as raucous or calm as they might be. This is truly one of the best parts of of being an elected official, of celebrating with our city, getting to celebrate all of the incredible communities that make up our city. We get to do this a few times a year. Right? We know we've got Saint Patrick's Day and International Women's Day and and all we're coming up on the Dominican festival.
And Peruvian International Day is this is next week, And we do so much right here in the council chamber. But I understand that today is particularly special because it is the very first time the Liberian community has been recognized and celebrated this way with a flag. And so congratulations. We're so glad, and let's do many, many more. It's, at this time in our country, in our city, more than any time that I can remember in my lifetime, it's so critically important to stand together to uplift, immigrant communities, to remember our immigrant ancestors, and celebrate their heritage is our heritage, and remember that we've got a shared identity in Providence and throughout the country as a nation of immigrants.
It's our origin story but it's also who we are every single day in our city and our city is stronger for it. The Liberian story, like the American story, is a complicated one but they are inextricably linked. And as I stand here today, I can share that the story we are telling just by gathering in this room together is one that's worth celebrating. We are opening a new chapter, and today in this city, we can say proudly, we are proud and so grateful for all of the Liberian community has built and continues to contribute to our community. So back in 1883, thirty six years after the first Liberian Independence Day, the poet Emma Lazarus wrote a poem to help raise money for the construction of the Statue Of Liberty, and today that poem is on the base of that statue.
And in it, she makes a claim for this land that continues to resonate throughout the day. She invites all those around the world who are yearning to breathe free. And today, in Providence, despite a climate that can feel uncertain, despite, any hardships that we are going through, we celebrate the freedom that we create by, gathering together in communities like this by standing with each other every day. So happy Independence Day. Here's to many new traditions, and thank you so much.
Thank you for your kind words, missus Miller. We really appreciate it. Next, we would like to call forward councilwoman Mary k Harris of board eleven, deputy majority leader.
I come with good greetings to everyone. I have to have this fan, sorry about that. Sorry guys, I'm sorry. Greetings and thank you for being here today. What a beautiful day it is and you should be celebrating Liberia pride.
I wanna thank Bliss Gives for definitely including us in this program tonight at the city hall. Council president has spoke very candid about how we really appreciate building diversity and unity in our community. So thank you for that and I also wanna also piggyback off what you said with our colleagues in government, thank you for that for being here tonight. Thank you. I am here tonight to read a resolution for this memorable occasion.
Whereas in the summer of eighteen forty seven on the West Africa Coast, the republican of Liberia was found born of struggle and aspiration and sustained ever since by the resolve of its people. And whereas over generations Liberians has endured periods of great hardship and transition. Yet its people have carried forward their story with strength, dignity, and faith and many have found a new chapter, that story here in Providence. And whereas Providence is home to one of the largest Liberian communities in The United States and Rhode Island has per capita, the highest Liberian population of any state in the country. And whereas the people of Liberian Liberia and their sons and daughters now live among us have shaped the life of this city, building businesses, enriching our churches, and living our neighborhoods, and creating communities.
And whereas this year observation will include the raising of the Liberian flag and a program in the council chambers which we're doing now, which is today on July 25 along with a weekend of celebration featuring a community field day, a parade, a concert, an after party, and a festival bunch passivity bunch all which show the pride and energy of Liberia communities and bring real culture and economic benefits to the life of the city and more. Whereas these celebrations honor a proud national history and also speak to the lasting place the Liberian communities hold in the life of our city. And whereas this council affirms that the story of providence has always been shaped by those who arrived from elsewhere and that honoring this day is part of honoring the city we are still becoming together. Now therefore be resolved that the Providence City Council hereby recognize 07/26/2025 as Liberian Independence Day in the city of Providence and extends its sincere congratulations to all who mark this occasion. And be it further resolved that the council invites the people of Providence to take part in their ceremonies and join in honoring the history, culture, and presence of Liberian communities among us.
And be it further resolved that upon passage of this copy of this resolution be sent to the honorable Brett Smalley, mayor of the city of Providence and to Bliss Gibbs in recognition of their role in organizing and hosting this year's commemoration event. Please enjoy the rest of the program. Thank you.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Thank you so much for that resolution. And we will be sure to frame that and take pictures and post it and share it all over for everyone to see.
Thank you again to the Providence City Council and to the mayor's office as well. Thank you. Next, ladies and gentlemen, we would like to bring forward miss Winona. Oh, she's here. She's here.
Thank you so much for sticking around, honey. Miss Winona Nelson Davis. She is the executive director of the Economic Progress Institute. Come forward.
How my people doing? I didn't hear you all. How my people doing? Doing alright. That's right.
We are always doing alright. It is an honor to stand before you today as a proud crew baza, conquer, Liberian daughter of the soul. I stand proud as Liberia civil war survivor who have found refuge and purpose right here in Rhode Island for over thirty years, a place I call my second home. I've been thinking a lot. Before birthdays, we all sort of start reflecting upon our lives.
And so as Liberia celebrates her 170 birthday, I've been thinking. And I've been thinking about the genesis of a country called Liberia. On 07/26/1847, Liberia declared her independence, not as a colony, but as a sovereign nation founded by free black people returning to Africa. Our story is powerful. Liberia was and is meant to be a beacon to the world.
I have been thinking also about some of our missteps along the way. The missed opportunities to honor the native people of that land, the missed opportunity to build together as a people around the sheer mission for the love of liberty. I've been thinking about the coup, the nineteen eighty coup, and the civil war, and the missteps that have kept Mama Liberia from stepping fully into her destiny as an inspiration of what true freedom can look like. And I've also been thinking about the beauty that is Liberia. I thought about the state of our economy that may be fragile right now, but there is so much untapped, so much untapped opportunities for the great nation of Liberia.
We may have challenges with infrastructure and employment and dependency on imported goods, but we have an opportunity because we are a young nation. And when I say young, I mean we have young people who will be the future of Liberia. We have an opportunity as a country that have a fertile land where we can grow food and supply the world with food. We have an opportunity of investment from a diaspora that can help us. The state of the economy in Liberia has untapped opportunity.
I spend my days and nights thinking a lot about the state of the economy of Rhode Island in The US, but I've been thinking about the state of the economy of Liberia. And I am hoping that next year or maybe this year we will have an economic forum to understand what that means. That we will have an opportunity to educate about the history of Liberia because there is power in our history. I've also been thinking about how vibrant we are. How bold and brilliant and beautiful Liberian girls.
Can you say Liberian girls? Even Michael Jackson knew what was up. And let me be clear that there is nobody's jot of rice that can top Liberian's jot of rice. And we can talk a little bit about our beautiful English we speak. And some may say Liberians have big mouths, but I like to think of us as talented and confident messengers.
And so on this hundred and seventy eighth Independence Day, I've been thinking about what messages we want to leave for the world and Rhode Island about Liberia. And this is my hope. I hope that we will leave the message that Liberia can still be the beacon of hope it was meant to be. I hope we can leave the message that we must do that with the love for liberty and the love for our people. I hope that we can leave a message of unity.
Unity, Liberians, unity. Not just among ourselves, amongst our African brother and sisters, amongst our black brothers and sisters in Rhode Island in The United States, and unity with our Rhode Island neighbors. We must send a message that is centered around build building bridges and healing divide. Hear me today, my people. I hope we can send a message that our history can be a tool for change, to educate, to mobilize, and to lead.
I hope that we can lead a message that we must stand with all immigrants, especially in this moment in our country, America history. I hope we can leave a message that we must stand with all those who are disenfranchised, who have been robbed, and who have been excluded from economic power. We must stand for dignity of all people. And we need Liberians, those talented and confident messengers to be a part and voice of this movement. And I do believe that when we give each other grace to grow, to learn, to forgive, it will propel us forward in Liberia, in Rhode Island, and in every part of the world.
Today, we stand a hundred and twenty eight years strong, but our story is just getting started. Happy Independence Day, Mama Liberia.
Amazing. Absolutely amazing. We wanna thank you for those big beautiful words. Wow. Absolutely amazing.
So if you couldn't tell, miss Winona, let us know about the impact that Liberia is having right now, the economic progress as she's from the Economic Progress Institute. She basically laid out the economic progress of where Liberia is now and where where we're going and the plans that we would like to see achieved in the near future. So we thank you so much for your time. Next, we have coming forward. His name is mister Joe Wilson junior.
He is the director of the art, culture, and tourism for the city of Providence. He is the director of that department. We wanna welcome mister Wilson forward. Thank you so much for being here.
Wilson is going to give us a wonderful narrative on the history of Liberia. Thank you so much.
On behalf of the department of art culture and tourism, I would like to recognize the extraordinary contributions of our Liberian community to and in every part of our great city. You are an important, vital, critical part of the rich tapestry of culture that is the creative capital. I have been asked and I am honored to provide a historical context on what we have come together today to commemorate, but more importantly, to celebrate. Founded in 1822, Liberia holds the distinction of being Africa's oldest republic. It was established by the American Colonization Society as a homeland for free and formerly enslaved African Americans.
