Who's featured in TCC's 24th annual African American history calendar? Find out here

Tallahassee Community College has announced its 24th annual Cherry Hall Alexander African American History Calendar, filled with monthly features of Black excellence.

Its formal debut will be held virtually Monday at 6 p.m. on TCC’s YouTube channel.

This year’s calendar theme is “African Americans and the Arts,” with honorees being local leaders who are highlighted for the work they do to promote community and civic engagement in Leon County as well as Gadsden, Jefferson and Wakulla counties.

With works ranging from visual and performing arts, fashion and literature to film, music and culinary arts, the local individuals have shown their commitment of displaying cultural expression in the community through a variety of forms.

While last year’s theme was “Freedom, Justice, Equality,” previous themes have included "Black Heath and Wellness" in 2022 and "The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity” in 2021.

Former director of TCC’s Library Services Cherry Hall Alexander is the founder of the calendar initiative, which began in 2001.

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Alexander took on the role of spearheading Black History Month events and activities at the college before retiring in 2009, which is the same year that the calendar was named in her honor.

In addition to the calendar’s monthly honorees, it also features a President’s Award honoree and a student highlight.

The calendars are free and will be available Monday, Feb. 12 at noon in the TCC Fine Performing Arts Center lobby. To make a bulk request of 20 or more copies, individuals can email the African American History Calendar Committee at AAHMC@tcc.fl.edu.

The 2024 honorees

Lindsey B. Sarjeant (President's Award): Sarjeant — the chief musical arranger for the incomparable Marching “100” band at Florida A&M University — also serves as FAMU’s chairman of the Music Department and professor of music. The professional jazz pianist’s musical arrangements are recognized as the standard for excellence among collegiate marching bands across the nation.

Longineu Parsons (February): Parsons is a professor of music at FAMU who is also a classically trained trumpeter. He plays a variety of styles that include jazz, blues and classical music, and he has performed and recorded in over 30 countries with music giants such as Nat Adderley, Cab Calloway and The Temptations.

Wendy Crawford (March): Crawford is the artistic director and owner of Dance Fusion Studios in Tallahassee, where she led her team to regional and national dance championships nine times in the past 10 years. She is also the former head coach of Florida State University’s Golden Girls Dance Team.

Eluster Richardson (April): A U.S. Army veteran, Richardson is an artist whose work can be found in private collections locally and around the country. With Richardson’s specialty being oil watercolor painting, much of his work is displayed in the John Gilmore Riley Center & Museum for African American History & Culture, Leon County Libraries and the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum in Quincy, Florida.

Shepiro Hardemon (May): Hardemon, a FAMU alumnus, is one of the nation’s top-tier choreographers and artistic directors. He developed the dance program Strikers Dance Troupe and Mahogany Dance Theatre, and he was also selected by 20th Century Fox to be the choreographer for the fictional Atlanta A&T’s band in the iconic 2002 movie “Drumline."

Shelby Chipman (June): Chipman, FAMU’s director of bands and a professor of music, has led the Marching “100” in legendary performance opportunities that include the 2022 Summer Louis Vuitton Men’s Fashion Show in Paris, France. He also led the band in the January 2021 virtual Presidential Inauguration Celebration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris and the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.

Sylvester Peck, Sr. (July): An art teacher for 30 years, Peck, is the senior faculty member at Florida A&M University High School and is also a FAMU alumnus. He has been teaching at the high school for more than 28 years, and many of his former students have gone on to become architects, engineers and professional illustrators.

Darius “Doc D” Baker (August): Famously known as Doc D, Baker is a three-time Stellar Award-nominated radio programmer and Tampa Bay Gospel Awards Radio Host of the Year. He is credited with building two gospel stations — WHBT Heaven 98.3 FM and WTAL Hallelujah 95.3 FM — and is the founder of the live monthly event Tallahassee Nights Live (TNL).

LaDonna Fha’ Gibson (September): Gibson is a master stylist at PrimaDonna Hair — a salon in Quincy, Florida — and is known to be a hair connoisseur. She has years of experience as a consultant and advisor for the Gadsden Technical Institute and is a graduate of TCC as well as Flagler College.

Anita Franklin (October): Franklin, a gospel recording artist and Tallahassee native, is a FAMU alumna who was first introduced to the stage as a soloist during church conventions. She is the founder and CEO of RESET Regional Music and Arts Symposium, where she works with young individuals to help them develop their God-given gifts.

Sonya Walters (November): Chef Walters owns and operates Luxe Personal Chef and Catering, which is a catering business based in Tallahassee. She is also the former owner and founder of Luxe Events Venue. She established the business in 2015 as a combination of her love of cooking and her South Carolina roots.

Wanda Carter Brown (December): Born and raised in Tallahassee, Brown is a FAMU alumna with a bachelor’s degree in music. She began teaching at Gilchrist Elementary School after graduating from the university, and the music Annex at Gilchrist Elementary was named in her honor in 2022 to recognize her years of service and dedication to students.

DJ DEMP (January 2025): Donnell Benson, professionally known as DJ DEMP, is an international celebrity DJ and is also a member of the legendary group Ghostown DJs, best known for their classic hit record "My Boo." He began his DJ career when he was 13 years old, and established DEMP Week in 1998, a celebration of life, community and culture. On Jan. 9, 2023, he received the Key to the City of Tallahassee for his commitment to the community.

Grace Duvet (Student honoree): Duvet is a student at TCC pursuing her associates of arts degree. She plans to continue her education at FSU to major in political Science with a minor in communications. Duvet is also a member of the college’s award-winning Forensics Speech and Debate team, and she advocates for children of Haiti as they face harsh circumstances in the Caribbean country.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TCC announces its 24th annual African American history calendar