*Please note: this event has been moved from Feb. 14 to Feb. 21, 2026.

Enjoy a gathering over tea to celebrate the African American community by engaging in artistic expression, storytelling, dialogue and cultural reflection.

Join us for a “pop-up” version of the Queens of the Heartland exhibit at the Ohio History Center. A discussion around the conception and development of the project will be facilitated by exhibit curator Hadley Drodge and Dayton historian and librarian Karen Brahme. In addition, entertainment will be provided by poet Cynthia Amoah and vocalist Dione Bennett. Refreshments and Tea Service will be provided by Teas Your Spirits Eatery.

Queens of the Heartland is a visual art exhibition that illustrates the stories of 30 trailblazing Black women who changed history in Ohio from the 1830s to the present. Curated by The National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center in Wilberforce, the show consists of portraits, narratives and unique memorabilia that belonged to many these women.