Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1511108
B M & T ••• November/December 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 14 joy out of the reunion for the committee members", Taggart-Body mentions. Cincinnati is full of exciting, educational and entertaining things that will keep any group well engaged. Some interest- ing activities sites to explore in Cincy include The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Kings Island, The Ark Encounter, B&B Riverboats, Cincinnati Parks, Hamilton County Parks, The Black Music Walk of Fame, Fountain Square and The Banks. When it comes to coordinating the perfect reunion most planners would love to have additional support at the desti- nation they will be holding their reunion. Who do you talk to when you want to "fill in the blanks" about information only locals would know? When dis- cussing this with Malinda Harrell, Director of Sales at the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, she pointed out the importance of using the resources made available by the local CVB of the destina- tion you intend on traveling to. "I would suggest that family members always reach out the local CVB as a resource in sourcing locations to host, hotel accommodations and other activities and attractions. Our job is to make your job easier—collaborating with the CVB gives reunion planners a unique advantage of uncov- ering hidden gems that can have a great impact on their event", Harrell says. The city of Raleigh coincidently is the perfect backdrop for your reunion, whether its family, class or military. There is a wide array of historical sites and rich history that will surely entertain your group's guests. It's recommended that your group checks out Raleigh's newest park—the North Carolina Freedom Park. The North Carolina Freedom Park is the state's first park to honor the African American strug- gle for freedom, plus powerful triumphs along the way. Afterwards, take your group for a walk along Black Main Street. Black Main Street is celebrated year-round with a self-guided, walking mural tour along the street, describing the history of the buildings and area. From Fayetteville St. to Moore Square, E. Hargett St. developed as a commercial district and the Black main street of down- town Raleigh in the 1910s and 1920s. Its brick buildings housed the offices of Black doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and real estate developers as well as barbershops and retail- ers. Today, this area houses multiple Black-owned business- es including Black Friday Market, Nashona, The ZEN Succulent and Unorthodox Vintage. Raleigh, N.C, is also home to two stops on the United States Civil Rights Trail. The U.S. Civil Rights Trail consists of stops throughout 16 states in the South that have a signif- icant place in the history of the Civil Rights Movement. In Raleigh, one stop is Shaw University's Estey Hall. Founded in 1865 as the Raleigh Institute by former Union chaplain North Carolina Freedom Park