AACC Virtual Education Day

Friday, February 27, 2026, 9 a.m.–2:15 p.m. (Rebroadcast)

Enjoy memorable and impactful sessions showcasing a rich variety of music and storytelling performances, hands-on craft demonstrations, and presenter sessions from past Cultural Education Days held in conjunction with the African American Cultural Celebration. Streamed in one convenient package, this event highlights diverse traditions, art forms, and cultural perspectives. Whether students are revisiting their favorite moments or discovering something new, this compilation celebrates the vibrant and transformative experiences of Cultural Education Days.

Register below to watch the showcase of performances, demonstrations, and presenter sessions for the Cultural Education Day, held in conjunction with the 25th annual African American Cultural Celebration. Watch the stream anytime or all the time between 9 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026.

Start TimePresentationDuration
9 a.m.Adrienne Nirdé—Civil Rights History Trails38 minutes
9:40 a.m.Kwame Mbalia—Author26 minutes
10:10 a.m.Jonathan Daniel—Wire Artist20 minutes
10:35 a.m.Khadija McNair—North Carolina Freedom Park14 minutes
10:50 a.m.Community Through Storytelling and Music44 minutes
11:35 a.m.Jordyn Jones—The Peter Oliver Project40 minutes
12:15 p.m.Alfreda Johnson—Sweetgrass Baskets20 minutes
12:40 a.m.Community Through Storytelling and Music44 minutes
1:25 p.m.Kwame Mbalia—Author26 minutes
1:55 p.m.Khadija McNair—North Carolina Freedom Park14 minutes

2026 African American Cultural Celebration presenters include:

A profile-view photograph of Jonathan Daniels, an older Black man with a salt-and-pepper beard. He is wearing a distinctive, wide-brimmed black woven hat adorned with several detailed, beaded figures, including a large green frog and a coiled snake. His shirt features a bold, orange and black animal-print pattern. He is looking off to the right with a thoughtful expression. The background is softly blurred, showing other people in an indoor setting.

Jonathan Daniel

Wire Artist

Jonathan Daniel, an artist and youth leader, is originally from Zimbabwe where he learned to create toys and games with his imagination and the things found around him, including wire! Today, his wire art inspires many to imagine and build.

A detailed close-up of a coiled Gullah sweetgrass basket, showcasing the alternating bands of natural brown and light beige grass and palmetto fronds forming a spiral pattern.

Alfreda Johnson

Sweetgrass Baskets

A fourth-generation basket weaver, Alfreda Johnson grew up in South Carolina where her family made and sold sweetgrass baskets at a roadside stand that still exists. For more than 30 years, Johnson has created award-winning baskets that speak of years of cultural heritage.

A portrait photograph of Jordyn Jones, a young Black man with short, textured hair and a light goatee, smiling with his eyes mostly closed. He is wearing prominent tortoise-shell framed glasses, a black crewneck sweater, and a light-and-dark striped button-down shirt that is visible at the collar. The man's face and clothing are strongly lit by dynamic, saturated colors: deep blue on his right side (viewer's left) and intense magenta/pink on his left (viewer's right). The background is gently blurred.

Jordyn Jones

Tricultural Arts, The Peter Oliver Project

Jordyn Jones is a filmmaker, historian, and educator. Jones shares about the life and legacy of Peter Oliver, an enslaved man who lived in the Moravian community of Salem.

A headshot photograph of author Kwame Mbalia, a Black man with a shaved head and a short goatee. He is smiling widely, displaying a friendly and warm expression. Kwame wears a blue collared button-down shirt and a teal blue zip-up sweater. The background is a gently blurred outdoor setting with green and yellow foliage, stone steps, and a large tree trunk on the far right. The photograph has a natural light quality.

Kwame Mbalia

Author, Who Is Kwame Mbalia, Please Tell Me!

Kwame Mbalia is a writer and a publisher with Freedom Fire Books. His debut middle-grade novel, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, was awarded a Coretta Scott King Author Honor. A Howard University graduate now living in North Carolina, Mbalia survives on dad jokes and Cheez-Its.

A professional headshot of Khadija McNair, a young Black woman, with her natural hair in a defined, textured style. She has a wide, friendly smile and is looking directly at the camera. Khadija wears tortoise-shell glasses, a teal green blouse, and a small earring. The background is a solid, warm brown studio backdrop.

Khadija McNair

North Carolina Freedom Park

Khadija McNair is the manager of Freedom Park and a member of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. Freedom Park is a tribute to the unyielding spirit of the African American struggle for freedom; it speaks to the universal ideals of liberty, resilience, and equality.

A professional headshot of Adrienne Nirde, a Black woman with dark, curly shoulder-length hair. She is looking directly at the camera with a bright, warm smile. She wears a golden-yellow short-sleeved blouse with a notched neckline. The background is a solid, textured warm brown studio backdrop.

Adrienne Nirdé

Director, NC African American Heritage Commission, Civil Rights History Trails

Adrienne Nirdé previously worked in museums and cultural institutions, including the President James K. Polk State Historic Site and the Earl Scruggs Center. She has a real interest in sharing diverse stories, particularly those that have not yet been told.

AACC Singer and drummer

Community Through Storytelling and Music

Enjoy storytelling by members of the North Carolina Association of Black Storytellers as well as engaging music and dance performances by the Magic of African Rhythm Company.