Dr. Bernice King to speak at Midwest Black Family Reunion

By Tiffany Luckey
Ten21, Owner and Chief Creative Strategist

The four-day family friendly 2025 Midwest Black Family Reunion (BFR) celebration is set to return to Cincinnati August 14-17 and will feature music from Midnight Star and Fred Hammond, a parade, job fair, college tour, the Heritage Breakfast, the city’s largest line dance and much more.          

Presented by TriHealth and co-presented by the GRO Community, this year’s theme is “Everlasting Endurance.”

The celebration kicks off with BFR Speaks on Thursday, August 14, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It will be followed by the Heritage Breakfast on Friday, August 15, on Fountain Square, with Cynthia Booth, CEO of Emerge Manufacturing, as the keynote. A parade through Avondale takes place on Saturday morning August 16. The main event is at Sawyer Point August 16-17, featuring national recording artist Midnight Star on Saturday, and Grammy Award-nominee and Gospel legend Fred Hammond on Sunday.

This year’s BFR will honor City Gospel Mission President Dr. Jonathan Brown and family with the Family of the Year Award. This year’s parade Grand Marshall will be Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece. Returning to this year’s BFR is the job fair (in partnership with Superior Career Fairs) on Thursday at Music Hall, as well as the local college tour on Friday.

New this year! BFR will hold the city’s largest line dance. More details will be announced later.

BFR events include:

• BFR Speaks, featuring Dr. Bernice King, presented by First Financial Bank
• BFR Heritage Breakfast, featuring Cynthia Booth, presented by Fifth Third
• BFR Lounge, honoring Jackie Taggart-Boyd
• BFR Parade, with Alicia Reece as Grand Marshall
• BFR Urban Concert, featuring Midnight Star
• BFR Gospel Concert, featuring Fred Hammond
• BFR College Tour
• BFR Job Fair, in partnership with Superior Career Fairs
• BFR Historic Tour of Black Cincinnati, presented by Metro 

“‘Everlasting Endurance’ is not just a theme, it’s a testament to our ability to stand firm in the face of challenges while continuing to uplift one another,” says Tracey Farley-Artis, BFR Executive Director. “Now, more than ever, our community must hold on to the strength that has carried us through generations. This year’s reunion will be a powerful reminder of our resilience, our legacy, and the future we’re building together.”

For more information or to become a sponsor, visit myblackfamilyreunion.org.

Inaugurated in 1988, the Midwest Black Family Reunion (BFR) celebration was founded by Dr. Dorothy I. Height, President Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women, to celebrate and recognize the strength of the African American family. It is held annually on the third weekend of August at Sawyer Point and other sites around Cincinnati.