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WHEREAS, The Aurora Reading Club was founded in 1894 in Allegheny County by six pioneering African American women, some of whom were born before the end of slavery; and,
WHEREAS, The Aurora Reading Club was formed “to pursue a systematic course of study for the mutual improvement of the membership in literature, art, science and matters relating to the vital interests of the day”; and,
WHEREAS, The Aurora Reading Club and its members support the community and its people by giving time, talent and donations to various non-profit organizations such as schools, libraries, shelters, and groups that advocate for women and children; and,
WHEREAS, The Aurora Reading Club has proactively and positively raised awareness by supporting missionary projects in Africa and national organizations including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture and others; and,
WHEREAS, The Aurora Reading Club has enjoyed mutually beneficial partnerships with Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures, the United Black Book Clubs of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, the Children’s Museum-Saturday Light Brigade, the Friday Club of Greensburg, the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh, and Reading Is Fundamental; and,
WHEREAS, The Aurora Reading Club is one of the nation’s oldest African American arts and cultural organizations, as it celebrated its 125th anniversary on October 19, 2019;
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare December 17, 2019 to be “The Aurora Reading Club Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.