Naperville News Digest: ‘Awesome Black Creativity’ on display at children’s museum; Wehrli named grand marshal of St. Patrick’s Day Parade

‘Awesome Black Creativity’ on display at children’s museum

DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville is celebrating accomplished Black figures with LEGO Brick creations that make up its new  interactive exhibit, “Awesome Black Creativity.”

The exhibit features 26 contemporary and historical Black figures in dance, photography, music, film, culinary arts, activism and more, museum officials said in a news release.

It will be displayed through March at the museum, 301 N. Washington St.

The project was designed by Dave Kaleta and Richard Dryden, who were on LEGO Masters on FOX in 2021.

Dryden said in the news release that kids and adults can see individuals who look like them through the broader spectrum of Black and Brown skin tones.

Some of the icons include actress Halle Berry, tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, and author and civil rights activist Bell Hooks.

The creators of the “Awesome Black Creativity” will be at the museum to host workshops from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Children can work alongside the LEGO masters to create their own self-portraits.

For more information, go to www.dupagechildrens.org.

Troy Stolt

Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli will be the grand marshal of the Naperville St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 9.

Wehrli named grand marshal of St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli has been named the grand marshal of this year’s Naperville St. Patrick’s Day Parade, scheduled for Saturday, March 9.

The parade will step off at 10 a.m. near Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St., travel through downtown Naperville and end near Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave.

More than 10,000 spectators are expected to watch the parade, which includes pipe and drum bands, Irish dancers, and Irish-themed floats and parade entries, parade chairman Rich Janor said in a news release. Also marching will be local businesses, community groups and police, fire and elected officials.

The parade is hosted by the West Suburban Irish. It will be televised on Naperville Community Television, NCTV17.

“Naperville cherishes this celebration of culture and heritage, where all who attend are a little Irish for the day,” Wehrli said in a news release.

For more information, go to www.wsirish.org.

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