More than 1,000 people on Wednesday attended the grand opening and toured The Black Excellence and Cultural Center, which is now open on Madison’s south side.
Lines formed along West Badger Road as a mix of residents including elected officials and other state and community leaders flooded into the new building, made possible by $32 million in contributions from across the state, according to its founder, the Rev. Alex Gee.
Gee and his sister, Lilada Gee, who also was key to the building’s creation and design, held court as line after line of visitors walked through the three-story facility, many stopping to thank, congratulate and compliment them for the project.
Cap Times Photo Director Ruthie Hauge spent hours documenting the historic event. See below for a look inside The Center and the moments it created Wednesday.
The Rev. Alex Gee, founder of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture next door to the Fountain of Life Covenant Church he leads, is congratulated by one person after another after announcing the new center’s opening.
A long line of guests waits for doors to open to the new Center for Black Excellence and Culture on West Badger Road in Madison.
Over 1,000 people attended the grand opening of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture in Madison. The event became a reunion of local leaders and community members.
The Rev. Alex Gee embraces friends, allies and community members just before the doors opened Wednesday at The Center for Black Excellence and Culture on West Badger Road in Madison.
A guest turns back to look at a portrait of the Rev. Alex Gee, made by ArrowStar Photography owner Shalicia Johnson, while on a self-guided tour of The Center.
A timed entry system was implemented to accommodate the constant stream of people attending the grand opening of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. More than 1,000 visited the center Wednesday.
Ja'Syia Starks, Tanasia Nicholson and Dezie Miller, dancers from The House Inc., perform in the multi-use event space at The Center.
Alahna Wiest, 4, peeks out from her stroller awning to watch fellow dancers from The House Inc. perform at the grand opening. Alahna, not yet old enough to perform at the event, asked her mom if she was supposed to be in costume to perform too.
Pamela Payne, left, and Earlise Ward joyfully embrace in the room designed by Lilada Gee for Black women and girls in The Black Excellence and Cultural Center.
Emili Spencer, lead interior designer, and her daughter Sylvi Carlson tour the art gallery during the event. The gallery will continually display the work of Black artists.
Corey Marionneaux, CEO and founder of the Black Men Coalition, center, joyfully greets friends and fellow community leaders.
Hazel Symonette, Tina Savadogo and Denise Boss tour Club Afrique, an exclusive lounge on the top floor of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. The lounge, which is adjacent to the co-working space, is intended to be a gathering place for post-workday happy hours and private events.
Giovanni, a locally famous dog and “ambassador of Jackson’s Yard Care (JYC),†attends the grand opening in a cozy sling held by JYC owner Action Jackson.
Desiree Fleming and Chris Gee-Lewis dance to live jazz near the bar.
Lilada Gee greets visitors in the room she designed and curated as a safe and welcoming space for Black women and girls.
As guests busily move about The Center, Jacqueline Gee, wife of founder Alex Gee, sits in the peace and quiet of the library their daughter created.
Louis Ely paints in the art room on the first floor of The Center. Adjacent to the art room is a makers space.
Jason Ilstrup, president of Downtown Madison Inc., embraces Jason Fields, chief strategy officer for The Center for Black Excellence and Culture, during the building's grand opening celebration.
Guests tour the third floor co-working space.
Jalin Phelps dances with his daughter, Jayla Phelps, 2, in the space created by Lilada Gee for Black girls and women.
Lilada Gee lovingly embraces her “favorite teacher,†Geraldine B. Bernard, at the event.
Guests mingle near the bar and live music as the grand opening event approaches its end.
Kaleb Atkinson, 11, pulls his mom, Keena Atkinson, away from social interactions, knowing she was becoming overstimulated and it was time to go home.
Ruthie Hauge is photo director for the Cap Times and the recipient of more than 80 photojournalism awards. Email story ideas and tips to Ruthie at rhauge@captimes.com or call (608) 252-6450.
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