Benefit Cat Fish Fry and Story Circle

Join us for food, fellowship, and history — while supporting youth camp scholarships!

The African American Fish Fry is more than a meal — it’s a tradition of hope, restoration, and resilience, rooted in the earliest days of Black life in America.

With deep symbols of faith and fellowship, the fish fry became a cornerstone of Black mutual aid — a place where neighbors could eat, organize, and pass down recipes, stories, and strength.

Today, it remains a gathering of legacy and lineage, where storytelling, laughter, and good food keep Black communities connected across generations.

Similarly, African Americans created their own camping spaces and outdoor retreats when segregation excluded them from public parks and campgrounds. These Black campgrounds became places of joy, spirituality, and rest — sites to unmask, reflect, and reconnect with the land and each other.

Come with your stories, songs, poems, and memories of camping, fishing, and fish frys — the moments that have shaped your family, faith, and community.

Whether you grew up frying fish on a porch, camping by a lake, or just love the smell of hot grease and laughter — your story belongs in this evening.

Dr. Clover Johnson
Educator, community organizer, and founder of the MEDI-PLAY-TION concept.
Dr. Johnson will share how the African American fish fry served as a civil rights fundraiser, a place of rest and resistance, and a site of cultural healing.
She’ll also share personal memories of yearly fish fries at a Black campground in Michigan — where heritage and healing intertwined.

Steve Powenski
Outdoor educator, former university track coach, and retired college recruiter at a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI).
Steve will share how teaching his young son to fish helped preserve his son’s Polish and African American roots, and how summers spent fishing in Benton, Illinois shaped his lifelong love for the fish fry tradition.
He has graciously donated his summer stock of catfish for this event.

All proceeds help fund camp experiences for local youth, giving every child the opportunity to explore nature, build confidence, and create lifelong memories.

📍 Location: First Christian Church
Address: 306 W Monroe St, Carbondale, IL 62901

📅 Date & Time: Friday October 17th

5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
(Fish served until 7:00 p.m.)

🎟️ Suggested Donation: $15.00 — or multiply your gift as your heart leads.

There is an open field for donations to give more (or less).

Please sign up here with your donation and be prepared to pay at the church.

Bring your appetite, your stories, and your love for community —
let’s feast, share, and celebrate together.

Also check out other Nonprofit events in Carbondale, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Carbondale.