Fish Tales and Camp Fryers
Schedule
Fri Oct 17 2025 at 05:30 pm to 08:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
306 W Monroe St, Carbondale, IL | Carbondale, IL
Advertisement
“Fish Tales and Camp Fryers”Join us for food, fellowship, and history — while supporting youth camp scholarships!
Come Learn About the African American Fish Fry
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.
Bring Your Own “Fish Tales” — Open Mic!
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.
Special Guest Speakers
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.
A Benefit for Camp Scholarships
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, 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.
Bring your appetite, your stories, and your love for community —
let’s feast, share, and celebrate together.
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
306 W Monroe St, Carbondale, IL, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
