Fisk University will host its Jubilee Day convocation on Saturday, October 6, at 10 am in the Fisk Memorial Chapel. Serving as this year’s keynote speaker will be alumna Milele A. Coggs, J.D. ‘99. The event is free and is open to the public.
Celebrated annually, Jubilee Day commemorates the historic day in 1871 when the Fisk Jubilee Singers departed from Fisk University to tour the United States and abroad to raise funds for the university.
The Milwaukee native, Alderwoman Coggs graduated from Fisk, with honors, majoring in business administration and English. Prior to earning her Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, she interned in the Office of a Wisconsin state senator.
She is the youngest woman ever elected to Milwaukee’s Common Council and is the first African American female to ever serve as chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee.
Alderwoman Coggs’ election to office marks the Coggs family’s fifth generation of members having served in public office with three members currently in different areas of government.
In addition to the convocation, the Jubilee Day celebration will include the third annual Jubilee Singers Alumni Heritage Concert featuring Valerie Simpson at 7 pm in the Fisk Memorial Chapel.
Valerie Simpson, legendary singer and songwriter (Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston) will be featured in concert as part of the special Jubilee Day festivities. The concert will also feature tributes to our 2018 Heritage Awardees Ashford & Simpson; the world’s greatest husband and wife songwriting team, as well as legendary R&B songwriter and hit maker, Skip Scarborough.
Tickets are available on Fisk’s campus at the Richardson House 1017 16th Ave N. or on the web at <www.dftvnetwork.com/fisk-jubilee-singers-alumni>.
For those who can’t attend, the event will also be live streamed to patrons who donate $35 or more.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit the FJSA Scholarship fund.
