RTA highlights historic places to celebrate Black History Month

(DAYTON, OHIO)… To celebrate Black History Month, the Greater Dayton RTA is shining a spotlight on several places in Montgomery County that have cultural and historic significance within the African American community. 

These places were selected in collaboration with Parity Inc.’s Black Leadership Development Program. They include the Paul Laurence Dunbar House, Wayman AME Church, Old Miller Underground Railroad house, Wright-Dunbar neighborhood, Dayton VA Medical Center, the former Fifth Street YMCA and the Charity Adams Earley Girls Academy.

Interior cards highlighting each location and the nearest bus route will be placed inside the RTA’s fixed-route bus fleet for customers to read. Each card will have a QR code riders can scan, which will take them to RTA’s Black History Month website, www.iriderta.org/blackhistorymonth.

The month-long celebration kicks off Feb. 1 with the rollout of RTA’s February calendar bus featuring Black History Month. The bus design features the Paul Laurence Dunbar House, former Fifth Street YMCA and Wayman AME Church. As with all the agency’s calendar buses, the February bus displays holidays and other days of interest, such Groundhog Day, Presidents Day, Valentine’s Day, Ohio Loves Transit Day and the Super Bowl. 

Also, a seat will be reserved on every fixed-route bus using a special Rosa Parks placard to acknowledge her role in helping end segregation on public transportation. Riders are encouraged to take a picture or video with the placard stating what Black History Month means to them and sharing it on social media using #RTABlackHistoryMonth. Each week during the month, one person who creates a post will randomly be selected to win some RTA swag items.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristi Newton (937) 425-8379, Communications and Community Relations Manager