By WMBD-TV
NORMAL – Family and friends gathered at the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University on Saturday.
It was all to remember and support Jelani Day and the Jelani Day Foundation.
It’s the second year the foundation has held dinner, but this year, it’s being held on National Missing Persons Day.
Those who attended the remembrance dinner were dressed in white to support the foundation and Jelani’s family.
Live music, food, speeches, and poetry readings were performed throughout the night.
Jelani’s family also announced they are giving three different scholarships out, from the foundation. Jelani’s Mother stressed the importance of police work when it comes to missing black and brown men.
“It’s important that when a missing black male goes missing, we don’t look at them and think the first thing that doesn’t come up is the stereotype that there are criminals that or they’re involved in drug activity or gang activity,” said Carmen Bolden Day.
Jelani’s mother says it’s because of these events the foundation will be able to grow.
She says she knows the foundation will be the biggest resource for missing brown and black people in Illinois.
Carmen Bolden Day, Jelani Day’s mother, said “What’s going to come out of it, is growth. We are going to continue to grow and then we will be able to be impactful under the name of Jelani. We will be powerful under the name of Jelani “
The event was originally scheduled in August, but Carmen and her family were invited to the March on Washington.
She said it was important to her, and Jelani, that they be a part of that.
