The Kelton House Celebrates Black History in style. You will hear about African American food and tea
traditions. After guests can enjoy a costumed docent led tour of the historic Kelton House.
Julialynne Walker has been a teacher, lawyer, trailblazer, librarian, school administrator, public
health professional. Julialynne is currently the manager of Bronzeville Growers Market &
Agricademy.

Julialynne displayed her ability to change institutions early in life. She became the first graduate
of the Black Studies program at the College of Wooster by challenging the college to formally
recognize the importance of black history and culture.
After receiving her undergraduate degree, Julialynne moved to Africa to teach in Tanzania for
three years in the early 70s. She returned to the United States and worked as a librarian at
Cornell before obtaining her law degree from Northwestern in 1979. Afterwards she worked as
a legal services attorney in Chicago for ten years before returning to education as an associate
dean at Memphis State. During this time she became involved with the liberation movement in
South Africa and wanted to recommit herself fully to social change in Africa and returned to
Africa to oversee the School for International Training’s study abroad program in Zimbabwe and
Ghana.

She moved to South Africa after the end of apartheid in 1994 to conduct diversity and inclusion
training and eventually AIDS advocacy. She stayed for 15 years before returning to Ohio and
began volunteering in the community garden at the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Bronzeville,
which her family had helped found over 100 years prior. She eventually established the
Bronzeville Grower’s Market at 17th and Mt. Vernon, which is open July 1st - September 30th
every Thursday from 3-6pm. The location was picked specifically because it is a food desert, a historic area where food has been redlined and where ther are still few options for buying fresh produce in the area.
Julialynne also established the Bronzeville Agricademy, which is a 10 week gardening course
that welcomes Bronzeville residents of all levels of gardening experience to learn the basics of
sustainable food production and nutrition. A core component of the program’s approach is to
help people develop relationships to support each other’s growth as gardeners. She continues
to work to support the creation of a “healthy living corridor” within Bronzeville, where her
former students can continue to expand their gardening capacity and begin to move into
commercially viable urban farming.

The Kelton House Museum and Garden, established in 1976 as a community project of the
Junior League of Columbus celebrates decorative arts and the history of Columbus through the
eyes of the Kelton Family who lived in the home for three generations. As a site on the
Underground Railroad, the stories of the Hartway/Lawrence family are highlighted. Tours of the
home are offered Thursdays-Sundays from noon-4pm as well as offering private tours, special
events and weddings in our picturesque garden. For more information about volunteering,
visiting or donor opportunities, visit keltonhouse.com, email director@keltonhouse.com or
phone 614-464-2022.

Black History Month Tea

By Junior League of Columbus

Black History Month Tea