Ann Arbor Times

2023 City of Portage Black History Month Celebration

In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Portage hosted Derreck Kayongo on Saturday, February 4 at the Air Zoo.  Due to an unforeseen personal matter, Lt. General Russel Honoré, who was scheduled to speak, was not able to attend the event.  Derreck Kayongo graciously stepped in to share his story of survival, discovery, and humanitarianism.

From a young Ugandan refugee to a successful entrepreneur, human rights activist, and renowned global health expert, Kayongo brings his story and guiding principles, coined as S.E.L.F., (Service, Education, Leadership, and Faith), to life in emotionally packed presentations that stay with you long after his closing remarks.  Kayongo is the founder of the Global Soap Project, which recycles bars of soap from thousands of hotels and redistributes them to disadvantaged populations.

We were fortunate enough to have Portage City Councilmember and guest host Vic Ledbetter sit down with Lt. General Russel L. Honoré for an in-depth conversation in January on Portage Connect.  Please click here to enjoy this special Portage Connect Podcast (previously recorded prior to the event).  

Click here to view the program video of Derreck Kayongo and a selection of photographs. 

Original source can be found here.