Western Reserve Historical Society, in partnership with RLRIII & Associates, is proud to announce an official press conference to unveil the return of the African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration (AAHCC), a historic festival coming back to the Cleveland History Center on August 21–22, 2026.
The media is invited to join us for an exclusive press preview featuring legendary hip-hop pioneer and icon, Roxanne Shante, one of the first female stars of the genre and the subject of the Netflix biopic Roxanne, Roxanne, alongside Cleveland hip-hop trailblazer Kevin “MC Chill” Heard.
After a twenty-year hiatus, the AAHCC — once a premier multi-day cultural event drawing over 10,000 attendees — returns to honor the legacy of Black excellence in Northeast Ohio. This year’s celebration holds special significance as it honors the 40th anniversary of MC Chill becoming Cleveland’s first national rap recording artist, a milestone that cemented his place in hip-hop history.
The press conference will provide an exclusive first look at the festival programming, including the Legends of 216 documentary screening, the VIP meet-and-greet, and details regarding the star-studded 40th Anniversary Concert.
“Bringing the AAHCC back to the Western Reserve Historical Society is about more than nostalgia. It’s about stewardship of our culture,” said Kelly Falcone Hall, President & CEO, Western Reserve Historical Society.
“To have hip-hop royalty like Roxanne Shante here to stand with MC Chill and support this revival signals the national importance of what we are building in Cleveland,” said Robert L. Render III, President at RLRIII & Associates.
PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106
Attendees: MC Chill, Roxanne Shante, Western Reserve Historical Society and RLRIII & Associates leadership.
About the AAHCC:
The African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration (AAHCC) is a landmark event dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the rich history, arts, and contributions of African Americans in Northeast Ohio.
About the Western Reserve Historical Society
Founded in 1867, WRHS is a regional American history organization with seven properties across Northeast Ohio. WRHS presents exhibitions, programs and experiences that tell the dynamic stories of the people of Northeast Ohio through art, documents and artifacts from a variety of collections..
Cleveland History Center provides the public with a much-needed sense of place in today’s mobile society. Serving as the headquarters for WRHS, Cleveland History Center shares the story of Northeast Ohio through the use of the Western Reserve Historical Society’s extensive collections. Each document and artifact tell the story of the American experience that personally engages individuals, young and old to make these stories come alive. Ride on the restored Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel, walk through two historic mansions, experience the evolution of the automobile in Cleveland and the world in the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, and discover "why Cleveland."
WRHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is a member of the America 250-Ohio Commission commemorating the semiquincentennial of the United States in 2026. WRHS was awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) in March 2025, the industry gold standard for museum excellence for over 50 years. AAM accreditation signifies a museum's quality and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. WRHS is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Sponsorships, bequests, grants, admissions, and other funds are used by WRHS to preserve and enrich the region’s artistic and cultural heritage. WRHS earned a top four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s most-used independent evaluator of charities and nonprofits. Administrative offices are located at 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106 Visit us online at www.wrhs.org or on social media @clestartshere.
About America 250-Ohio
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.
