For the first time in more than three years, Circle Legacy Center is offering a series of programs on the second Friday of every month. The goal of the series is to educate the community on the culture, history and traditions of Native Americans, as well as to raise awareness of modern issues. Each program will be hosted from 6 to 9 p.m. at Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, 328 W. Orange St., and participants are encouraged to bring a food item to share during a potluck dinner. Utensils, plates and cups will be provided.

Each program will highlight a different topic that pertains to Native American communities. The series kicked off with a meeting on Sept. 8 to welcome new participants and returning members, and Circle Legacy Center shared updates about its upcoming projects and plans for the remainder of the year. The organization also provided information on Every Child Matters, a movement that seeks to raise awareness of the abuse of Native American children in residential schools. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also referred to as Orange Shirt Day, was observed on Saturday, Sept. 30. Every year, observers of the holiday don orange clothing to represent the forced assimilation of indigenous peoples.

On Oct. 13, Circle Legacy Center will discuss Indigenous Peoples Day, which is observed by many communities on Oct. 9 instead of Columbus Day. The meeting will feature a presentation on past and present Native American groups in Lancaster. Circle Legacy Center's program on Nov. 10 will offer Native American dishes for participants to enjoy as they discuss current economic, social and health issues of indigenous people. The meeting will also include a discussion on National Native American Heritage Month, which is annually designated as the month of November. On Dec. 8, Circle Legacy Center will host guest speaker Dave Costarella, who will share information on his project to help people experiencing homelessness in Lancaster city.

Circle Legacy Center was founded in 2007 by Victoria Valentine of Millersville, who also serves as the organization's executive director. "I started out as an environmentalist, and I was always interested in Native American culture," Valentine said. "As I learned more about it, I had a vision to make a bridge between the community and the Native American people, not only to educate people but to raise awareness of their needs."

Although Circle Legacy Center has no physical headquarters, it remains actively involved with various local organizations. The nonprofit frequently participates in events at Blue Rock Heritage Center in Washington Boro and the Conestoga Area Historical Society. Some Circle Legacy Center board members are also active in similar groups such as the Carlisle Indian School Project, another nonprofit based in Conestoga. The project aims to build a heritage center and museum near the site of the original boarding school in Carlisle.

For more information, search for "Circle Legacy Center" on Facebook.