The Hazel I. Jackson Foundation and the Millersville University Office of Diversity and Inclusion will hold their inaugural fundraiser, the premiere of the play "Midst of Faith" by Nathan Lee Gadsden. Performances will take place on Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, at 8 p.m. at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m.

"Midst of Faith" is based on the journey of Hazel Jackson, an educator who navigated her way from the one-room segregated schoolhouses of the South to her groundbreaking hiring as a teacher in a Northern school district and eventually as a professor at a predominantly white college. The play, drawn from the late Jackson's autobiographical musings and accounts from her daughter and granddaughter, unfolds through her personal journey against the backdrop of black history. The story concludes with a scene where students celebrate the dedication of a school in Lancaster in Jackson's name, showcasing the lasting impact she made on the community.

The May 31 performance will be free for youths in kindergarten through grade 12; children and youths must be accompanied by an adult. The June 1 performance is open to the general public for a fee. Tickets may be purchased at https://bit.ly/midstoffaithplay.

For more information, contact Cheryl Holland-Jones at 717-823-1944 or chollandjones@gmail.com.

The Lancaster County Community Foundation partnered with Jackson's family to continue her legacy of community service and passion for education through the Hazel I. Jackson Foundation Fund. To learn more, visit http://www.lancfound.org/fund/hazel-i-jackson-foundation-fund/.