University of Rhode Island
Black History Month 2010 Celebration
- “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” – Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Founder, Negro History Week
- The University of Rhode Island Multicultural Center, URI Providence Feinstein Campus, the URI Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, the Memorial Union, NAACP, Uhuru SaSa, Black American Society, the African and Afro-American Studies Program, Underground Railroad, BOND, National Society of Black Engineers, and the Division of Student Affairs will join forces to present the following events for the University of Rhode Island Black History Month Celebration. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Schedule of Events
Monday, February 1
What: Multi-Faith Celebration, emceed by Tim Quainoo, URI Student
Who: Sponsored by the Office of the Chaplains, and the Multicultural Center
When: 7:00-8:00 PM
Where: Multicultural Center, Hardge Forum, Room 101
Facilitated by Tim Quainoo, Freshman, Communication Studies, this service is open to all. Students from diverse religious communities come together to share readings, stories, songs, dances, prayers, meditations, and testimonies from their respective sacred traditions to commemorate the life and work of Dr. King.
Tuesday, February 2
What: Orientation to URI Martin Luther King Day of Service
Who: Sponsored by Brothers On A New Direction (BOND), and the Multicultural Unity and Student
Improvement Council (M.U.S.I.C.)
When: 6:00-7:00 PM
Where: Multicultural Center, Conference Room, Room 201
Join students from all backgrounds as URI celebrates Dr. King’s legacy by helping to transform community issues into campus action! Facilitated by Kevin Martins, Graduate Assistant Director, Weldin Hall, and the members of Brothers On A New Direction (BOND).
What: Presentation by Sandra Levinson, Executive Director, Center for Cuban Studies, New York City, with
reception to follow.
Who: Sponsored by the Office of Student Services and the Artist-in-Residence, Feinstein Providence Campus
When: 5:00-6:00 PM
Where: Paff Auditorium, Feinstein Providence Campus
Sandra Levinson, Executive Director, The Center for Cuban Study of the Cuban Art Space, Director of the Center’s Cuban Art Space, and online editor of CUBA Update, is a scholar on Cuban art and culture, as well as a representative for Cuban artists, and their work in the USA. She has traveled to Cuba for over 40 years, acting as guide and facilitator for educational groups engaged in research and study. In addition, local Cuban born Santero Steve Quintana, a spiritual leader and educator, will discuss the history and practice of African-based spirituality in Cuba. Music will be provided by New Jersey-based Mario Carret and his ensemble.
Wednesday, February 3
What: Unity Luncheon featuring keynote address by Rev. Lynn Baker Dooley, former Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bozeman, MN, with Provost Dr. Donald DeHayes as Emcee
Who: Sponsored by the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Division of Student Affairs, Multicultural Center, Office of the Chaplains, Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, Office of Student Life, and the URI Foundation.
When: 12 Noon-1 PM
Where: Multicultural Center, Hardge Forum, Room 101
A communal sharing of food, song, and reflection in celebration of the legacy of ideas espoused by Dr. King, and the application of legacy at the University of Rhode Island. RSVP Only – This event is now closed.
What: Multicultural Center Sustained Dialogue Project
Who: Sponsored by the Multicultural Center and the College of Human Sciences and Services
When: 5:45-7:00 PM
Where: Multicultural Center, Conference Room, Room 201
Sustained Dialogue (SD) enables participants from diverse primary identity groups to build community by engaging each other and exploring differences as well as common ground in personal and group perspectives. Facilitated by Kepler Jeudy, Graduate Student Hall Director, Merrow Hall, and members of the Dialogue Group from the 2009 Fall Semester.
What: Presentation by Ana Flores, Cuban-born Artist and Environmentalist, with reception to follow
Who: Sponsored by the Office of Student Services and the Artist-in-Residence, Feinstein Providence Campus
When: 5:00-6:00 PM
Where: Paff Auditorium, Feinstein Providence Campus
Reception and presentation including a reading by Cuban born Rhode Island artist Ana Flores from her Cuban Journal documenting her return to Cuba; a music, dance and dramatic presentation from African-American Spirituals by local performance artist Melodie Thompson Thomas and RISD artist, singer Tony Johnson; along with the original work of spoken word performance artist Natasha Busari.
Thursday, February 5
What: Lecture-Discussion, “History of Women Leaders in the Nonviolence Movement” by Dr. Lynne Derbyshire, Communication Studies, and Gail Faris, Women’s Center
Who: Sponsored by the Department of Communication Studies, the Women’s Center, and the Multicultural Center
When: 11 AM-12:15 PM
Where: Multicultural Center, Hardge Forum, Room 101
Facilitated by Dr. Lynne Derbyshire, Associate Professor and Chair, Communication Studies, and Gail Faris, Assistant Director, Women’s Center, this lecture-discussion provides participants with new perspectives on often unheralded women leaders and their contributions to the cause of global nonviolence.
What: Performance, “Songs for Civil Rights”, by Dr. Steve Wood, Communication Studies, Dr. Paul Bueno de Mesquita, Communication Studies, and Dr. Libby Miles, Writing and Rhetoric
Who: Sponsored by the Cognitive Dissidents, the Departments of Communication Studies and Psychology, the Writing and Rhetoric Program, the Multicultural Center, and the Memorial Union
When: 12:30-1:30 PM
Where: Memorial Union, Main Lounge
Experience the power of music to create community! Facilitated by URI’s own Cognitive Dissidents, Dr. Paul Bueno de Mesquita, Professor, Psychology; Libby Miles, Associate Professor, Writing Program; and Steve Wood, Professor, Communication Studies, invite participants to explore the meaning and significance of national freedom struggle through music.
What: Performance of Dance, Music, Drumming and Spoken Word, with reception to follow
Who: Sponsored by the Office of Student Services and the Artist-in-Residence, Feinstein Providence Campus
When: 5:00-6:00 PM
Where: Paff Auditorium, Feinstein Providence Campus
Reception with dance, music, drumming and spoken word performance by Human Creativity from Central Falls High School sharing traditions from West Africa, Latin, Cape Verde, Hip-Hop cultures along with original vocal and instrumental music by Central Falls graduate Jose Docen.
What: Student Leaders Diversity Conference (by invitation only)
Who: Sponsored by Student Planning Committee
When: Friday-Saturday
Where: Alton B. Jones Campus
Wednesday, February 10
What: Sub-Saharan Africa + Math: Does It Add Up?
Who: Sponsored by the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Facilitated by John Brito, President of National Society of Black Engineers, Senior.
When: 6 PM
Where: Memorial Union, Atrium I
Jeff Gardner of Amgen will introduce topics exploring the shadowed mathematic skills in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Tuesday, February 16
What: The Black Inventors Exhibit, with Forum to follow, facilitated by Dr. Norman Barber, Adjunct Lecturer, African-American Studies; Carroll Lamb, Curator, Black Inventors Exhibit; Dr. Donald DeHayes, Provost and Vice President , Academic Affairs, and Professor, Natural Resource Sciences; and Dr. Nasser Zawia, Dean, Graduate School, and Professor, Biomedical Sciences
Who: Sponsored by the Student Senate, P.I.N.K. Women, Uhuru SaSa, N.A.A.C.P., Student Alliance for the Welfare of Africa (S.A.W.A.), Black American Society, Cape Verdean Students Association, Multicultural Unity and Student Involvement Council (M.U.S.I.C.), the Multicultural Center, and the Alumni of Color Network
When: 10 AM-4 PM
Where: Memorial Union, Atrium 1 and 2
Explore this all-day program highlighting the underrepresented innovations by African-Americans. Also, broaden your perspectives by joining a forum following the exhibit in Atrium 2.
Wednesday, February 17
What: Free Documentary Screening, “The Neo-African Americans”
Who: Sponsored by Uhuru SaSa. Facilitated by Tyrene Jones, President of Uhuru Sasa, Senior.
When: 6:30 PM
Where: Swan Hall Auditorium
Experience a fascinating conversation on how rapid voluntary immigration from Africa and the Caribbean is transforming the “African-American” narrative.
Tuesday, February 23
What: Women of Color Conference, followed by the 15th Annual Lecture On Multiculturalism, “Identity Politics in the Age of Obama”, by Dr. Khalilah Brown-Dean, Peter Strauss Assistant Family Assistant Professor of African-American Studies and Political Science
Who: Conference sponsored by the Center for Student Leadership Development, the Rose Butler Browne Leadership Program for Women of Color, and the Women’s Center; and Lecture sponsored by the Multicultural Center
When: Conference, 6 PM; and Lecture 7:30 PM
Where: Memorial Union
What: Panel Discussion, “Visiting Cuba”
Who: Facilitated by Professor Kat Quina, Professor Kathleen Forman and Michael Samuelson.
When: 7 PM
Where: CCE Campus
Presentations from the recent trip Cuban travel by Professor Kat Quina, Professor Kathleen Gorman and Michael Samuelson.
Friday, February 26
What: Biomedical Science Careers Student Conference (BSCP)
Who: Sponsored by the Multicultural Center and the Graduate School. Registration is full.
When: Feb. 26, 6:00 pm – Feb. 27, 6:00 pm
Where: Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED! This conference is designed for postdoctoral fellows; medical, dental and graduate students; college and community college students; post-baccalaureates; and high school seniors and juniors. There are two objectives of the Biomedical Science Careers Student Conference. The primary objective is to provide approximately 700 African-American, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native students/fellows with an opportunity to network with advisors/role models from the basic and clinical sciences, medicine, public health, academic administration and the private sector. These advisors/role models will encourage participants to complete advanced studies and provide concrete advice and information on available resources, professional opportunities and career paths in biomedical science and other science-related fields. The second objective is to enable student/fellow participants to meet, inspire and network with one another. Participants should be seriously interested in or currently studying in biomedical, biotechnology and science-related fields, such as medicine, chemistry, physics, biology, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, physical therapy, public health, allied health or environmental science. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
Tuesday, March 2
What: Forum on Race, Skin Color, and Privilege
Who: Sponsored by Uhuru Sasa and the women of Chi Upsilon Sigma (CUS)
When: 7 PM
Where: Memorial Union, Room 318
Join Uhuru Sasa and the women of CUS as they discuss the relationship between race, skin color, privilege, and entitlement.
All Month Long:
What: Exhibit of Cuban Art and Culture
Who: Sponsored by the Office of Student Services, and the Artist-in-Residence
When: 9 AM-9 PM
Where: URI Feinstein Campus, Gallery (First and Second Floor)
