The Winter 2024 GACC is a tribute to the Social Work study abroad programs led by Dr. Dianne Green-Smith since 2009, and in acknowledgment of the ten Ghanaian graduate students then enrolled in CECI's academic programs.Dr. Dianne Green-Smith, Professor of Social Work; Dr. Adeline Borti, Assistant Professor of English Education; and Dr. Mark Hoffman, Associate Dean, are the organizing committee for the Winter GACC.

Keynote Presenations

The Winter Colloquium was launched on February 20 with two keynote presentations: “A retrospective on the Social Work study abroad program in Ghana” by Dr. Dianne Green-Smith, Professor of Social Work, and two former students and “African American Migration: Exploring the lived experience of African Americans living in Ghana” by Dr. Jakia Marie, Assistant Professor of Integrative and African American Studies.Dean Sherill Soman hosted the event. Lunch was a Ghana salad (lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, onions, and baked beans), Red Red (stewed black-eyed peas), Kelewele (spicy fried plantains), and Bofrot  (Ghanaian donuts).

PechaKucha Hour: The Ghana Experience

Following the keynote presentations, four students from Ghana gave pecha kucha presentations (20 slides for 20 seconds each):

• Amanda Anka, master's student in Communications - “What does being Ghanaian mean?” 
• Vanessa Hackman, student in Nursing - "Growing up Ghanaian in an American Setting"
• Albert Nii Noi Okwei, master's student in Public Administration - "Golden Horizons: Discovering the Treasures of Ghana."
• Ruth Yeboah, master's student in Communications -"The Akan Customary Marriage in Ghana”

This was followed by a spoken word performance by Jesse Maina, master's student in Data Science & Analytics.

Webinars

“Ghana-US Relations: The Higher Education Platform,” a webinar featuring Professor Kweku Osam, former provost at the University of Ghana, and Dr. Thomas Haas, President Emeritus of Grand Valley State University. March 12, 10-11 am. Hosted by Dr. Richard Yidana, Associate Professor of Sociology Watch webinar recording. (passcode: XZ2#6bMf)

“Sounds from the Other Side: African Popular Music in the Age of Technoculture,” a webinar with NiiQuaye, a producer, arranger, singer-song writer, and guitarist, Nenesenor, an Afropop musician and actor, and Purple Goergelyn Ames (a.k.a., Dear Purple), a television producer/director and an A&R representative for the Accra-based Lynx Entertainment record label. Hosted by Joseph Amartey (a.k.a. J. Martz), master's student in Public Administration and music producer. March 13, 2-3 pm. .Llisten to Afrobeats 101 playlist on Amazon Music.
 

“The Global Challenge of Textile Waste: Initiatives in Ghana and Grand Rapids,” a webinar with Samuel Oteng, Community Engagement Manager at the Or Foundation in Accra, and Janay Brower, Founder and CEO of Public Thread in Grand Rapids. March 19, 10-11 am. Hosted by Chelsea Duball, Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Management. Watch webinar recording. (passcode: 0eErVNzp)

Experiencing Ghana through Virtual Reality: Cape Coast Castle and GVSU

In March, the monthly CECI Big Byte presentation was with Dr. Jakia Marie, Assistant Professor in African & African American Studies, and Jacob Fortman, Emerging Technology Research Analyst, Information Technology virtual reality experience of the Cape Coast Castle and Assin Manso Last Bath in Ghana. The session discussed the impact virtual reality can have in education and the opportunities at GVSU. Held March 20 in The University Club. Watch on YouTube.

Edutainment

For the Culture Quiz Bowl focused on Africa and the Diaspora as it relates to history, language, geography, culture, and music. Sponsored by Area and Global Studies, Office of Multicultural Affairs, and CECI. Hosted by Dr. Jakia Marie, Assistant Professor of Integrative and African American Studies 

Film and Pastry Matinee screened and discussed "Beasts of No Nation," which is based on the highly acclaimed novel by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala, brings to life the gripping tale of Agu, a child soldier torn from his family to fight in the civil war of a fictional West African country. Fimed in Ghana, Hosted by Elijah Fosu, master's student in Higher Education, Joachim Kuleafenu, master's student in the Applied Computer Science, and Prince Essuman, master's student in Social Work

The GACC Closing Celebration was produced by the Ghanaian students and featured African food, music, and dance, with a a fashion show explaining the meaning of colors and symbols in traditional African clothing. March 30, 4-8 pm, Niemeyer Living Center Multi-Purpose room.