Events set to celebrate Black History Month

A variety of events will take place at Grand Valley State University throughout February to celebrate Black History Month.

Sponsored by Grand Valley’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, most events are free and open to the public. Some events are highlighted below; see full list at www.gvsu.edu/oma.

Voters Rights and Stand Your Ground Legislation
February 3, 6-7 p.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center
Donna Brazile, former chair of the Democratic National Committee, will give a presentation.

Pioneering Pathways for Students
February 5, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Alumni House
The event will honor James Moore, Grand Valley’s first African American male graduate. Dinner will be provided. RSVP by January 29 at (616) 331-2672.

Effective Leadership Service
February 6, 4-5:30 p.m., Cook DeWitt Center
Patrick Miles Jr. was nominated by President Obama in March of 2012 to serve as U.S. attorney for the West District of Michigan. He will discuss leadership, services, professionalism and diversity. The event is in conjunction with OMA’s Professional of Color Lecture Series.

“Haiti and Dominican Republic: An Island Divided” documentary showing
February 7, noon-1 p.m., room 1240, Kirkhof Center
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., professor at Harvard University and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American, explores African ancestry in Latin America and the Caribbean.

A Tribute to Black Women: Strong, Fierce and Dynamic Divas
February 14, noon-1 p.m., Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center
The event will honor black women who made notable contributions to history through poetry, song and dance. Presented by You Beautiful Black Women and Positive Black Women student organizations.

The Meeting
February 18, 4-5 p.m., Cook DeWitt Center
An award-winning play will be performed that answers the question, “what would have happened if Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X had met before they were both assassinated?”

Supporting sponsors include African/African American Studies, Black Male Scholars Initiative, Black Student Union, College of Community and Public Service, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Inclusion and Equity, LGBT Resource Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Positive Black Women, Seidman College of Business, Students for Haiti, Women’s Center and WGVU Public Media.