Black History Month features dance, inspirational leadership

A tribute to women, a community service trip to God’s Kitchen and African American traditions will be featured throughout February to celebrate Black History Month at Grand Valley. 

Sponsored by Grand Valley’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, all events are free and open to the public. 

Some events are highlighted below. See a complete schedule at www.gvsu.edu/oma. 

- A Tribute to Black Women: Strong, Fierce and Dynamic Divas: February 13, noon-1 p.m., Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. Women who have made notable contributions to history will be highlighted through poetry, song and dance. Lunch will be provided.

- Step Afrika! performance: February 16, 9-11 p.m., Cook-DeWitt Center, Allendale Campus. Stepping is a dance that uses the body as an instrument and combines footsteps, claps and words to produce rhythms. It has roots in African dance and military marching. 

- A Taste of Soul: February 20, noon-1 p.m., Kirkhof Center lobby, Allendale Campus. Event participants will taste test and learn about traditional African-American soul food.

- Inspirational Leadership featuring Linal Harris: February 26, 2:30-4 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Harris is vice president and chief diversity officer for U.S. Cellular in Chicago, the fifth-largest wireless telecommunications network in the U.S.

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, Spotlight Productions, Women’s Center and WGVU Public Media.