Black History Celebration Calendar 2008
Produced by the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center
(An Instrument of the Black Studies Program)

Thursday, January 17, 2008

10:00 AM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
A Cultural Competency Workshop for C. F. Schuler High School
Presented by Prester Pickett, M.F.A. in conjunction with the Black Studies Ambassadors

12:00 Noon, University Center Auditorium, UC 6
“Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., A Drum Major for Peace”
Keynote Address by Dr. C. Jay Matthews
A Howard A. Mims Lecture, Arts, and Media Series Presentation
Presented in conjunction with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated (Pi Chapter)
With support from the Offices of the Provost, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Undergraduate Admissions, Tutoring Center, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Library, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, and the United Pastors in Mission

Friday, January 18, 2008

5:00 PM, CSU Art Gallery
“Have We Forgotten…Still in Chains”
Featuring the works of Jerome T. White, Donald Black, Jr., Kevin Knuckles, Woodrow Nash and Anna Arnold
Sponsored by the CSU Art Gallery in conjunction with Sankofa Fine Arts Plus

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

12:00 Noon, University Center Auditorium, UC 6
A Cultural Competency Workshop for East High School
Presented by Dr. Juwanza Kunjufu and hosted by the Black Studies Ambassadors in support of Governor Ted Strickland’s Closing the Achievement Gap for African American and Hispanic/Latino American Males Initiative

Saturday, January 26, 2008

1:00 PM, University Center Auditorium, UC 103
The Opening of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law’s Record of Distinguished African-American Alumni Leaders displayed by Marie Rehmar of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Library

2:00 PM, University Center Auditorium, UC 6
A Voter Registration Drive
Sponsored by the Black Studies Ambassadors in conjunction with the NAACP (Cleveland Chapter)

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

6:00 PM, Idea Center at Playhouse Square, 1375 Euclid Avenue
African American Lives 2 Reception and Panel
With a preview of American Lives 2 with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. guiding an all-new group including Maya Angelou, comedian Chris Rock and Tina Turner on a journey to discover their ancestry and a panel discussion with Dr. Bernard Powers, acclaimed historian and author from the Avery Institute at the College of Charleston; Kenyon College’s Dr. Peter Rutkoff and Dr. Will Scott, experts on the local African diaspora; Joyce Coakley, expert on Gullah traditions and sweet grass baskets; and Dr. Deborah Abbot, President of the African-American Genealogical Society of Cleveland, Ohio.  The reception will feature the Jazz Heritage Orchestra Quartet and Eric Gould.
Presented by WVIZ/PBS Ideastream with support from the CSU Black Studies Program, The University of Akron, African-American Genealogical Society of Cleveland, Facing History and Ourselves, and the Western Reserve Historical Society
(Advance Registration Required)

Friday, February 1, 2008

8:00 AM-3:00 PM, CSU Glickman-Miller Hall
The Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Center for Civic Education presents “The State of African American Leadership in the Cleveland Region” (Registration Required)

9:00 AM-8:00 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
2020 Vision Time Capsule Video Recordings
Featuring CSU alumni, current and retired faculty and staff, as well as community members who will preserve their memories of Black Studies activities in the African American Cultural Center prior to the scheduled raising of University Center Building.
Sponsored as a Kuumba Arts Presentation

Saturday, February 2, 2008

12:00 Noon, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
A State of Emergency Summit
Sponsored by the Black Lawyers for Justice, the New Black Panther Party and the Black Studies Program

Monday, February 4, 2008

6:00 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
Jazz Appreciation
Sponsored by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated (Phi Theta Chapter)

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

12:00 Noon, Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
A Karamu House Season
An open dialogue with Terrence Spivey, Artistic Director of Karamu House Theater with special guest appearances and presentations
Presented as a Kuumba Arts Presentation

1:00 PM, Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
The Black Experience through Post Cards
Presented by Dr. Wilhemina Manns, Professor Emeritus as a Howard A. Mims Lecture, Arts, and Media Series Event

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

5:30 PM, 303 White Hall, Kent State University
A Cultural Competency Workshop for Kent State University’s Graduate Studies Program
Presented by Prester Pickett, M.F.A.
Sponsored by the Administration of Diversity and Multicultural Programs in Higher Education Class

Thursday, February 7, 2008

12:00 Noon, John Adams High School
A Cultural Competency Workshop for John Adams High School
Presented by Prester Pickett, M.F.A. in conjunction with the Black Studies Ambassadors in support of Governor Ted Strickland’s Closing the Achievement Gap for African American and Hispanic/Latino Males Initiative

Friday, February 8, 2008

Double Nickel
A free performance the original play written and directed by Margaret Ford Taylor through a collaboration between the CSU Theater Program and Cleveland Art Theater
Sponsored as a Kuumba Arts Presentation (Tickets Required and available in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center for CSU Black Studies Majors/Minors, Black Faculty and Staff Organization members, and Black Studies Faculty on a first-come, first-served basis)

Monday, February 11, 2008

6:00 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
Jazz Appreciation
Sponsored by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated (Phi Theta Chapter)

Thursday, February 14, 2008

12:00 Noon, CSU Art Gallery
Mere Witness
A collection photographs by Michael S. Levy depicting Cleveland’s African American faith community at worship featuring a brief presentation of poetry by the Black Studies Ambassadors
Sponsored by the CSU Art Gallery in conjunction with the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs

5:15 PM, Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
TOMBOUCTOU Book Club Discussion:  Fearless Jones by Walter Mosley

Friday, February 15, 2008

6:00 PM, CSU Art Gallery
“Exploring Our Ancestry Through the Art of the Griot”
A presentation by Papa Susso as a Kuumba Arts Presentation in conjunction with the Anthropology Department including a special introduction by Dr. Barbara Hoffman

9:00 PM, Cleveland Playhouse, STAGES Restaurant
The Jazz Heritage Orchestra as featured performers (Tickets Required)

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

12:00 Noon, Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center
A President’s Address:  The African American Crisis
Featuring the presidents of various CSU and local organizations
Sponsored by the Black Studies Ambassadors

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

10:00 AM, Waetjen Auditorium
Wings Over Jordan Music Festival and High School Choral Competition
Sponsored by the Wings Over Jordan and the Music Department

Thursday, February 21, 2008

7:00 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
“From Roots to Branches”
A Panel Discussion with Educators who are engaged with Genealogical Studies including
Dr. Sanza Clark, Director of the Mali Yetu Program, CSU Professor; Dr. Deborah A. Abbott, President of the African-American Genealogical Society of Cleveland, Ohio (AAGS) and Professor of Counseling at Cuyahoga Community College; and Stanley Miller, Director of the NAACP, as an Umoja Round Table inspired by a previous Black Studies partnership with WVIZ/PBS Ideastream
Presented as an Umoja Round Table

Saturday, February 23, 2008

6:00 PM, University Center Auditorium, UC 6
Going for the Gold
A celebration of Gold Medalists from the NAACP ACT-SO Competition, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Jaberwock and young African American talent engaged with Karamu House Theater, Rainey Institute, and the Cleveland Music Settlement
Sponsored as a Kuumba Arts Presentation

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

11:00 AM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
3000 Years of Abyssinian Culture
Presented by Ronald Reminick, Professor of Anthropology, as part of the Curtis Wilson Colloquium Series Lecture

12:00 Noon
Screening of Lalibela:  Wonders & Mystery
A documentary about Lalibela, Ethiopia, as a 900 year old historical landmark
Presented as a Kuumba Arts Presentation in conjunction with Addis Art and Culture/Film Production Company

6:00 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
A Bridges to Africa Panel Discussion with CSU Alumnus Etsegenet Lemma, Project Manager for  Addis Art and Culture/Film Production Company, Yolanda and Gary Burt, Douglas A. Blankenship, and CSU Student Mikias Fisseha Itanna about their interests in promoting Ethiopian Culture in Cleveland, Ohio

Thursday, February 28, 2008

9:00 AM, University Center International Room, UC 1
A Cultural Competency Workshop for Noble Academy
Presented by Bakari Kitwana as a Black Studies Ambassador Engagement

11:00 AM, University Center Auditorium (Departure Location), UC 6
February Fusion
A Black Studies Ambassador Tour of Cleveland State University in conjunction with the Undergraduate Admissions Office

12:00 Noon
Kikundi Black Male Initiative
Featuring the Honorable Judge Michael Ryan
A table for the Black Studies Ambassadors provided by the AHANA Program
(A limited number of tickets available in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center)

Friday, February 29, 2008

12:00 Noon, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, UC 103
A Dialogue with Benjamin “Ras Solo” Simmons About Gullah Culture
Sponsored as a Bridges to Africa Celebration

5:30 PM, Cleveland City Hall Rotunda
A Black History Month Finale featuring
The Black Studies Ambassadors as Poets and Musicians

7:00 PM, The

6:00 PM, Cleveland Marshall College of Law
Jazz Heritage Orchestra Trio featured as part of a Black Law Student Organization Alumni Affair (By Invitation Only/Tickets Required)

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

12:00 Noon, Rhodes Tower West, 2nd Floor, The Welcome Center
“Phenomenal Women of the Congressional Black Caucus:  Challenges and Implications for Adult Educators” presented by Dr. Elise Rogers, Counseling, Administration, Supervisor of Adult Learning (CASAL)
Presented as a Curtis Wilson Colloquium Series Lecture

Thursday, March 13, 2008

5:15 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center
TOMBOUCTOU Book Club Discussion:  Fear of the Dark by Walter Mosley

Monday, March 24, 2008

6:00 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center
I Am My Brother and Sister’s Keeper:  African American Women in Support Roles
Through the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and Good Will
Presented as an Umoja Round Table Panel Discussion

Tuesday, April 3, 2008

12:00 Noon, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center
The Mountaintop Speech Presentation, Candlelight Vigil and Artistic Display Unveiling
Presented as a Kuumba Arts Presentation

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

6:00 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center
A Curtis Wilson Colloquium Series Lecture presented by Dr. Lisa Workman Crenshaw, Assistant Professor of Social Work

Thursday, April 10, 2008

5:15 PM, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center
TOMBBOUCTOU Book Club Discussion:  R.L.’s Dream by Walter Mosely

6:00 PM, Wolstein Center 4th Floor (Tickets Required)
The Sociology Departments Butler A. Jones Endowed Lecture Series
“Survival of the Black Family: Male Female Relationships by Dolores P. Aldridge

April 14-19, 2008 Black Aspirations Celebration (Full Schedule TBA)

Saturday, April 19, 2008

8:30 AM-2:00 PM
The Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Urban Community Forum
(Registration Required)

2:30 PM-9:30 PM, Main Classroom Auditorium
A Workshop for God’s Trombones by James Weldon Johnson
Presented by Prester Pickett, M.F.A. as a Kuumba Arts Presentation in conjunction with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated (Beta Nu Chapter) with the
Performance at 8:00 PM (Workshop Registration Required; Tickets for Performance Required)

Friday, April 25, 2008

12:00 Noon, The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center
A Bridges to Africa Celebration:  African Scholars at Cleveland State University

Saturday, April 26, 2008

6:00 PM, The Wolstein Center
The Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs in Conjunction with the Black Faculty and Staff Organization’s Curtis Wilson Scholarship Dinner (Tickets Required)

Monday, April 28-Friday, May 2, 2008 Black Studies Ambassador Study Marathon (Full Schedule TBA)

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

8:30 AM-3:30 PM
The CSU School of Social Work presents The Anna V. Brown Community Forum with support from the Black Studies Program, Benjamin Rose Institute, City of Cleveland Department of Aging, Cuyahoga County Department of Senior and Adult Services

NOTE:  Information on this calendar is subject to change with notices announced on the Black Studies Website at www.csuohio.edu/blackstudies. 

Michael R. Williams, PH.D., M.P.H., Director

Prester Pickett, M.F.A., Coordinator of the African American Cultural Center/Assistant to the Director of Black Studies

Ruth Ryida Reese, M.A., Coordinator of Administrative Services

Patricia Washington, Secretary

2121 Euclid Avenue, UC 103
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2214
(216) 687-3655