Black History Month Cultural Events Coming to Norwalk Community College

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Black History Month NCC 01-27-17
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Norwalk Community College will celebrate Black History Month in February with a dozen events sharing a Harlem Renaissance Theme. These programs include poetry readings, live theater performances, a music concert, a soul food competition, art activities, discussions and lectures.

Admission is free and the public is welcome. These events are sponsored by NCC’s African Culture Club, the Office of Diversity & Equity Programs, Student Activities, and the Allies@NCC. Funding has been provided in part by the NCC Foundation.

Schedule of Events

Black History Month NCC 01-27-17The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Reading
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2:30pm
East Campus Art Gallery

Guest poet Frank Brady will be reading the poetry of Nikki Giovanni, an American poet, writer, commentator, activist and Brady is a renowned poet that has performed on venues such as BET’s The Deal, as well as colleges and universities throughout the Northeast.
Additionally, there will be an “Open Mic” giving attendees an opportunity to display their gifts and talents.This event is sponsored by the NCC African Culture Club. For more information, please contact Al Thomas at athomas@norwalk.edu.

Paint Your Art Out!
Friday, Feb. 3, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
West Campus, Student Activities Lounge

Join us for an afternoon of fun, creativity and relaxation as artist Alicia Cobb from Art Simplicated guides you step-by-step in creating your own masterpiece dedicated to this year’s Harlem Renaissance theme.This event is on a first come-first serve basis. Seats are limited. RSVP at the Student Activities Office or contact Javon Noblin at jnoblin@norwalk.edu.

The Harlem Renaissance Revisited:
Lecture by Dr. Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar
Monday, Feb. 6, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
East Campus Atrium

In celebration of Black History Month, NCC will present a lecture by Dr. Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar, Professor of History at UConn and an award-winning author. Dr. Ogbar will discuss the historical and literary importance of the Harlem Renaissance, a culturally defining moment for African-Americans. Dr. Ogbar’s book, The Harlem Renaissance Revisited: Politics, Arts, and Letters, will be available for purchase at the NCC Bookstore. This event is made possible by the Office of Diversity & Equity Programs, Student Activities, and the Allies@NCC.

African American Slave Artifacts
Monday, Feb. 6, 2:30 p.m.
East Campus, Gen Re Forum

Craig Kelly, professional counselor, Retired Lieutenant of the Bridgeport Fire Department and filmmaker, is the owner/curator of the largest collection of slave artifacts in the state of Connecticut. He will display some of these artifacts and will engage students and staff in conversation and provide the opportunity to examine these pieces up close and personal. This event is sponsored by the NCC African Culture Club. For more information, please contact Al Thomas at athomas@norwalk.edu.

A Love Supreme: Poetry Reading by Professor Arturo
Monday, Feb. 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
East Campus, Art Gallery

NCC Professor Arthur Pfister, a.k.a. “Professor Arturo,” will read from his 2016 volume of poetry, A Love Supreme, published by New York Quarterly Books. The title honors the 50th anniversary of John Coltrane’s 1965 album masterpiece. Co-sponsored by the NCC English Department and the NCC Committee for Diversity & Inclusion.For more information, please contact Professor Chris Japely at cjapely@norwalk.edu.

Bridging the Divide: Living, Loving, Working and Learning Across Lines
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 12 to 1:30 p.m.
East Campus, Office of Multicultural Affairs (E215)

The second installment of NCC’s “Bridging the Divide” series, this event will explore the dynamics of cross-cultural relationships, including interfaith and interracial relationships. Made possible by the Office of Diversity & Equity Programs, the Student Activities Office, and Allies@NCC. For more information, please contact Stefanie Ortiz at sortiz@norwalk.edu.

Kimberly Wilson One-Woman Play “A Journey”
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
East Campus, PepsiCo Theater

Westport actress, singer and poet Kimberly Wilson performs her one-woman play A Journey. The play revolves around the stories of seven women of African-American descent from seven different timelines. Each story will depict the struggle they had to endure to gain rights for African American women, and ultimately the diaspora as well. This event is sponsored by the NCC African Culture Club. For more information, please contact Al Thomas at athomas@norwalk.edu.

Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance
Thursday, Feb. 16, 4 to 6 p.m.
East Campus, PepsiCo Theater

Come enjoy a trip back in time set to the soothing sounds of chamber music. Of Ebony Embers celebrates the lives of the great African-American poets, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Claude McKay. This is event is made possible by the Office of Diversity & Equity Programs, the Student Activities Office, and Allies@NCC. For more information, please contact Stefanie Ortiz at sortiz@norwalk.edu.

Soul Food Competition and Speaker
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1 to 3 p.m.
West Campus Atrium

Submit a dish or come enjoy the festivities. First Place winner will receive a $100 gift card! Before the competition, Adrian “The Soul Food” Miller, author of the 2014 James Beard Foundation Award-winning book Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time, will discuss the history and significance of soul food. This is event is made possible by the Office of Diversity & Equity Programs, the Student Activities Office, and Allies@NCC. For more information, please contact Stefanie Ortiz at sortiz@norwalk.edu.

Harlem Nights Social and Poetry Jam
Thursday, Feb. 23, 4:00 p.m. (Poetry Jam Starts at 4:30 pm)
West Campus, Culinary Arts Dining Room

Share an original poem or a poem from a poet of color during our Harlem Nights Social and Poetry Jam! Original work should incorporate one or more of the following themes: Self-Determination, Civil Rights, Black Identity/Culture, Pride or Social Justice. This is event is made possible by the Office of Diversity & Equity Programs. For more information, please contact Stefanie Ortiz at sortiz@norwalk.edu.

The Annual James Baldwin Concert
Thursday, Feb. 23, 7:30 pm
East Campus, PepsiCo Theater

NCC presents the annual James Baldwin Concert, featuring music performed by talented students and faculty. The concert is named after African-American writer James Baldwin, and is a fundraiser for Uplift and the African Culture Club. All proceeds will help to fund the annual HBCU College Tour.This event is sponsored by the NCC African Culture Club. For more information, please contact Al Thomas at athomas@norwalk.edu.

Glynn Borders One-Man Play: The Enforcer
Monday, Feb. 27, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
East Campus, PepsiCo Theater

Glynn Borders will perform his one-man play The Enforcer: Things Ain’t Always What They Seem at NCC.Borders is a multi-dimensional artist who not only has mastered skills like acting, directing and writing, but also is skilled in the art of special effects.

He recently retired from television, where he served as the special effects director for CBS as well as The Late Show with David Letterman. Borders’ credits include writing and directing The Dark Star from Harlem, a play about Josephine Baker, receiving the Gold Prize for the Page International Screenplay Competition, and winning Outstanding New Script at the Midtown International Theater Festival for his play, Sleep.

A brief Q&A will follow his performance. This event is sponsored by the NCC African Culture Club. For more information, please contact Al Thomas at athomas@norwalk.edu.

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