Throughout February, NSU will celebrate Black History Month with events that illustrate the achievements, success and honors represented by the African American community.
Nicole Milano, third-year psychology graduate student, said, “It is important for NSU to host this annual celebration because it brings awareness and inspiration to the NSU student body.”
Each year, students at the Center for Psychological Studies (CPS) collect new or gently used clothing and small toys to give to children and adolescents from Swaziland, a country in southern Africa. From the end of February through March, there will be boxes around campus for students, faculty and staff to place donations.
Milano and other CPS students will take these donations with them to Swaziland in the summer. Trip participants will focus on the children’s well-being by teaching relaxation techniques , screening for HIV and AIDS, and teaching children necessary skills to live healthy lives.
Milano said the first time she attended a service trip meeting during Black History Month was a couple years ago.
“I was so moved by my fellow student’s experience that I instantly became a part of the group of students interested in humanitarian work and began organizing new trips,” she said.
Other events during Black History Month will allow students to learn from faculty.
On Feb. 5, Peter Caproni, assistant professor in CPS, will explore the role of his hometown of Ripley, Ohio as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Caproni said the long-term effects of racial issues clearly persist into our current century.
“Students seeking to understand and learn from history would appreciate the unique perspective Black History Month portrays on our past and its current implications,” he said.
Caproni said that Black History Month has enabled him to develop an appreciation of how a few determined individuals can change society.
Below are many of campus events scheduleded to celebrate Black History Month. All are free and open to the public. For a full description of the events, visit sharkfins.nova.edu/?p=23092.
Feb. 5:
o Live Music with Positively Africa — 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library
o Ripley, Ohio: Gateway to Freedom on the Underground Railroad — noon to 1 p.m. in the Maltz Psychology Building, Room 2045
• Feb. 9:
o Film Viewing and Discussion of “Slavery by Another Name” — 3 p.m. in the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery of the Alvin Sherman Library
• Feb. 10:
o A Spike Lee Joint: Movie Viewing and Open Discussion — 6 p.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library, Room 4009
Feb. 15:
o “Musical Soul: The Sounds of Movement, Part 2” — 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery of the Alvin Sherman Library.
• Feb. 16:
o Jazz in the Gallery — 2 to 3 p.m. in the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery of the Alvin Sherman Library.
• Feb. 18:
o Tuesday Night Movie — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery of the Alvin Sherman Library
• Feb. 20:
o Book Signing and Discussion of “African Presence in Spanish Florida: Black Seminoles” — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery of the Alvin Sherman Library (Reservations are required. RSVP by Feb. 13 to 954-262-4627 or libdev@nova.edu)
• Feb. 22:
o NSU Volunteers at the Sistrunk Historical Festival and Parade — noon to 2:30 p.m. in the Samuel Delevoe Park, 2520 NW Sixth Street, Fort Lauderdale (Contact Bini Litwin at 954-262-1274 or blitwin@nova.edu)
• Feb. 25:
o Humanitarian Work and Psychological Support in South Africa — noon to 1 p.m. in the Maltz Psychology Building (For more information, contact Nicole Milano at nm519@nova.edu)
• Feb. 26:
o Raise a Reader at Sharkey’s Story Time — 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library (This event is open to children ages from 3 to 5. For more information, call 954-262-5477)
• Feb 27:
o Assessing Transition Readiness among Sickle Cell Patients — noon to 1 p.m. in the Maltz Psychology Building, Room 2045 (For more information, contact Siddika Mulchan at sm2048@nova.edu)
o Dance, Theatre, Art and the story of Ruby Bridges — 6 p.m. in the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery of the Alvin Sherman Library (For more information, contact David Kilroy at 954-262-8021 or dkilroy@nova.edu)
March 13:
o Let’s Speak Truth, Poetry and Spoken Word Night — 6 p.m in the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery of the Alvin Sherman Library
