By Kole Meschke
Grand Rapids Community College will recognize Black History Month with a series of campus events curated to encourage growth and conversation that reflect Black History. Organized by the Cultural Connections 365 Committee and the Woodrick Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs, the February event lineup invites students and staff to celebrate Black history, culture, and its strides in equity.
Rather than a single day of campus events, GRCC has scheduled events throughout the month that approach Black history from multiple angles, including academic discussion, artistic expression, and shared storytelling.
The first event, hosted by the Woodrick Center, features Dr. Rob Shorty, Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture at Grand Valley State University. His keynote, Stay Focused: Radical Hope Even When It’s Hard, will explore how individuals and organizations can find purpose and build momentum during periods where social and cultural change is challenged. The lecture is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, in Sneden Hall, Room 108. Brunch will be served beginning at 11 a.m., with the presentation starting at 11:30 and running until 1:30 p.m.
For those unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available for 30 days following the event, found here.
On the following Thursday, Feb. 19, the focus will shift from lecture to performance with the Kelley Keys Artist Highlight, a daylong showcase celebrating GRCC alumni Kelley Keys alongside current student artists. Held in Student Center Room 234 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the event will offer a relaxed, drop-in format.
Session one will begin at 11 a.m. and offer refreshments until 2 p.m. Session two will immediately follow the first, beginning at 2 p.m., and will present Jazz music selections until 4 p.m., with the event concluding at 5 p.m.
GRCC’s Black History Month events conclude on Wednesday, Feb. 25, where WCIMA and Transfer Bridges to the Humanties@Michigan (TB2H) are partnering with The Diatribe in a spoken word workshop, Spoken Word Winter Edition: Raising Voices – Cultivating Care.
Inspired by the life and work of civil rights activist and poet Pauli Murray, the free workshop invites students to explore themes of identity, justice, and resistance through their own writing. In the guided workshop, participants will develop their own spoken word pieces from personal experiences, honoring Murray’s impact.
Dinner will be provided beginning at 4:30 p.m., followed by the program at 5 p.m. The event will be held in Sneden Hall, Room 108. Students are encouraged to sign up in advance.
