CCEE is celebrating Black and African Heritage Month with numerous events all throughout the month of February!
During the summer of 2020 and presently, we have received an outpouring of support and programmatic ideas that centered Black and African Diasporic Student Communities due to the racial unrest that swept the nation. This February, folks have created programming that centers and uplifts the wellbeing of Black life on our campus. These programs highlight storytelling, heritage, allyship, reflection, activism, appreciation, history, advocacy, resilience or strength.
This year’s theme, “Sankofa,” is a metaphorical symbol of a bird with its head turned backwards which originated by the Akan people of Ghana. The word is derived from the words: SAN (return), KO (go), and FA (look, seek, and take). The Akan believe that the past serves as our guide for the future and that there is wisdom in learning from the past to ensure a strong future. As we enter a space of healing, restoration, and a search for peace after 2020, it is imperative that we, as a community, use the metaphorical symbol of Sankofa to learn from our past and embrace our history to better shape our future for our current communities and for generations to come.
Check out all of the events happening around campus below.
Please note that the calendar will be updated frequently, so be sure to check back for any changes or updates!
| Date | Time | Event | Host | Location/RSVP Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/06/21 | 8pm | Sankofa Danzafro: The City of Others | GMU Center for the Arts | Virtual |
| 02/08/21 | 6:30pm | Black Justice Association Interest Meeting | Black Justice Association | IG Live @gmu_BlackJustice |
| 02/09/21 | 7pm | Ethical Storytelling: Justice-Based Workshop | Social Action and Integrative Learning (SAIL); George Washington University Alternative Breaks; the LEAD Office; Community Engagement and Civic Learning; African and African American Studies | go.gwu.edu/altbreaksedu |
| 02/09/21 | 7pm | Spirit Fest: Black Trivia | Black, African Heritage and Caribbean Coaltion | Zoom - Register via Mason360 |
| 02/10/21 | 4pm | When Black Lives Don't Matter: Reflecting on January 6 | Coalition Building and Diversity Education and Center for the Advancement of Well-Being | Zoom |
| 02/10/21 | 6pm | Guess Who? Black History Month Edition | Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. | Zoom - Register via Mason360 |
| 02/11/21 | 11am | #Ask an Advocate: How do I learn about and amplify Black voices in the movement to end sexual and interpersonal violence? | The Student Support and Advocacy Center | IG and FB Live @SSACgmu |
| 02/11/21 | 7pm | Aux Cord Wars | Patriot Activities Council and Black, African Heritage and Caribbean Coaltion | Zoom - Register via Mason360 |
| 02/11/21 | 7pm | Racial Justice Series: Racial Trauma | Counseling and Psychological Services | Blackboard - Signup through Mason360 |
| 02/12/21 | 7pm | Black Perseverance and Resiliency Speaker Series | Dr. Mark Hopson, Fairfax County Black History Committee, and Cox Communications | Zoom |
| 02/17/21 | 7pm | Movie Screening: Soul | Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment | Zoom - Register via Mason360 |
| 02/17/21 | 12-3pm | SI2Go Black History Month Trivia | African and African American Studies Department | On-Campus (Northern Neck) |
| 02/18/21 | 4pm | QTPOC Faculty/Staff/Student Mixer | CCEE's LGBTQ+ Resources | Zoom - Register via Mason360 |
| 02/19/21 | Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group z (Week 1): Racism & Medicine Materials | College of Visual and Performing Arts | Register HERE | |
| 02/19/21 | 7pm | Black Perseverance and Resiliency Speaker Series | Dr. Mark Hopson, Fairfax County Black History Committee, and Cox Communications | Zoom |
| 02/22/21 | 12pm | Well-Being for the People: Body Positivity with Jamila Johnson | Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and CCEE's Student Engagement for Racial Justice | TBA |
| 02/22/21 | 2pm | Well-Being for the People: Radical Self-Care for Graduate BIPOC Bodies with Jennifer Crewalk | Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, Graduate Student Life and CCEE's Student Engagement for Racial Justice | Zoom - Register via Mason360 |
| 02/22/21 | 5:30pm | Alumni Leadership Speaker Series | The LEAD Office | Zoom - Register via Mason360 |
| 02/22/21 | 6pm | Well-Being for the People: Zumba Class with Justin Sumblin | Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and CCEE's Student Engagement for Racial Justice | TBA |
| 02/23/21 | 8am | Well-Being for the People: Release of "Remembering Ahmaud" Meditative Walk | Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and CCEE's Student Engagement for Racial Justice | TBA |
| 02/23/21 | 12pm | Well-Being for the People: Zumba Class with Justin Sumblin | Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and CCEE's Student Engagement for Racial Justice | TBA |
| 02/23/21 | 6pm | #BlackFirstGen: We are More Than Enough | Student Access and Equity (CCEE) | Zoom - Register via Mason360 |
| 02/24/21 | 12pm | Leadership Connection Hour | The LEAD Office | RSVP HERE |
| 02/24/21 | 12pm | GirlTrek Walk | Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and CCEE's Student Engagement for Racial Justice | TBA |
| 02/24/21 | 6pm | Well-Being for the People: Trap Yoga with Brandon Copeland | Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and CCEE's Student Engagement for Racial Justice | TBA |
| 02/25/21 | TBD | Telling Black Stories Through Data Visualization | Volgenau School of Engineering and Computer Science, Data Analytics, and Systems Engineering | TBA |
| 02/25/21 | 11am | Sojourner Truth Lecture 2021: Politics and Protest (Student Session) | College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Women and Gender Studies | Register via Mason360 |
| 02/25/21 | 12pm | Sojourner Truth Lecture 2021: Politics and Protest (Faculty/Staff Session) | College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Women and Gender Studies | Register via Mason360 |
| 02/25/21 | 2pm | Bringing Your Whole Self to Work: Authenticity in the Workplace | University Career Services and Student Engagement for Racial Justice | TBA |
| 02/25/21 | 7:30pm | Visual Voices Speaker Series: Rozeal | Mason School of Art | Register |
| 02/26/21 | Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group z (Week 2): Dismantling the White Gaze | College of Visual and Performing Arts | Register HERE | |
| 02/26/21 | 6:30pm | Visiting Filmmakers Series Online: Black Lives Matter: Luchina Fisher with Mama Gloria | College of Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Visual and Performing | Register HERE |
| 02/26/21 | 7pm | Call to Action | Dr. Mark Hopson, Fairfax County Black History Committee, and Cox Communications | TBA |
| 02/26/21 | 7pm | 6th Annual Black Excellence Gala | Center for Culture, Equity and Empowerment, BLACC, and Black Alumni Chapter | Virtual (Mason Cable Network YouTube Live, MasonCableNetwork.com, and Mason TV network (Ch. 8.1)) - Register HERE |
| 02/27/21 | 8:00pm | Ranky Tanky | Mason Arts at Home | Register |
| TBD | TBD | Beats & Eats | Black, African Heritage and Caribbean Coaltion | On-Campus (Northern Neck) - Register via Mason360 |