Celebrate Black History Month with FREE Inspiring & Entertaining Events at Nova Southeastern University

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University (NSU) will honor Black History Month in February 2012 through a variety of activities including engaging art exhibitions, performances, film screenings, dynamic speakers, compelling educational workshops, and discussions for all ages.

Highlights of the month-long celebration include:

• The 9^th Annual African Presence art exhibit, featuring paintings, sculptures and artwork by international African artists exploring the relationship between memory, history and art from Feb. 2 to March 28;
• Lectures on the 150^th Anniversary of the Civil War on Feb. 1; on the mental health needs of Caribbean immigrants on Feb. 21; and exploring the link between MLK’s dream and President Obama on Feb. 25;
• Documentary screenings of The Revolution Will be Live exploring black youth’s cultural views on Feb. 9 and 10; Runway Afrique exploring African fashion on Feb. 16; and A Good Man exploring the choreography of Bill T. Jones on Feb. 16;
• Special performances featuring the songs of author Zora Neale Hurston on Feb. 11; the “Our Stories” cultural showcase on Feb. 17; and a one-man show about MLK on Feb. 18;
• Afro-Brazilian dance classes, writing workshops, family and children’s entertainment, and much, much more!

Unless otherwise noted, all events are FREE and open to the public, and will be held at NSU’s main campus in Davie at 3301 College Ave. More events are being added all the time, so for the latest updates please visit: www.nova.edu/blackhistory.

The current list of NSU’s Black History Month events includes:

• Outstanding Black Women in American History & Culture Photo Exhibition, 9 am
  Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m.
  This exciting photo exhibition of black women is free and open to the public. Location: Conference Room B of NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler School of Education, 1750 N.E. 167th St., North Miami Beach. Contact Clyde Bailey (clydeb@nova.edu) or Indiana Robinson (indianar@nova.edu) for more information.

 

• “Black History & the Civil War” with Stephen Engle, FAU History Professor
  Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.
  This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Please join us as FAU professor Stephen Engle, Ph.D., explores black history in relation to the Civil War. Location: Carl DeSantis Building, Knight Auditorium. Free, but reservations are required as seating is limited. Sponsored by Farquhar College of Arts & Sciences. For more information, call David Kilroy, Ph.D at 954-262-8021.

 

• Grand Opening Reception for “Contemporary African Diaspora Memory in Motion,” African Presence 2012 Ninth Annual Art Exhibition
  Thursday, Feb. 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
  This exhibition of paintings and sculptures, created by international artists of African descent, investigates the relationship between memory, history and art. The evening will feature refreshments, giveaways, musical entertainment, dance and step performances. Free Opening Reception will be held in NSU’s Don Taft University Center. Exhibition will be unveiled at 8 p.m. in the Second Floor Gallery of NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library and is then on display through March 28. For more information or to RSVP, call 954-262-5357 or send email to serioux@nova.edu.

 

• Afro-Brazilian Dance Master Class with Augusto Soledade
  Tuesday, Feb. 7 at noon
  Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences will feature performing and Visual Arts faculty member and Brazz Dance Artistic Director Augusto Soledade who will bring Brazil to South Florida with this energetic dance workshop! Location: PVA Performance Theater, Don Taft University Center. Free, but reservations are required as space is limited. Call Augusto Soledade, MFA at 954-262-8274 or Elana Lanczi at (954)262-7613 for more information.

 

• Caribbean Genealogy 101
  Tuesday, February 7 from 1 to 2 p.m.
  NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library invites you to find your Caribbean Roots during this free genealogy workshop that allows you to get hands-on experience tracing your family’s genealogy. Location: Sherman Library, Lab A. Call 954-262-4613.

 

• The Revolution Will Be Live: Black Youth Talk About Being Black, Being American, Moving Forward
  Thursday, Feb. 9 & Friday, Feb. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. each day
  These provocative presentations consist of a 35-minute documentary with Black youth offering candid voice to the past, present and future of Black America. The video shows high school and college students sharing how they see themselves impacting history. Following the film presentation, NSU faculty members Debra Nixon, Ph.D., and Jason Campbell, Ph.D., will lead the audience in live discussion. Sponsored by NSU’s Graduate School of Humanities & Social Sciences. Location: Carl DeSantis Building, Knight Auditorium. Free and open to the public. Call 954 262-3035.

 

• “Zora Neale Hurston: Listening to the South,” by Chris Jackson
  Saturday, Feb. 11 from 2 to 3 p.m.
  Christine Jackson, Ph.D., is a professor of literature, writing, and music history in NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences Division of Humanities at NSU. She will lecture and play folk songs on the piano, songs that Zora Hurston collected for the Work Projects Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s. This entertaining musical program will cover not only Hurston’s ability to capture colloquial speech in her writings, but will also explore her folklore study projects that included recording stories and songs. Location: Alvin Sherman Library. Free and open to the public. Call 954-262-4613.

 

• Honoring the Black Woman in American History and Culture
  Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.
  Guest lecturer will be Brenda Snipes, Ed.D., Broward County Supervisor of Elections and alumna of NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler School of Education. The event is free and open to the public. Location: NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler School of Education, 1750 N.E. 167th St. North Miami Beach, Technology Building Auditorium. Contact Clyde Bailey at clydeb@nova.edu for more information.

 

• “Runway Afrique: The Power of African Images in the Fashion Industry” with Chetachi Egwu and Cathleen Dean
  Thursday, Feb. 16 at noon
  This event, which is part of NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Lecture Series, is a private screening of the documentary “Runway Afrique” and a detailed discussion about the lack of African designers and models on fashion runways, cutting them out of the $47 billion fashion industry. Created by Chetachi Egwu, Ph.D., and Cathleen Dean, this 30-minute film documents the first New York Africa Fashion Week. Location: Alvin Sherman Library 2nd Floor Gallery. Free, but reservations are required as space is limited. Call Chetachi Egwu at 954-262-8073 for more information.

 

• Screening and Panel Discussion of A Good Man, a film about the creation of choreographer Bill T. Jones’ new work on Abraham Lincoln
  Thursday, Feb. 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
  View and discuss this film chronicling Bill T. Jones’s journey in creating this critical dance work. Jones is the Artistic Director of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane dance company and the choreographer for the Tony award winning Broadway musical “Fela!” Moderated by Chetachi Egwu, Ph.D., NSU Farquhar College of Arts & Sciences faculty member.
  Panelists: Clarence Brooks, MFA, associate professor/director of Dance, Florida Atlantic University; Elana Lanzci, MFA, assistant professor and Dance Major chair, NSU; David Kilroy, Ph.D. – associate professor of History, NSU; Augusto Soledade, MFA, assistant professor of Dance, NSU. Location: Carl DeSantis Building, Knight Auditorium. Free, but reservations are required as seating is limited. Call Elana Lanczi, MFA at 954-262-8073 for more information.

 

• MLK Writing Workshop with Actor David Mills
  Friday, Feb. 17 at noon
  Join us as actor David Mills explores the craft of writing using Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letters from the Birmingham Jail. Location: Mailman Auditorium, Mailman-Hollywood Building. Sponsored by NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts & Sciences. Free, but reservations are required as space is limited. Call Chetachi Egwu, Ph.D. at 954-262-8073 for more information. 

 

• Our Stories: The Past, Present, and Future Cultural Show
  Friday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
  The Black History Cultural Show demonstrates a diverse mix of enlightening activities representing “The Past, Present, and Future” incorporating the extraordinary achievements in African American history. Nova Southeastern University students will provide tribute through interactive, educational, and inspirational exhibits and living legend of history makers. This event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by NSU’s Pan-African Student Association (P.A.S.A.), Opulent Image Models, and NSU’s Student Government Association (SGA). Location: TBA. For more information, email gilot@nova.edu.

 

• Book Signing with Vernon Shazier, Miami Dolphins Chaplain and Author
  Saturday, Feb. 18 from noon to 1 p.m.
  NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship will host Executive Speech Coach Rev. Vernon Shazier, Miami Dolphins Chaplain and author of How to Build a Championship Team and The Champion Woman. Location: Carl DeSantis Building. Come out for lunch and enjoy Q & A with Rev. Shazier. Copies of his books will be on sale at discounted rate. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact cwithrow@nova.edu 954-262-5149.

 

• Actor David Mills one-person show on Dr.  Martin Luther King Jr.
  Saturday, February 18 at 7 p.m.
  In the wake of the opening of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the National Mall in New York, actor David Mills joins us again to perform as Dr. King, using his speeches and monologues. An important show not to be missed! Location: Mailman Hollywood Building, Auditorium. Sponsored by the Farquhar College of Arts & Sciences. Free but reservations are required as seating is limited. Call Chetachi Egwu, Ph.D., at 954-262-8073 for more information.

 

• Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Caribbean Immigrants
  Tuesday, Feb. 21 from noon to 1 p.m.
  NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies’ students and faculty member Stephen Campbell, Ph.D., present a review of the unique considerations in meeting the mental health needs of Caribbean immigrants. The Caribbean region boasts an average of 37 million inhabitants, with a significant number of African descendents. The culture, history and values of the region in relation to mental health needs will be addressed. Location: Maltz Psychology Building, room 2044. For more information, please contact Sarah Valley-Gray, Psy.D., at valleygr@nova.edu.

 

• Live Music with Positively Africa
  Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
  NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library celebrates Black History Month with a lively and enchanting duo who will perform songs, movement and demonstrate authentic instruments. Children of all ages (with caregiver) will love this show. Location: Sherman Library. Call 954-262-5477. 

 

• Black Law Students’ Association Presents NSU Law Day 2012
  Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  NSU’s Shepard Broad Law Center and the Black Law Students’ Association will host their free annual NSU Law Day for those interested in pursuing a law degree. Participants will have the opportunity to speak with current students, alumni, faculty and staff of the Law Center, as well as participate in a mock law class. Location: Shepard Broad Law Center. For more information, please contact Anneke Greenaway at Anneke@nova.edu.

 

• NSU Volunteers at the Sistrunk Historical Festival & Parade
  Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m.
  NSU’s College of Health Care Sciences will provide health screenings at the oldest African American Festival in Broward County – the Sistrunk Historical Festival and Parade – named in honor of Dr. James Sistrunk, one of the county’s first black physicians. Contact Bini Litwin, 954-262-1274 or blitwin@nova.edu.

 

• Dr. King’s Dream and President Obama
  Saturday, Feb. 25 from 2 to 3 p.m.
  What were the struggles and sacrifices of those who heeded the challenge to keep Dr. King’s dream alive? NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library invites you to hear author and NSU Professor Ralph Hogges, who will share highlights from his new book regarding the fruition of Dr. King’s dream with the election of President Obama. Location: Sherman Library, room 1017. Call 954-262-5477.

 

• Sharkey’s Storytime Fun: M is for Motown Music, 10:30-11:30 am
  Wednesday, Feb. 29 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
  NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library will host this children’s event (for all ages with caregiver). Celebrate Black History month with books by your favorite African-American authors and sing along to Motown hits with singer/librarian Miss Rebecca! Location: Sherman Library. Call 954-262-5477. 

 

• Awards Ceremony: Outstanding Black Female Teachers
  Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 10 a.m.
  This event will honor three outstanding black female teachers selected from area public schools. The honorees and their principals will be the guests of honor and the event is open to the public. Sponsored by the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education. Location:   NSU’s Fischler School, 1750 N.E. 167th St. North Miami Beach, Technology Building Auditorium.  Contact Clyde Bailey (clydeb@nova.edu) or Delores Smiley (smiley@nova.edu) for further information.

 

*All events will be held on NSU’s main campus, unless otherwise specified.

For more information on additional events, please visit www.nova.edu/blackhistory.

About Nova Southeastern University: Located in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic fully accredited Florida University dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. NSU has more than 28,000 students and is the eighth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally. The University awards associate’s, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, specialist, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences.  Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU was also awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification in 2010 for the University’s significant commitment to and demonstration of community engagement.   For more information about NSU visit www.nova.edu.

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Media Contact:
Andra Liwag, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309 office, 954-873-8494 cell, andrali@nova.edu

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