COD plans Black History Month events
College of DuPage will celebrate Black History Month in February with a series of events planned by the college's Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, in collaboration with various departments, students and community leaders.
Black History Month at COD will begin with an opening celebration from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, in the Student Services atrium on campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.
With the theme "Educational Achievement and Success in the Black Community," the monthlong celebration will include a variety of events, including the annual African-American Read-In from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, in the COD library, Room 3100.
The Read-In will feature volunteer readers from across the campus community presenting their favorite selections from African-American books, essays and poetry collections, as well as brief biological sketches of the authors.
In addition, "More Than a Month," a documentary film created by African-American filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman as he traveled across the U.S. campaigning to end Black History Month, will be shown from noon to 1 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Student Services Center, Room 1200.
David Omotoso Stovall, professor of Educational Policy Studies and African-American Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will share his expertise on the significance of race in urban education from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, in the Student Services Center, Room 3245.
Visit cod.edu/bhm for a list of additional events and activities, including the second annual "Apollo Live" Student Talent Competition at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in the Belushi Performance Hall in the McAninch Arts Center.
Prospective contestants must submit a 30- to 60-second audition video by midnight Monday, Feb. 6, to MAC Director Diana Martinez at martinezd59@cod.edu. Visit cod.edu to download an application for the competition.
In addition, COD students are invited to participate in the 2017 Black History Month "Expressions" contest. Participants must create an artistic expression, including an essay, a story, a piece of art or music, a poem, or any other form of expression, based on a quotation by an African-American that is relevant to the 2017 Black History Month theme "Educational Achievement and Success in the Black Community."
Prospective contestants must submit an original work in the appropriate format in person at the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion office in the Student Services Center, Room 2225E, or via email at studentdiversity@cod.edu by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15.