Chicago Heights, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Prairie State College (PSC) will celebrate Black History Month by hosting multiple events put on by various organizations across campus. All listed events are open to the public and will be held on the main campus at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights.
The 34th Annual Jazz Festival’s feature event is a free concert on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. featuring guest artists Derek Gardner, Trumpet; Darius Hampton, Saxophone; Valerie Nicholson, Piano; Junius Paul, Bass; and Earnie Adams, Drums. All are welcome to attend the show which will be held in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium in the PSC Conference Center.
The festival will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and go through Friday as many local high and middle schools are scheduled to play and receive feedback from guest artists and clinicians. Among those scheduled to play are Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center, Andrew High School, Carl Sandburg High School, Chicago Christian High School, Coolidge Middle School, Grimmer Middle School, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, Huth Middle School, Kaneland High School, Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts, Rich Township Fine Arts Campus, Southland College Preparatory and Thornwood High School.
On Thursday, Feb. 23, Road Scholar speaker Connie Martin will deliver her program, Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad, at 1:00 p.m. in the Atrium. Martin will speak about the secret codes and hidden messages in the family quilts her ancestors shared on the Underground Railroad. In addition, the program will feature Martin’s thoughts on the history of the Underground Railroad, safe routes, and the stories of how the quilt codes, their meanings, and knowledge of key abolitionists have been passed down to her, a sixth-generation descendant of captured African slaves forced into slavery in America.
More events happening in celebration of Black History Month are below:
Black History Month Marketplace:
PSC will host a Marketplace vendor featuring African clothing, jewelry, perfume oils, shea butter, hats, and more. The vendors will be in the atrium on February 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 14 | Charles Drew Blood Drive (9:00 a.m.) | PSC will host the Charles Drew Blood Drive sponsored by The Military Student Affairs office, Student Government Association and VFW Benjamin O. Davis Post 311. Please support the blood drive by scheduling an online appointing at vitalant.org or call Vitalant at (877) 258-4825.
Tuesday, Feb. 14 | Dialogues on Diversity – Hellfighter (2:30 p.m.) – The film ‘Hellfighter’ will be shown in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium and showcases the story of the ‘Harlem Hellfighters,’ one of the country’s most decorated military regiments around WWI. A question and answer session will follow. Sponsored by the Student Government Association and Black Student Union, the event is free and open to the public. Valentine’s Day snacks will be available after the event.
Thursday, Feb. 21 | HBCU Fair (10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) | Sponsored by the Male Success Initiative and Transfer Counseling, PSC will host representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities including Chicago State University, Langston University, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium. The universities will answer questions about their respective programs, campuses, notable alumni, tuition, and scholarship opportunities.
Tuesday, Feb. 21 | Book Club Meeting: “The Light We Carry” by Michelle Obama (12:00 – 12:30 p.m.) – Join the Library and Equity and Inclusion Office in reading and discussing former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “The Light We Carry.” There will be both an in-person option in the Library classroom and a virtual option.
Tuesday, Feb. 21 | The Evolution of The African American Physical Therapist: A Historical Perspective (6:00 – 7:30 p.m.) – Prairie State College’s Allied Health and Emergency Services will virtually host a panel of physical therapists (PT) and physical therapist assistants (PTA) to discuss topics including the origin of physical therapy.
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rkq-jkww-koo
Or dial: (US) +1 405-459-8259 PIN: 675 127 324#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/rkq-jkww-koo?pin=3246152958345
Friday, Feb. 24 | 33rd Annual African American Read-In (1 p.m.) – The African American Studies Program invites students, staff and members of the PSC community to bring and share excerpts from literature by African American authors.
Tuesday, Feb. 28 | “I am Not Your Negro” Documentary Screening (2:30 – 3 p.m.) – Join us in the PSC Conference Center (Room 1322) for a screening of “I am Not Your Negro,” a documentary written by James Baldwin, directed by Raoul Peck and narrated by Samuel L. Jackson which explores the continued peril America faces from institutionalized racism.
For a complete list of events for Black History Month, visit prairiestate.edu/calendar.aspx
This news is provided by Prairie State College.
