UIS to celebrate Black History Month 2015

The University of Illinois Springfield will celebrate Black History Month in February with a variety of events designed to educate and raise awareness. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Bridging the Gap”.

Saturday, Jan. 31 

Candle Light Vigil – “Commemorating Lives That Still Matter” 
Students and community members are invited to participate in a Candle Light Vigil honoring the lives of those who lost their lives at the hands of another person. The vigil will be held from 11 a.m. to Noon under the Brookens Library overhang, outside of the building facing the quad.

Monday, Feb. 2 

Soup and Conversation: “What does leadership look like?” 
The Black Male Collegiate Society and Black Student Union will hold a Soup and Conversation event exploring “What does leadership look like?” The event is open to students and will take place from 1-3 p.m. in the Diversity Center.

Wednesday Feb. 4 & Tuesday Feb. 17 

Free HIV/STI/STD, Mammogram, & Prostate Testing 
The free testing event for students will take place from 12 to 3 p.m. at the Diversity Center.

Thursday Feb. 5 

“10 Rules for Dealing with Police” 
This panel discussion and video will be led by Robert Moore and Odie Carpenter from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). It will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center (PAC), Conference Room F. This event is open to the public and students.

“Policing Diverse Communities: Learning from the Past and Working Towards the Future” 
This presentation will be led by Fabienne Brooks, a retired police administrator and law enforcement instructor with 26 years of experience. Brooks has three decades of experience as a community activist, coalition builder, and instructor for law enforcement agencies. This presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library. This event is open to the public and students. This event is part of the UIS Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series.

Friday, Feb. 6

Black Male Collegiate Society Induction Ceremony 
The Black Male Collegiate Society will hold an induction ceremony for new members from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center, Conference Room C/D. This event is for students.

Saturday, Feb. 7 

“Real Talk and Race, Class & Gender: Past & Present” 
Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, a nationally-recognized motivational lecturer, provocateur, and workshop facilitator, will offer ‘critical edutainment’ on how we, as future leaders of tomorrow, can have a voice in ensuring that social justice is attained for all people. This presentation will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center, Conference Room C/D. This event is open to the public and students.

Wednesday, Feb. 11

“Frederick Douglass on Race: A Soul’s Evolution” 
Fred Morsell will portray Frederick Douglass during a live Black History Month performance at 7 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library. This journey takes the audience through relevant periods in Douglass’ life. The development of his thought illustrates the stages of his personal transformation in the understanding of race, and culminates in his illumination about the way to experience our common humanity beyond categories. This event is open to the public and students. It is part of the UIS Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series.

Saturday, Feb. 14 

Heart of a Collegiate Man 
The Black Male Collegiate Society will give students the opportunity to go on a Couples Retreat from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Diversity Center. Students can enjoy an evening of full-filled, romantic activities with their special someone. Ten tips for maintaining a meaningful relationship and couples therapy will be offered. There will be prizes and complementary refreshments. This event is only for students.

Wednesday, Feb. 18 

“You can’t touch my hair” 
The Kinky & Curly Natural Hair Empowerment Club will host a video and panel discussion titled “You can’t touch my hair” from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center, Conference Room G. This event is open to the public and students.

Friday, Feb. 20

Soup and Conversation: “Business and social etiquette: Tips for success” 
The Black Male Collegiate Society and Black Student Union will hold a Soup and Conversation about “Business and social etiquette: Tips for success” from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Diversity Center. This event is only open to students.

Friday, Feb. 20

“Ladies Only: Real Talk Discussion” 
Apryl Jones from “Love and Hip Hop Hollywood” will lead a discussion regarding topics affecting women in their college lives, such as being first generation students, establishing unity as women, relationship issues with parents, significant others, and having respect for oneself. This will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room. This event is for students only.

Wednesday, Feb. 25

“Dear White People” film screening and discussion 
The film screening of “Dear White People” (2014) and a moderated dialogue will take place at 8 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium. The movie is a satire about being a Black face in a White place. This event is open to the public and students.

Saturday, Feb. 28

Ebony Ball 
The Black Student Union will host the annual Ebony Ball, a gala showcasing and honoring African American Student Leaders, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Sangamon Auditorium Lobby. The student ball includes a court nominated and voted on by students. Formal attire is encouraged. An after party will take place from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Student Life Building.

For more information on Black History Month events, visit the UIS Diversity Center website at www.uis.edu/diversitycenter/ or contact Justin Rose, coordinator for Diverse Student Programming, at 217/206-6333 or jrose22@uis.edu.

UIS Speaker Series explores Frederick Douglass' views on race as part of Black History Month

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield’s Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents “Frederick Douglass on Race: A Soul’s Evolution”. Fred Morsell will portray Frederick Douglass during this live Black History Month performance.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Morsell compiled the performance content from Douglass’ most significant commentary on the issue of slavery and race discrimination, and how to overcome its soul-devouring and life destructive effects. This journey takes the audience through relevant periods in Douglass’ life. The development of his thought illustrates the stages of his personal transformation in the understanding of race, and culminates in his illumination about the way to experience our common humanity beyond categories.

Morsell is a professional actor whose career includes seasons with The Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center, The New York Shakespeare Festival, and other national and regional theatres in the U.S. He sung leading roles in operas and was the weekend announcer for the Los Angeles PBS affiliate.

He began his Frederick Douglass career in 1984 when he read Douglass’ work as part of an alternative program he helped develop for inner city youth. The experience was an awakening for him. Since then, he’s portrayed Douglass for colleges, civic groups, churches and theatres. He also led seminars and workshops on improved black and white relations through his non-profit organization, Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc. Morsell is an actor, director and teacher with the Terry Schreiber Studio in New York City.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Speaker Series explores "Policing Diverse Communities" as part of Black History Month

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield’s Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents “Policing Diverse Communities: Learning from the Past and Working Towards the Future”. The presentation will be led by Fabienne Brooks, a retired police administrator and law enforcement instructor with 26 years of experience.

WHEN: Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Brooks' talk will provide a historical background of the relationship between police and black communities since the days of slavery to contextualize the current situation: what is happening, what it means, and why we all have a social responsibility to resolve it. She will share her work as a consultant with the National Coalition Building Institute Law Enforcement Programs division and as instructor on topics such as "Policing for Safer Communities," "Policing through Partnerships," and "From Difference to Diversity." Through these activities, she is playing an active role in helping to bridge the gaps between police and the communities they serve.

Brooks has three decades of experience as a community activist, coalition builder, and instructor for law enforcement agencies. A former chief of criminal investigations with the King County Sheriff’s Office (Seattle, WA) and policy advisor to the Mayor's Office in Seattle, she owns her own consulting firm specializing in law enforcement training and building community law enforcement partnerships. Brooks has presented at national conferences for groups such as the National Crime Prevention Council, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Diversity Center and the Black Student Union. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents "Awkward & Urgent Objects" by Chicago artist Kelly Kaczynski

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present Awkward & Urgent Objects, a series of "twinned" works by Chicago-based sculptor and installation artist Kelly Kaczynski.

The exhibition brings together works from the last three years, including objects, photographs, video, and textiles. These works enlist material and form to spark urgent—and awkward—conversations between each other about the language and condition of sculpture today.

Awkward &Urgent Objects will open on Tuesday, January 20 and run through Thursday, February 19. An opening reception for the exhibit will take place on Thursday, January 29 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

In conjunction with her exhibit, Kaczynski will present a UIS Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) lecture. The lecture, titled “Place, Labor, and Relations in a Society of Dispersal: Urgent and Awkward Objects”, will address issues of place, labor, and relations in a society of dispersal as it relates to her art practice. The lecture will take place in Brookens Auditorium on Monday, February 2 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The UIS Visual Arts Gallery will be open after the lecture, and offer light refreshments.

Kelly Kaczynski has exhibited with venues such as Soap Factory, MN; Comfort Station, IL; Eastern Washington University and Spokane Community College, WA; Gahlberg Gallery, College of DuPage, IL; Threewalls Gallery, IL; Hyde Park Art Center, IL; Rowland Contemporary, IL; University at Buffalo Art Gallery, NY; Triple Candie, NY; Islip Art Museum, NY; Josee Bienvenu Gallery, NY; DeCordova Museum, MA; Boston Center for the Arts, MA. Public installations include projects with the Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA; the Interfaith Center, NY; Institute for Contemporary Art, Boston and the Boston National Historic Parks, MA; and Boston Public Library, MA.

She received an MFA from Bard College, NY and BA from The Evergreen State College, WA. She currently teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, room 201 (HSB 201). Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information exhibition programming, please visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery/, or contact the gallery at 217/ 206-6506 or alach3@uis.edu.

UIS students to volunteer during national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

WHAT: Over 90 students from the University of Illinois Springfield will participate in the national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Students will be volunteering with seven Sangamon County organizations.

WHEN: Monday, January 19, 2015 from 1 to 4 p.m.

WHERE:
American Red Cross: Various locations on the east side of Springfield
Habitat for Humanity: 2744 South 6th St., Springfield
Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach: 4930 LaVerna Road, Springfield
Midwest Mission Distribution Center: 1022 New City Road, Chatham
Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery: 1011 North 7th St., Springfield
M.E.R.C.Y. Communities: 1111 S. 19th St., Springfield
Ronald McDonald House: 610 North 7th St., Springfield

DETAILS: Students will be distributing fire prevention hang tags in east Springfield neighborhoods with the American Red Cross, painting and preparing Habitat for Humanity’s new building, and sorting supplies with Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach and the Midwest Mission Distribution Center. Volunteers will also make diaper distribution packages at the Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery, help children and clients with MLK Day related art and craft projects at M.E.R.C.Y. Communities, and help clean and reorganize at the Ronald McDonald House.

Earlier in the day, students will learn about Community Organizing and participate in the NAACP MLK Memorial March in Springfield. At the end of the day students will reflect on what they have learned.

Questions may be directed to Mark Dochterman, director of the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at mdoch2@uis.edu.