LANSING, Mich. — Lansing Community College is set to celebrate Black History Awareness Month with an array of special events. This year’s national theme, “African Americans and the Vote” explores the struggle to ensure that African Americans are able to fully participate in American democracy. To this end LCC has partnered with Lansing’s Office of the City Clerk to have voter registration available at this year’s events.
2020 also marks the nation’s decennial census and in an effort to ensure that the African American population is fully counted in the census, LCC has partnered with the 2020 Michigan Nonprofits Count Campaign to encourage participation in the census, and like the City Clerk’s office they will attend many of this year’s events.
The celebration gets underway with the annual Black History Month jazz concert at Dart Auditorium, 500 N. Capitol Ave., downtown Lansing 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26 when the LCC Faculty Jazz Quartet takes the stage with featured guest artist, trumpeter Tim Blackmon. The quartet is comprised of LCC faculty members Mike Daniels on drums, Ed Fedewa on bass, Jon Gewirtz on saxophone, and Dennis Therrian on piano. The concert will feature music inspired by the legendary jazz trumpeter, bandleader and composer, Miles Davis.
This year’s guest artist, Tim Blackmon first picked up a trumpet at age 11. His musical journey has included instruction under the tutelage of such famed jazz greats as Christopher Dorsey, Etienne Charles and Rodney Whitaker. Blackmon earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Florida State University, and a Master of Music in jazz studies from Michigan State University. He has performed throughout the US and Europe alongside the likes of Parliament-Funkadelic and Savion Glover, and currently holds the position of Applied Instructor of Jazz Trumpet at Oakland University.
The event is FREE and open to the public and begins the celebration of several events throughout the spring including:
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 10 am-2 pm Wellness Fair; local organizations will offer free educational resources and demonstrations regarding health and wellness, Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave. 2nd floor.
Thursday, Feb. 20, 6-8 pm Malcolm X Symposium featuring guest speakers, LCC Trustee and community activist Angela Mathews; Barbara Roberts Mason, the first African American in Michigan elected to statewide office, serving 24 years on Michigan’s State Board of Education; Dr. Maxine Hankins Cain performing Fannie Lou Hamer; the African Masquerade Dancers, and LCC students present the role of college students in voting campaigns, Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave. 1st floor, Michigan Room.
Learning Circle Film Series and Round Table Discussion Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2-4 pm; Wednesday, March 4, noon-2 pm; Thursday, April 2, 10 am–noon, Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave. 2nd floor, Centre for Engaged Inclusion.
Creating Poetry/Creative Resistance Thursday, March 19, 10 am–noon and 2-4 pm. Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave. 2nd floor – Room 2214.
History Makers Luncheon Friday, March 20, noon-1pm Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Avenue, 1st floor, Michigan Room.
MLK Day of Service Friday, April 10, 9 am–1 pm Kick-off Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Avenue, 1st floor, Michigan Room.
Black History Awareness Month is a time to reflect, recognize, and honor the valuable contributions African Americans have made to our nation.
We invite the community to celebrate with us.
All events are FREE.
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