Black History Month: Virtual Events Will Celebrate Black Joy Starting Feb. 1
With a focus on joy and gratitude in the midst of some challenging times, Fullerton College’s Umoja Community Program, Cadena Cultural Center, and Grads to Be Program are “flipping the narrative” of Black History Month at Fullerton College this year, by celebrating the month with a series of virtual events that empower students to embrace and celebrate joy.
“We didn’t want to do the typical theme which is usually based off struggles and challenges. We really wanted to flip it and just affirm our community in a positive light right now,” said Kyari Cail, coordinator of the Umoja Community Program.
Cail said the theme “Black Joy” will be used throughout Black History Month to remind everyone of what it means to be in community and artistic expression.
“We’re highly aware of the challenges everyone is facing right now due to COVID-19, and we just want to offer a counter-narrative to that; really commemorate the beauty we are experiencing as individuals and as a collective.”
The Black History Month (BHM) committee originally planned to offer most BHM events in-person, but after learning in mid-January that most spring semester students would be starting the semester online, all BHM events were converted to virtual formats.
The festivities will commence with a kick-off celebration on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. followed by the annual Black Students’ Forum on Feb. 10, a seminar focusing on guaranteed admissions to Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ (HBCU) on Feb. 24, and end with Fullerton College’s annual Beat Café on Feb. 28.
The Black Student’s Forum on Feb. 10 will invite participants to have an engaging experience with guest speaker and facilitator Thea Monyeé. Monyeé will invite participants to explore the concept of Black Joy and what that looks like during challenging times, while providing participants with tangible tools and strategies to continue exploring Black Joy in their everyday lives.
Then on Feb. 24 from 1 – 2 p.m. a Guaranteed Admission to HBCU’s Seminar will be hosted in collaboration with the Fullerton College Transfer Center. The goal of this seminar is to help students understand resources and accessibility to attend a HBCUs. The seminar will also go into details about the guaranteed admissions process and will help connect students with HBCU alumni.
Lastly, Fullerton College’s Beat Café and Open Mic on Feb. 28 from 12 – 2 p.m. will help close out Black History Month events with vocal, poetic, and artistic expression. The Beat Café has been a staple of Fullerton College’s Black History Month for more than 10 years. Students across NOCCCD are encouraged to sign up ahead of time to showcase their individual talent.
Here is a complete list of events and details:
Feb. 1, 4 – 5 p.m. – Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration
The Black History Month Kick-Off and Opening Ceremony will highlight this year’s theme: “Celebrating Black Joy.” Join the Kick-Off/Opening Ceremony via Zoom. Register here.
Feb. 10, 10 – 11:30 a.m. – Black Students’ Forum: Black Joy Circle
This Black Students’ Forum is centered around joy and affirmation. Special guest and facilitator, Thea Monyeé, will bring a fun yet engaging experience for all participants. Monyeé’s background is unapologetic, in which her work stems from her unwavering commitment to healing and her belief that true healing can only occur in a liberated and non-oppressive environment.
Feb. 24, 1 – 2:30 p.m. – Guaranteed Admission to HBCU’s Seminar
Hosted by the Transfer Center and Umoja Community Program, this seminar covers the guaranteed admissions for California Community College students to partnering Historically Black Colleges and Universities, highlighting benefits, resources, and student life! Please RSVP via LinksCarrd at https://fcumojalinks.carrd.co/.
Feb. 28, 12 – 2 p.m. – Beat Café: Open Mic
The Cadena Cultural Center and Umoja Community Program are looking to showcase students who can use their talent to highlight joy in the Black community! Students from Fullerton College and across the North Orange Community College District are invited to take a break over the lunch hour and showcase their music, dance, spoken word, and other performance art at this virtual spot! This will be the closing event for Black History Month.
There will be an opportunity to learn about the history of open mic, overviews of the Umoja Community & Grads To Be Programs, ways to stay connected on campus, and vibe with other students! RSVP to perform or attend here.
