INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE"

Benedict Blair
5 years ago
Views:

1 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Newsletter FROM THE DIRECTOR As we close the academic year, the Institute on Black Life looks back on a very active agenda. The fall and spring Colloquia offered opportunities to discuss diverse ideas with an interdisciplinary group of scholars. As we revisit the topics addressed, the critical analyses presented, and the lively intellectual exchanges stimulated by the Colloquium speakers, we are proud to note that IBL remained focused on its mission to facilitate and support knowledge production on the history and culture of people of Africa and its Diaspora. Although each semester s Colloquium Series primarily involved issues pertinent to the U.S. and Haiti, IBL s Many Faces of Africa student conference refocused our attention on the magnificent African continent. Students from several Hillsborough County schools attended this annual event, which always offers IBL the exciting opportunity to engage USF scholars in discussions on their research and experiences in various African countries. IBL s new ventures this year included our first HIV-AIDS Walk and the Black Emphasis Month Talent Contest. The HIV AIDS Walk was a fundraiser for a new scholarship that will support graduate research on HIV-AIDS. The event was shared by USF students and our community partners. During the Black Emphasis Month Talent Contest the IBL offices were bombarded with visual and literary art. We were absolutely thrilled to receive the unique and carefully crafted work submitted by USF s creative undergraduates! IBL s work with community organizations is an established tradition. As you will note in this newsletter, we were actively engaged in community events throughout Hillsborough County. We are tremendously grateful for the friendship and support from our community partners. The most exciting development for IBL is our new relationship with the Africana Studies Department (AFA). During the academic year, IBL and AFA collaborated on several projects and events. In the spring we held the first IBL-AFA Retreat, which engaged the leadership, faculty and staff in developing a vision for this new community. While the partnership remains a work in progress, it will enhance the distinctive goals of each unit while also strengthening our mutual focus on issues relevant to Africa and its Diaspora and our shared commitment to community engagement. Cheryl Rodriguez

2009-2010 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Page 2 COLLOQUIUM SERIES AND SEMINARS COLLOQUIUM Invited Speakers Africana Studies Graduate Student Research Presentations The IBL Colloquium Series features USF

Kendra Bryant s talk, A Mystical Approach to the Spiritual Pedagogy of Michael Jackson, paid homage to an amazing musician whom we will continue to mourn.

Dr. Liburd is a researcher from the Center for the Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta Georgia. Her talk was co-sponsored by the Trevor Purcell Memorial Speakers Series.

Cynthia Smith, Healthy Food Access in the Black Community Robin Baldwin, Disparities in Academic Achievement: Perspectives of the Tampa Bay Haitian Community Erica Fox, Climbing the Ladder of

2 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Page 2 COLLOQUIUM SERIES AND SEMINARS COLLOQUIUM Invited Speakers Africana Studies Graduate Student Research Presentations The IBL Colloquium Series features USF scholars presenting original research. The talks are opened to USF faculty and students and to the Tampa Bay community at-large. Kendra Bryant s talk, A Mystical Approach to the Spiritual Pedagogy of Michael Jackson, paid homage to an amazing musician whom we will continue to mourn. Kendra is a doctoral candidate in the English Department. Dr. Melvin James (Instructor, CAS) shared insights from his new book, God Bless America, to a very receptive audience of undergraduates. Dr. Leandris Liburd spoke on Diabetes and Health Disparities. Dr. Liburd is a researcher from the Center for the Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta Georgia. Her talk was co-sponsored by the Trevor Purcell Memorial Speakers Series. In an exciting perspective on feminist thought, Dr. Gary Lemons (Associate Professor, English) presented, This is what a (Black Male) Feminist looks like: Time has brought about a Change! Cynthia Smith, Healthy Food Access in the Black Community Robin Baldwin, Disparities in Academic Achievement: Perspectives of the Tampa Bay Haitian Community Erica Fox, Climbing the Ladder of Success: Black Women s Entrepreneurship in Black Tampa Reginald Eldridge, Representing the Unrepresented SEMINARS IBL s Racial Profiling Seminar raised issues about the ever-evolving presence of racism in American Life. Experts examined racial profiling in the context of education, from a criminal justice perspective, and as a human rights issue.

2009-2010 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Page 3 COMMUNITY EVENTS To fulfill its mission of bridging the University and the global community, the Institute brings together faculty, staff, and students with

IBL has also partnered with other agencies to offer and exchange information that is pertinent to the local community as well as the University.

3 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Page 3 COMMUNITY EVENTS To fulfill its mission of bridging the University and the global community, the Institute brings together faculty, staff, and students with community leaders, national and international speakers, lecturers, and consultants. IBL has also partnered with other agencies to offer and exchange information that is pertinent to the local community as well as the University. County & Career Fest Sponsored by the Hillsborough Education Foundation at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Approximately 400 middle and high school students attended. IBL advised and mentored the students. First Historical Tampa Bay Black Nurses Banquet National Black Nurses Association and IBL participated in the historic event at Pilgrims Rest M.B. Church, Tampa Florida. National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Sponsored by CDC, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and IBL. About 104 were in attendance and 54 signed up for testing. Community Beautification Project Sponsored by Hillsborough County kinship Program and IBL. Fifteen volunteers took part in a restoration project for the Francis House which provides housing for (homeless) patients infected with HIV. Restoration included painting the interior, laying mulch, planting shrubs, raking and various other tasks as requested. Fit as a Fiddle A Health Forum sponsored by Polk County School Board, Lakeland, Florida. Mrs. Clara Cobb presented a session on Etiquette and Time Management to over 300 middle and high school students In honor of National Health Month, the Black Nurses Association and IBL held Health Fairs across Hillsborough County. Health Fairs were held at the following Locations: Buddy s Furniture Friends Pharmacy Ultimate Medical Academy, Floriland Mall Greater Commission Baptist Church Bible-Based Church, Erlich Road (continued on page 4)

4 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Page 4 COMMUNITY EVENTS (continued from page 3) Tampa Bay Community Events Partners sponsored National HIV Testing Day Location: Walgreens, 2115 E. Hillsborough Ave. Juneteenth Celebration IBL teamed up with SISTUHS of Tampa, FL to celebrate Juneteenth, an African American celebration that commemorates the end of slavery and the beginning of freedom for Blacks in America. This event showcased nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay area. USF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MANY FACES OF AFRICA CONFERENCE IBL sponsors an annual symposium for Hillsborough County students to enlighten them on the many resources that Africa provides and the different lifeways of Africa s people. HIV-AIDS WALK FUNDRAISER IBL sponsored its first HIV/AIDS Walk to raise funds for graduate student research.

2009-2010 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Page 5 STUDENT FOCUS PAINTINGS AND POETRY IBL s contribution to the 2010 Black Emphasis Month was a talent contest.

A panel of judges from USF and the local community viewed and ranked the entries.

During the March 17 Award Ceremony winners and participants received certificates. First place winner was Kathy Golden for her Literary entry At Last.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS The IBL currently administers seven privately funded scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.

This year IBL awarded scholarships to seven continuing undergraduates, nine entering freshmen and one graduate student.

5 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Page 5 STUDENT FOCUS PAINTINGS AND POETRY IBL s contribution to the 2010 Black Emphasis Month was a talent contest. USF undergraduates were encouraged to submit original pieces of visual or literary art reflecting themes relevant to the Black Experience. A panel of judges from USF and the local community viewed and ranked the entries. The paintings adorned the foyer of the IBL-AFA suite during Speakers Series events and the literary pieces were displayed in the IBL conference room. During the March 17 Award Ceremony winners and participants received certificates. First place winner was Kathy Golden for her Literary entry At Last. Second place winner was Eileen Skyers for her abstract oil painting Inside Out: Roots. Third place winner was Sharon Norwood for her oil painting of Obama. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS The IBL currently administers seven privately funded scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. The scholarships were established to provide academically talented students the opportunity to study at the University of South Florida. This year IBL awarded scholarships to seven continuing undergraduates, nine entering freshmen and one graduate student. The application deadline for IBL scholarships is February 15 th of each year. The scholarship applications can be found on IBL s website (ibl.usf.edu) under Scholarships. Click on the names of individual scholarships for descriptions and criteria. Please contact the main office number for questions related to scholarships.

6 INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE Page 6 UPCOMING EVENTS Please visit our website ibl.usf.edu for information regarding upcoming events including: Fall/Spring Colloquia Series Community Events Conferences INSTITUTE STAFF Dr. Cheryl Rodriguez, Director Mrs. Clara Cobb, Coordinator Brittany Lewis, Clerical Receptionist (student) Institute on Black Life University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue FAO 274 Tampa, FL Phone: Fax:

EMBRACING DIVERSITY PROMOTING RESPECT

EMBRACING DIVERSITY PROMOTING RESPECT ONEJAX OneJax is a catalyst for transforming our community into a place for peace and understanding to be truly Different Together. OUR MISSION As an interfaith organization,