Highlights at Foothill
College
Tuesday, Feb. 3
National African American
Read-In
Join more than one
million readers from across the nation in the 20th Annual National
African American Read-In. At Foothill, this annual event features
poet and musician Avotcja, and members of her band, Modupe.
You’re invited to read from the works of your favorite African
American poets or authors. Co-sponsored by the National Council for
Teachers of English, Foothill College Language Arts Division and
Foothill Bookstore.
Time: 10
a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Location:
Campus Center Dining Room
Free Admission
Wednesday, Feb. 4
College Hour: Black History Month
Official Opening Ceremony
Student speakers will present an overview of Foothill’s
Black History Month celebration. At the start of any function,
it’s customary in African tradition to publicly acknowledge the
wisdom of our ancestors in whose footprints we stand today. Thus, we
pour libation, which will be done by Anyika Nkululeko and the live
drumming of Jaliya. Jaliya’s format is modeled after a 13th
century Malian tradition in which members of the court served as the
messengers, story tellers, historians and praise singers in the
Malian Empire, which encompassed Mali, West Africa. Jaliya’s
musicians use percussive instruments to accompany the citing of
historical and current events, myths and proverbs. The event also
includes performances by Foothill students. Free refreshments.
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Dining
Room
Free
Admission
Thursday, Feb. 5
Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Residency
For the 14th year,
Foothill College hosts the world-renown Dallas Black Dance Theatre
(DBDT) as the troupe celebrates its 32nd West Coast tour. Under the
guidance of founder and artistic director Ann Williams, DBDT’s
mission is to create and produce dance at its highest level of
artistic excellence through performances and educational programs
that bridge cultures, and reach diverse communities and audiences of
all ages and backgrounds.
DBDT Lecture, Demonstration & Petite Performance
Talented DBDT dancers will treat more
than 1,800 middle-school students to a mini performance and
artists’ notes. Students will also tour Foothill College and
eat lunch on campus. The program combines cultural and artistic
expression by the dancers, and the children’s experience of a
community college campus.
Time: 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Location: Smithwick Theatre
Free Admission
Thursday, Feb. 5
Foothill Author Series
Featuring Richard Thompson Ford
Author Richard Thompson Ford will present a reading from his
book,
The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations
Worse, followed by a book-signing session. Learn what Hurricane
Katrina victims waiting for federal disaster relief, millionaire
rappers buying vintage champagne, Ivy League professors waiting for
taxis, and ghetto hustlers trying to find steady income have in
common. Ford postulates that all have claimed to be victims of
racism. “These days, almost no one openly expresses racist
beliefs or defends bigoted motives. So lots of people are victims of
bigotry, but no one’s a bigot? What gives? Either a lot of
people are lying about their true beliefs and motivations, or a lot
of people are jumping to unwarranted conclusions–or just
playing the race card,” Ford says. The Stanford University law
professor cuts to the meat of the race subject. He is a phenomenal
writer with thoughts and ideas that need to be heard. Ford’s
book is available for purchase at a 20-percent discount at the campus
bookstore. Co-sponsored by the Foothill College President’s
Office.
Time: Noon–1
p.m.
Location: Campus Center Lounge
(Room 2313)
Free
Admission
Thursday, Feb. 5
Meet the Artist Reception
Meet local artist Roberta McClinton whose art is
expressed in her handmade quilts. Her beautiful quilts tell the
history and culture of African Americans in an unforgettable way.
Some quilts were used by slaves to communicate directions and hiding
places during their flights to freedom. Others were used to reflect
African American culture, artwork, perspectives and interest. Free
refreshments.
Time: 1–2 p.m.
Location: Chinese Heritage
Room (Room 3523)
Free
Admission
Friday, Feb. 6
Meet the Artist Reception
Meet local artist Roberta McClinton whose art
is expressed in her handmade quilts. Her beautiful quilts tell the
history and culture of African Americans in an unforgettable way.
Some quilts were used by slaves to communicate directions and hiding
places during their flights to freedom. Others were used to reflect
African American culture, artwork, perspectives and interest. Free
refreshments.
Time:
6:30–7:30 p.m.
Location:
Chinese Heritage Room (Room 3523)
Free Admission
Friday,
Feb. 6
Dallas Black Dance
Theatre Evening Performance
The
curtain goes up on this contemporary dance company’s repertoire
of modern, jazz, ethnic and spiritual works to provide a performance
filled with the excitement and energy that only DBDT can deliver. A
complimentary reception follows the performance in the Campus Center
Dining Room.
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Smithwick Theatre
Tickets: $25, general;
$15, students with OwlCard. To purchase tickets, call
(650)
949-7360 or access
www.foothill.edu/fa. For group
rates, call
(650) 949-7282.
Tuesday & Wednesday, Feb. 10–11
AIDS Awareness Week Activities
Synopsis
To promote awareness
of AIDS and safe sex, the Foothill College Health Services Office
will give out an array of free condoms and other safe sex items and
information. The office will also conduct free, confidential AIDS
testing and counseling for Foothill students. Co-sponsored by the
Foothill College Health Services Office.
Time: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Plaza
Free Admission
Wednesday, Feb. 11
College Hour: Pursue Your
Passion, People!
You can make
a difference in this world. Listen as Kirk Nugent discusses the role
of students in society. As a catalyst for change, challenging
preconceived notions about success and self-actualization, and a
former community college student, he understands and identifies with
the problems encountered by students on a daily basis. You may have
seen Nugent hosting shows on Black Entertainment Television (BET) and
Def Jam Comics, but you’ve never seen him in this
form–provocative and gripping. From social and personal
responsibility, AIDS, safe sex, drugs and alcohol, politics and
pop-culture trends, this provocative poet and motivational speaker
will touch your sense of self-worth, personal responsibility and
passion for life. Free refreshments. Co-Sponsored by the Foothill
College Health Services Office.
Time:
Noon–1 p.m.
Location:
Campus Center Dining Room
Free Admission
Thursday, Feb. 12
Black Agency: Individual Achievement,
Black Cultural Progress
Within all of us are many identities. The trick is to figure
out which one of our many selves needs to be front and center at a
particular moment. In this workshop, Alonso Jones and Lasana Hotep
explore contemporary forces that shape the values and priorities of
young people, and examine how college students can best position
themselves as decision-makers. Themes addressed in this presentation
include a historical timeline of major periods impacting black life,
a matrix exercise dissecting our many identities, and the
ever-important role you play as a college student in continuing the
progress of our beautiful cultural community. Jones is the
multicultural student services director at Arizona State University.
Hotep is a researcher, consultant and engineer.
Time: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Lounge (Room 2313)
Friday & Saturday, Feb. 13-14
11th Annual California Student Association of
Community Colleges Black Caucus Leadership Conference
Foothill students are encouraged to focus on
leadership skill development with Foothill’s Black Student
Union by participating in this two-day conference. Students from
across the
California Community
College System will explore leadership concepts that empower
student leaders of African ancestry; discuss successful
models/practices that build community outreach and involvement; and
address advocacy and organizational development of Afrocentric
organizations at the community-college level.
Contact: LaDonya Jackson, Foothill College;
(408)
876-3186
Location: Foothill
College [
www.foothill.edu]
Feb. 13 & 16
Presidents’ Days Holiday Observances
Campus closed; classes do not meet.
Wednesday, Feb. 18
College Hour: Talent Show
Talented Foothill students demonstrate the richness
and diversity of African American culture. Several Foothill groups
will showcase their talents, including the Black Student Union,
Brother to Brother, Shades of Africa and Hip-Hop Club.
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Lounge (Room
2313)
Free Admission
Thursday, Feb. 19
African American Literature
Jan Batiste-Adkins will discuss the findings of her
research into African American literary works published in San
Francisco’s two Black newspapers during 1862–1885. Her
lecture will address the cultural, social and political issues that
influenced the literary expressions of poetry, biographical
narratives, short stories and didactic essays. She will also read
selected works that represent the body of literary work documented in
her research.
Time: 10–11 a.m.
& 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Lounge (Room 2313)
Free Admission
Tuesday,
Feb. 24
Are You Lost or Found?
Recognizing the Wake-Up Call
Dr.
Sylvester Fadal is the author of
Are You Lost or Found, a
remarkable personal development book. Learn how leadership,
friendship, finding your passion and embracing unwanted change might
be the keys to personal transformation. According to Fadal, 62
percent of Americans are lost and in need of individual change. He is
the president/CEO of Fadal & Associates, a non-profit consulting
group, and professor of graduate business at the University of
Phoenix’s Sperling School of Business.
Time: 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Lounge (Room 2313)
Free Admission
Wednesday, Feb. 25
College Hour: 11th Annual African Achievers
Awards
The Achiever Awards
recognize the outstanding academic achievement, leadership and
service of graduating and/or transferring Foothill College students
of African ancestry.
Time:
Noon–1 p.m.
Location:
Campus Center Dining Room (Room 2201)
Free Admission
Saturday, Feb. 28
Make a Joyful Noise Gospel Concert
Celebrate with the Foothill College Gospel
Choir as you journey through gospel music from its history of Negro
spirituals to contemporary melodies. Witness spiritually uplifting
performances by Bay Area gospel choirs and much more. A complimentary
reception follows the performance in the Campus Center Dining Room.
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Dining Room (Room
2201)
Free Admission
Ongoing Art Exhibitions & Displays
Quilts of African American History! Exhibit
The exhibit features Roberta
McClinton’s handmade masterpieces, which weave the history of
African Americans in each strand. The exhibit is on display
throughout February in the Foothill College Campus Center. Admission
is free. Exhibit hours are
Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m.
to 9 p.m.; Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information,
call
(650) 949-7282 or e-mail
DavorenTricia@foothill.edu.
For additional event,
driving and parking information, access www.foothill.edu, e-mail
DavorenTricia@foothill.edu
or call (650) 949-7282.
