This February, in honor of Black History Month, the Office of Student Success and Diversity (OSSD) is hosting several events to engage the community in learning about and honoring Black history. By partnering with groups across campus, such as Student life, Counseling and Wellness and the Gospel Choir, the OSSD has created opportunities for students to become involved in the month-long celebration.
The OSSD desires to be involved in every area of campus, and their events reflect that. The 30th Annual Thurgood Marshall Symposium will be held on Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. This event will focus on voting rights issues within Alabama. The OSSD is partnering with the Cumberland School of Law’s Black Law Students Association to sponsor this event.
On Feb. 19 at 11:30 a.m., there will be a Lunch and Learn with Samford’s Black Nurses Association. Professor Jennifer Coleman of Samford’s Moffett and Sanders School of Nursing will serve as the speaker.
Serving as the grand finale, the Black History Month Gala will be held on Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. According to the statement that was shared along with the invitation, it will be an event for the campus to come together to “honor and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our Black students, faculty, and staff at Samford University.” The gala will include food, music and recognition of the people who make up Samford University.
Other events happening throughout February to honor Black History Month include: ‘The Secret to Becoming Mentally Strong’ talk with Samford counselor Jah’zmin Duncan, “Face to Face with Race” dinner and round table discussion, Samford basketball game featuring National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Samford Gospel Choir Concert.
Along with Black History Month, OSSD has something else to celebrate. They have recently welcomed a new member to their team, De’Janae Tookes. Serving as the assistant director of multicultural initiatives and events, Tookes is tasked with “engaging the Samford community in multicultural curricular and co-curricular development.”
February’s events serve as a preview of the developments Tookes desires to cultivate on our campus.
“Through close collaboration with diverse campus and community organizations, cultural groups and stakeholders, there’s a special chance to unite communities, enhance understanding and spark positive transformation for students, faculty and staff,” Tookes said. “By establishing safe and diverse learning environments in higher education, you start facilitating discussions that foster cultural and social awareness. As these dialogues unfold, they pave the way for what many refer to as ‘brave spaces’ – environments where individuals feel empowered to dig deeper into understanding others and their unique journeys. This added sense of security cultivates unity and strengthens our community bonds, which, in turn, prepares our students to be change agents in the world.”
OSSD’s Black History Month celebrations are a fantastic way to step into these ‘brave spaces’ that allow opportunities for empowerment and understanding.
Interested in learning more? Locate their office at 326 Beeson Hall. To locate a comprehensive list of their Black History Month celebratory lineup, check out their page on Samford’s website. Follow along with OSSD’s Instagram to follow along and find resources all month long.
Staff Writer
