Colorado State University Pueblo Celebrates Black History Month with Accessible Programming
Release Date: February 15, 2021
Colorado State University Pueblo celebrates Black History Month in an online format throughout February with programming accessible to the general public. Black History Month events highlight work in the Pueblo community, the efforts of students on campus, and presents an opportunity for learning and dialogue at CSU Pueblo.
The Director of Equity and Inclusion, Victoria Obregon, and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for Equity (DICE) is working to elevate the heritage month celebrations on CSU Pueblo’s campus. "The committee is very excited to offer support in elevating Black History Month (BHM) to a standard it deserves,” said Obregon. “Black history is American history; it should be treated that way.”
Shay Dabney, president of CSU Pueblo’s Black Student Union, is providing a student voice to a discussion with Obregon on igniting the flame of student activism within the Black Lives Matter Movement. The conversation will be held online on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. via Zoom discussion.
Campus dining provider, A’viands will be hosting two lunch menus in honor of BHM. On Wednesday, Feb. 17, A’viands will host a menu inspired by Michelle Obama in celebration of Black Women Excellence. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Pack Café will celebrate George Floyd's life with a menu inspired by some of his favorite foods.
CSU Pueblo welcomes the Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, LaNeeca Williams, who will speak from her plethora of knowledge on diversity, equity and inclusion on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. virtually through zoom. Williams uses her personal history to shape her belief that first-hand experiences of racism and discrimination have laid the foundation for her efforts to elevate voices from historically excluded communities.
CSU Pueblo will continue the BHM programming with a Through Music We Heal event featuring local community activist Greg on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 11:30 a.m. through Zoom. Professor and Department Chair of English, Juan Morales will help conclude the heritage month by leading analysis and discussion of Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem “The Hill We Climb” on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. with a Zoom discussion.
CSU Pueblo continues to include the land acknowledgment statement honoring the Native American land of CSU Pueblo, which is read at the beginning of every Diversity, Equity and Inclusion event. Each event will be held over Zoom using the Meeting ID: 563 496 4701. For more information about BHM events, please contact Victoria Obregon, director of equity and inclusion, at victoria.obregon@csupueblo.edu or by calling 719-549-2402.
CSU Pueblo looks forward to using Black History Month as a way to elevate black voices and minorities within our campus community,” said Obregon. “We know as a Hispanic Serving Institution, promoting diversity and equity is part of our core values. We are excited to celebrate our students, faculty and staff as we participate together.”
