2010 Black History Month Report

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The John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute has come a long way since its early days amongst the turbulent 1960s. Its history has been one of determination and progress.

Born out of the idea to create an oversight committee for Northeastern’s Black community, the African-American Institute was established in 1968 to develop and implement a long-range plan for a genuine, effective and permanent Black presence at Northeastern University. Throughout the past 40 years, the Institute has developed and executed Black History Month programs, events and activities. During those years the initiatives were generally focused inward toward members of the Northeastern and local African-American community. In addition to focusing on experiences within the AfricanAmerican community in 2010, this year, an effort was made to expand and make available the Black History Month experience for the entire Northeastern community.

All indications are, from attendance and anecdotal feedback, that this year’s Black History Month expanded program effort was an overwhelming success. This report seeks to capture not only the process and thinking behind this year’s Black History Month program, but the expected and unexpected outcomes.

Background Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African- Americans in U.S. and World history.

The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African-Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.1 In celebration of Black History Month, Northeastern University’s Cultural and Residential Life division developed a committee of individuals in concert with the John D. O’Bryant African-American institute to develop Black History Month programming for the entire university community. The Black History Month Committee (BHMC) was comprised of 16 individuals from various departments across the university, primarily under the division of Student Affairs. Each member of the committee was tasked with engaging students, co-workers, and community members to become a part of the university’s Black History Month planning process. The committee’s efforts yielded well-attended events and broadened university awareness of the local and global contributions of African-Americans. In order to promote unity among the committee and to provide direction for future committees the following were developed: 1.

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Vision Statement (Programming and Committee) Mission Statement (To Be Used each Year) Weekly Themes Types of Events

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Vision Statement for Black History Month To celebrate the history, contributions, and global impact of people of the African Diaspora.!!

Mission Statement for the Black History Month Committee To create an environment on NU’s Campus which promotes consciousness and societal value of individuals of the African Diaspora, by providing opportunities to all members of the campus community by making connections, inspiring, educating, celebrating the richness of Black History.

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Black History Month Themes The BHMC decided to establish a theme and focus for each week of Black History Month. The themes were intended concentrate the Black History Month activities of both the Institute and the students. The themes were as follows: Week 1 – Connect Week 2 – Educate Week 3 – Inspire Week 4 – Celebrate

(2/1 -2/6 ) Connecting the Past with the Present (2/7 -2/13) Educating our campus and community (2/14 -2/20) Inspiring the NU Community (2/22 -2/27) Celebrating the rich history and future

Types of Events (5) – The BHMC categorized five different types of events of varying scale in order to reach a vast array of individuals Big Events – 500 – 1000 Individuals Small Events – 25 – 50 Individuals Community Events – 15+ Community Members University Awareness – Publicity around campus JDOAAI Signature Events – Range from 50 to 200 participants

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Big Events – Harlem Renaissance Play – The Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program at the Blackman Theater performed the Harlem Renaissance with a Gospel Flavor on February 5th. The play captivated the audience with an artistic interpretation of the Harlem Renaissance period. The play had an attendance of approximately 500 students, community members, and university staff and faculty.

The John D. O’Bryant African American Institute & Northeastern Black Student Association &

P R E S E N T :

The play, performed by the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program and written by community activist Haywood Fennell, Sr. is set in the Harlem Renaissance Era. Mr. Fennell is quick to explain that Harlem was not the only location for this social and artistic phenomenon known as the Harlem Renaissance, it was happening in several cities across the United States including Boston. The Harlem Renaissance Revisited With a Gospel Flavor captivates audiences through song, dance and telling a story that you will never forget; it’s a must see.

FEBRUARY 5, 2010 BLACKMAN AUDITORIUM 7:00PM

Free Admission

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Small Events – Guest Speaker – Bakari Kitwana author of “The Hip Hop Culture” conducted a 90 min lecture and Q&A on the impact of the Hip Hop Culture on society.

The event attracted about 30 students and community members.

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Coast-to-Coast Conversations – The Coast to Coast Conversations consisted of three 90min roundtable forums on issues affecting individuals of the African Diaspora. The discussions focused on connecting cultures in the African and African-American community, Education in the African American Community, and Inspiration in the African American Community.

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Celebration (Planned by Ujima Scholars) - Black History Month concluded with a celebration of the richness of Black History through song, dance, speeches, skits, and food. The celebration yielded over 150 participants.

Community Events – School Engagement (Program @ Orchard Gardens Pilot School) (20) – Cancelled – (We were scheduled to talk about the importance of Black History) Community Program (Black History and Identity) (30) University Awareness – An extra effort was made to reach out across campus to publicize and advertise the Black History Month events. The promotions include Next Graphics Promo Pack (Club Cards, Flyers) Posters (Celebrating Black History Month Around Campus) * Printed by RD’s Publicity & Flyers (Event Marketing) Plasma Screens (Event Information) JDOAAI Signature Events – The John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute continued its Black History Month signature events that include: Recognition Ceremonies (2) – The Black History Recognition Luncheons were designed and developed two years ago by the director to honor those individuals on campus that don’t normally receive recognition, but have contributed to and support the Institute. The recognition ceremonies were conducted on Feb.3 & Feb. 10 at the Cabral Center. Each ceremony honored and celebrated the contributions of NU staff & faculty of AfricanAmerican descent. The Recognition Luncheons were well attended by University staff, faculty, students, and community members. Our honorees with over 142 years of combined service to Northeastern University included: Dean Ella Robertson, Retired Associate Director of Special Support Services – 30yrs Sherman Hart, Head Track Coach – 22yrs Barry Martinez, Northeastern University Police Department – 40yrs Allean Beane, Student Activities Business Office – 19yrs Denise Young Howard, Coordinator for Purchasing Systems – 31yrs Oratory Competition – On Tuesday February 16, 2010 the JDOAAI hosted the Annual Dean Roland E. Latham Oratory competition. The competition featured 8 students whose topics focused on current events questions addressing the following: Health Care Reform, Death Penalty, Ending Poverty, Hip Hop, Domestic Violence, Education, Haiti, and Black Student Enrollment at Northeastern. The event drew about 35 students and community members.

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Black Inventors Exhibit – The Annual Black Inventors exhibit showcased the local and global contributions of African and African American Inventors. The exhibit includes models and sometimes actually pieces of the inventions.

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Institute Display – In order to increase awareness of Black History Month, institute staff created history displays throughout the Institute. The displays consisted of pictures, brochures, event flyers, event calendars, and TV monitors with Black History programming. (Videos were changed on a daily basis).

Learning Outcomes & Goals – The BHMC Learning Outcomes (Waiting for Survey Distribution & Results) 1. Students, staff, and faculty will be able to apply knowledge learned from Black History programming to new experiences.

2. Students, staff, and faculty will be able to articulate the local and global contributions of people of the African Diaspora.

3. Students, staff, and faculty will understand how cultural identity and differences impact perspectives and relationships with others.

Participation Goals and Actual – The BHMC set attendance goals for each event and in most cases met or exceeded the attendance goals.

Goal Range Actual

2/3 50100 80

2/4 2550 30

2/5 5001000 500+

2/9 2550 40

2/10 50100 80

2/16 25-50

2/17 25-50

60

20

2/22 100200 150

2/23 25-50 35

2/24 100200 150

Total 9251850 1145

Table 1.0 – BHMC Participation numbers/Day Evaluation Tools – For the Black History Month Programming for Northeastern University we used the following types of evaluation: 1. Goals-Based Evaluation (Mission Statement for Year 1 more specific goals for each additional) 2. Process-Based Evaluation (How do we plan and execute Black History Month?) – Committee & Student Groups 3. Outcomes-Based Evaluation (Is the programming effective?) – Participant Surveys !

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Budget Information – The fiduciary responsibility was shared between Student Affairs, Residential and Cultural Life, and The John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute.

Below is the budget information for Northeastern’s Black History Month 2010: Black History Month Overall Budget Projected

Black History Month Overall Budget Actual

Student Affairs/Res Life University Awareness & Publicity 5,000 Power Luncheon 2,500 Celebration 2,000 Sub-Total 9,500

Student Affairs/Res Life University Awareness & Publicity 0 Power Luncheon 0 Celebration 1108.16 Sub-Total 1108.16

Student Groups

Student Groups

(NBSA, Minority Grad Students)

(NBSA, Minority Grad Students)

Harlem Renaissance w/ Gospel Flavor Hip Hop Guest Speaker Power Luncheon Community Program Sub-Total

7,000 6,500 1,500 0 15,000

Harlem Renaissance w/ Gospel Flavor Hip Hop Guest Speaker Power Luncheon Community Program Sub-Total

7,000 6,500 0 0 13,500

JDOAAI Recognition Ceremony Oratory Competition Black Inventors School Engagement

2,500 4,400 2,200 0

JDOAAI Recognition Ceremony Oratory Competition Black Inventors School Engagement

4083.85 4215 1900 0

Sub-Total

9,100

Sub-Total

10,198.85

Total Cost

$33,600

Total Cost

$24,807.01

General Ideas and Recommendations for Next Year • • • • • • •

Budget confirmed at the beginning of fiscal year Committee selected in the spring of prior year Identify a point person for each event Co-Chairs for the committee Add program listing in Huntington News Highlight events early in planning process for President to attend Develop a planning Calendar * See Below

Events for Next Year • • • • !

Power Luncheon (Mentoring) Cultural Celebration (Fashion, Food, Fun) Art Display in 360 Art Gallery for the Month Research Expo

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Recommended Black History Month Committee Planning Calendar February March April

– – –

May

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June July August

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September

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October November

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December January

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February

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Execution of Black History Month Final Report Submitted Selection of New Committee (Luncheon – Talk about Black History Month and Get to know Each Other) Committee Watch a Video on Black History Month and Discuss Dates (Send Dates and Info to Print and to be included in fall literature.

Committee Assignments Contracts for Major Events - Get approval for all flyers Design & Print Flyers and Info for Orientations and Welcome Weeks Meet with Student Groups and Departments & Develop a University Wide Calendar.

Begin Weekly Meetings (Late September) Continue Weekly Meetings Finalize All Literature, Dates, and Info to be printed. Before Thanksgiving. * Create brief video for Kwanza, MLK Convocation, and Website * Kwanza – Publicity for Black History Month * Show Video * MLK Convocation – Video and All Black History Month (Is Black History still Relevant & Why – It’s relevance on the International Experience 20 Events of Black History