The Buzz - Black History Month Edition

Z Z U B THE t Newsletter n e m e g a g n E Community

UND WHAT'S BUZZING ARO February 2021 ISSUE 3

Martin Luther King Jr.

Ruby Bridges

Black history month

EDITION

THE #BE HIVE?

Claudette Colvin

Kimberly Florence, Ph.D. Community Resources Coordinator, CEDI

Lizbeth VegaSantiago Student Worker, CEDI & NSSA Executive Vice President

OF E L B A T NTS CONTE

Chishya Edmond Student Worker, CEDI

Dear Community Partners,

Celebrating Black History Month

1

Historically Black Colleges & Universities

2

Remembering Cicely Tyson

3

Harambee Celebration

4

Yearbook Hall of Fame

5-6

Student Highlight

7

Administrative Faculty Highlight

8

Community Partner Highlight

9

I am thrilled to introduce you to the third edition of "The Buzz." This newsletter is a labor of love. Working alongside my two talented student workers Lizbeth Vega-Santiago and Chrishya Edmond, we developed an informative, creative, and interactive newsletter for your enjoyment. Welcome to the Scorpion Family! Please take a moment to review our student highlights along with the various initiatives and events happening at Nevada State College. They are all the buzz these days!

Kind Regards, Dr. Florence

SCORPION FAMILY Dear Community Partners,

As the Interim Program Coordinator for the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity Initiatives at Nevada State, I bring you greetings. Thank you for returning for the 3rd edition of The Buzz Newsletter.

Previously, we mentioned our vision and mission and the ways in which we are accomplishing both. We will continue building relationships within the greater Southern Nevada community.

Nevada State also understands that families and communities across our state, country

Ramiro Bautista, Ph.D. Interim Program Coordinator, CEDI

and around the world are continuing to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crisis has disrupted day-to-day life in profound ways, and its effects will be longlasting, ultimately reshaping health care, economic, social, and education systems for the anticipated future. It is our hope that we will emerge from this challenge, and therefore seek to increase, develop, and maintain relationships with our community partners.

Be Bold. Be Great. Be State.

Nevada State.

Black History Month Origins Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements made by African Americans. This Is also a time of reflection and recognition of their central role In the history of the United States. Today, we refer to February as "Black History

Month,"

or

"African-American

History

Month," but this month used to be referred to as "Negro History Week." Every president since 1976 has designated February as Black History Month.

Carter G. Woodson Black History Month was first celebrated in 1915, 50 years after the 13th amendment abolished slavery In the United States. In September of 1915, historian Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The association dedicated its efforts to researching and promoting the achievements made by Black Americans as well as other people of African descent.

Thanks to the Civil Rights Movement and growing awareness of Black Identity, Black History Week turned Into Black History Month. President Gerald Ford was the first president to officially recognize Black History Month In 1976. He encouraged people to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans In every area of endeavor throughout our history."

The month of February was chosen by Woodson because It was Abraham Lincoln's and Frederick Douglass's birthday month. Both men played a prominent role In shaping black history. Black History Week began being celebrated at schools all across the country long before the public began celebrating. Growing black middle-class families, Black history clubs, teachers, and progressive white allies began to demand materials to educate their children and their students. Woodson and his team quickly picked a theme and provided study materials such as pictures, lesson plans, plays for historical performances, and posters for different clubs to use. Eventually, Black History Week led to schools Integrating Black history In their school curriculums- a huge win for the Black community.

Today, we continue to celebrate and honor all the dedication and work that Carter G. Woodson has contributed to Americans everywhere.

1

FNovember E B R U A R Y 22020 0 2 1 | | IIssue S S U E 002 003

Historically Black Colleges & Universities

Cheyney University. 1873 Historically Higher

Cheyney University., 2020

Black Colleges and Universities, commonly known as

Education

established

prior

Americans,

and

Act

of

1965

to

1964,

that

is

as

whose

"any

historically

principal

accredited

by

a

mission

black was,

nationally

"HBCUs"--are defined by the

college and

is,

or the

recognized

university

that

education

of

accrediting

was black

agency

or

association determined by the Secretary of Education."

The first colleges for African Americans were established primarily by churches. They did this with the help of the second Morrill Act of 1890, which required states, especially former confederate states, to provide land-grants for institutions for black students that would not be admitted anywhere else.

Prior to the Civil War, Black Americans were prohibited from

receiving an education in most Southern states. Because of this, in the very beginning, HBCU's commonly provided primary, secondary, and postsecondary education to black students at their institutions.

The first-ever HBCU was established in 1873. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania was funded through a $10,000 endowment from a philanthropist named Quaker Humphreys.

HBCUs have been a part of American history for over 180 years. Today, there are 107 HBCU's across the U.S. Many influential people have graduated from history HBCU's, including current Vice President Kamala Harris, Martin Luther King Jr., and Toni Morrison.

Today, Cheyney University is the top HBCU in the country. they are the #1 Public HBCU for College Scholarships, they have an average of 12:1 Student-to-Faculty ratio, and they are #1 in

2

Social Mobility in the Pennsylvania State System.

FEBRUARY 2021 | ISSUE 003

3

ering Cicely Tys b m e on Rem

Remembering Cicely Tyson By: Chishya Edmond

Cicely Tyson was born in Harlem, New York City; the daughter of a carpenter and painter and one of three children. Her parents were immigrants from Nevis in the West Indies arriving in the United States in 1919. Tyson grew up in a religious atmosphere leading her to sing in the choir and attend prayer meetings at an Episcopal church in East Harlem. Before her mother saw her appear on stage she did not support Cicely’s dream of becoming an actor. Cicely Tyson became an American actor and fashion model. She was known for portraying strong African American women. In her 96 years of life, Cicely received three Primetime Emmy Awards, four Black Reel Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award. one Tony Award, an honorary Academy Award, and a Peabody Award. Tyson was first discovered by a photographer for Ebony magazine and became a successful fashion model. She moved on to appear in minor films and television roles during the start of her career but her role as Rebecca Morgan in “Sounder” during 1972 gained her widespread attention. Sounder is a film about a loving and strong family of Black sharecroppers raising sugar cane, facing a serious family crisis in the midst of the Great Depression. Tyson was also nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her work in SounderShe then played in the 1974 television film “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” which was based on the book by Ernest Gaines. Tyson portrayed a centenarian Black woman's life from slavery until her death before the Civil rights movement.

Cicely Tyson & Her Accomplishments

This role won her two Emmy Awards and a nomination for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In 2011, Cicely played the role of Constantine Jefferson in the award-winning film, “The Help”. Then in 2014, the recurring role of Ophelia Harkness in the legal drama TV series “How to Get Away With Murder.” Tyson played the role of the mother of the main character. This got Tyson nominated for the “Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series” five times throughout 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and in 2020.Cicely Tyson not only appeared in film and on television but in various theater productions as well.

She received a Drama Desk Award in 1962 for her Off-Broadway performance in Moon on a

Rainbow Shawl. Tyson also starred as Carrie Watts in the Broadway play “The Trip to Bountiful”, winning the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Award, and the Drama Desk Award for “Best Actress in a Play” in 2013. At the 67th Tony Awards, on June 9, 2013, she won the Tony Award for “Best Actress in a Play” for her performance as Miss Carrie Watts in “The Trip to Bountiful.” Being a 88-years-old actress at the time, Tyson became the oldest recipient of the Best Actress Tony Award.

She also won the “Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play” and the “Outer Critics Circle Award” for

3

Outstanding Actress in a Play for the role. She was then named a Kennedy Center honoree in 2015.

Harambee Celebrating Our Journey "Let's Pull Together"

The

Department

of

Community

Engagement

and

Diversity

Initiatives and Sankofa hosted the first-ever Harambee event at Nevada State College. The event brought Nevada State and the greater

Las

Vegas

community

members

together

for

a

celebration of culture and community.

The event hosted over 10 speakers, different performances, and several breakout sessions. A special thanks to Lesle Honore, Las Vegas Academy of Arts Choir Director Megan Frank, Kimberly Tureaud & Anna Bailey, Avree Walker, Claytee White, Dr. Brandon Manning Jody Lykes, Christopher Harris, Vogue Robinson, Ashley Hairston Doughty, Kasina Douglass-Boone, and Punam Mathur for making our event so special.

Our event would not have been possible without all of your contributions. Thank you for sharing your experiences, talents, and wisdom with all of us.

If you missed the event, CEDI will make the event's recordings available on all of our social media platforms soon.

4

FEBRUARY 2021 | ISSUE 003

FEBRUARY 2021 | ISSUE 003

Hall of Fam k o o b r a e Ye

5

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ruby Bridges

Claudette Colvin

Martin Luther King Jr. MLK led a boycott to protest the unconstitutional laws of segregation on buses. The boycott lasted a total of 382 days. During the days of the boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed and he suffered personal abuse.

During his lifetime, Martin gave over twenty-five hundred speeches, wrote five books, and published numerous articles. He also led a protest in Birmingham, Alabama. This protest inspired his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," which became a manifesto for the Black revolution. He led this march with the intention to register more black voters. Over 250,000 people were in attendance. At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King Jr., was the youngest

Ruby Bridges

man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ruby Bridges was the first African American student to integrate into an elementary school In the South. Ruby Bridges was one of five students to pass an exam administered by the school district to determine if Black students could perform well at an all-white school. Ruby and her mother had to be escorted by four federal marshals to school every single day because they were constantly being threatened. Ruby ate alone every single day, and there was only one teacher who was willing to teach her. Today, we admire Ruby Bridges for her resilience and her determination-even In the darkest times.

Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin was just 15 years old when she refused to give up her seat on the bus. When the bus driver ordered Colvin to give up her seat, she refused, saying that she had paid her fare and that she had a right to sit on the bus like anyone else. Two police officers came and arrested her. Not many people know about Claudette's story, but she sparked the bus boycotts that took place in 1955. Colvin made history that day she refused to give up her seat. Claudette was one of four women who challenged the law In court In Browder v.

Gayle. This case successfully overturned bus segregation In Montgomery and Alabama. Claudette's bravery and legacy continue to inspire people today.

FEBRUARY 2021 | ISSUE 003

Hall of Fam k o o b r a e Ye

Rebecca Lee Crumpler

Ida B. Wells

Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first Black woman

Ida B. Wells is an African =-American journalist

to earn a medical degree In the United States. A

who led an antilynching crusade In the United

true pioneer, she battled deep-seated prejudice

States In the 1890s. She later was active In

against women and African Americans In

promoting justice for African Americans.

medicine.

Mae C. Jemison Mae C. Johnson Is an American physician and the first African American

6

Paul Laurence Dunbar Paul Laurence Dunbar Is a U.S. author whose reputation rests on his verse and short series written In Black dialect. He was the first Black writer In the U.S. o make a

woman to become an astronaut. In 1992, she spent more than a week orbiting Earth In the space shuttle Endeavour.

concerted attempt to live by his writings and one of the first to attain national prominence.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHT

Ariel

Major: Special Education Minor: Communications, Deaf Studies Ariel Hamilton is currently a senior at Nevada State

College.

She

is

majoring

in

Special

Education with minors in both Communication and

Deaf

Studies.

She

is

currently

the

President of the Black Student Organization (BSO). BSO's mission is to "advocate for the needs

of

Black

empowering,

students

teaching,

at

NSC,

while

discussing,

and

exploring the Black experience." Ariel's club is much

more

organization.

Ariel Hamilton

Senior, Nevada State College

support

than Her

Black

campus

just

minority-based

organization

students

and

a

through

off-campus

helps both

to on-

community

partnerships such as the Boys and Girls Club and Junior Achievement.

Ariel's heritage has been a big inspiration for her

during

her

undergrad

experience.

Her

family has been a constant inspiration for her.

Her support network, or tribe, consists of her family, close friends, faculty members at NSC, and prior basketball coaches. She values her tribe's

constant

support,

resources,

and

networking opportunities--she considers all of these

things

to

be

jewels

that

have

contributed to her college experience.

Ariel's

hard work, dedication and perseverance have molded her into the person she is today.

ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY HIGHLIGHT

Kimberly

Dr. Kimberly Florence is the Community Resources Coordinator in the Community Engagement and Diversity Initiatives Department. Kimberly has been at Nevada State College for less than a year, but she has made a great impact on our Scorpion family.

Dr. Florence has managed and coordinated the Child Care Services Grant, she hosted the very first Harambee Celebration In honor of Black History Month, and she has also become an Advisor for TheDream.US Scholarship, a scholarship for DACA and Undocumented students. Dr. Florence Is passionate about service-learning, serving underrepresented student populations, and mentoring her student workers In CEDI - Lizbeth, Nayelli, and Chishya. As a scholar who studies higher education, I recognize that there are multiple factors

Kimberly Florence, Ph.D. Community Resources Coordinator, CEDI

that influence retention. Connecting students to resources that provide financial assistance, food, housing, and service opportunities is critical. These connections are the difference between degree completion or dropping out.

Kimberly Is a part of many on-campus committees she is a part of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and serves as the Chair of the Civic Engagement Subcommittee. Additionally, she is a member of the Common Council.

Read

Committee

Outside

of

and

committee

the

Sustainability

work,

she

is

a

member of the Sankofa Team and she is helping to develop women's programming in collaboration with Nevada State IGNITE.

Dr. Kimberly Florence also developed The Buzz, thank you for everything that you do, Dr. Florence!

COMMUNITY PARTNER HIGHLIGHT Sankofa at Nevada State College

Sankofa (n.) (phr.) "Go back and fetch it"; we must look back to the past so that we may understand how we became what we are, and move forward to a better future."

Sankofa was designed to support the retention and recruitment of Black students at Nevada State College.

Sankofa

was

promote

designed

college

with

readiness

the

intention

to

and

access

for

students of African descent who are incoming college

freshmen.

statement social

outlines

justice

Integrates

the

the

for

services

program's

and

the

"utilizing program

socioemotional

designed

successful

mission

following;

nucleus,

academic

wraparound students

as

The

college

to

prepare

experiences

while equipping them with essential skills they will need to be successful leaders regardless of the career pathways that they choose."

Over the 2020-2021 academic year, Nevada State will launch and/or expand a multitude of programs

and

Black students.

activities

In

order

to

support

Sankofa

STUDENT SUPPORT The Office of Community Engagement and Diversity Initiatives is seeking to establish partnerships with community organizations.

These partnerships are mutually beneficial and help to enrich our institution and the surrounding community. If you are interested in partnering with us, please click the link below.

Let's Engage!

BECOME A PARTNER

Black History Month

CEDI EVENTS Man Enough Project: Part 3 Thurs., February 25th 4pm - 6pm | Virtual Environmental Science Colloquium Thurs., March 4th 3:30pm - 4:30pm | Virtual

Barack Obama

Serena Williams

I AM M3 Video Tues., March 9th

CEDI Social Media Outlets

Diverse Leadership Speaker Series Wed., March 10th 12pm - 1pm | Virtual

Angel Davis

RSVP TO OUR EVENTS

Frederick Douglass If you need an accommodation to fully participate in any of these programs/events, please contact: CEDI at CEDI@nsc.edu or The Disability Resource Center at 702.992.2180 or drc@nsc.edu.

Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation(s).

We will need at least 72 hours to accommodate most requests.

Thank you for reading The Buzz!

Please contact us with any questions, and follow us on social media.

If you are a member of the NSC community and would like to nominate a student, faculty, or staff member to highlight in The Buzz, please click below.

n o s u . a w i o d l l e o m F l a i c o s

Click Here

cedi@nsc.edu