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Upstate celebrates Black History Month in February

Upstate celebrates Black History Month in February

The celebration kicks off Wednesday, Feb. 4 with an opening ceremony featuring a presentation by Superintendent Sharon Contreras of the Syracuse City School District and a free heart healthy soul food lunch. Other events to be held throughout the month include a discussion of the movie, Selma, a bone marrow donor registry drive and the annual Elizabeth Blackwell and Sarah Loguen Fraser lectures.

“On behalf of the planning committee, we look forward to seeing many of our Upstate students, staff and faculty, as well as people from the surrounding community attend our exciting and informative events,” said Maxine Thompson, assistant vice president for the Office of Diversity & Inclusion.

Upstate’s events are open to the public and free, unless otherwise stated. Events include:

- Black History Month Opening Ceremony Celebration

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Campus Activities Building, 155 Elizabeth Blackwell St. Syracuse. Keynote Speaker: Superintendent Sharon Contreras, Syracuse City School District. Honorees: Ruby Brangman, NP; Shirley Alton Edge, RN; Shirley Graves Bacon, RN; Donell Bacon, MSW. Music by Chevelle Jones-Moore and Brian Moore. Poem by Stephanie Redfield. Benediction by the Rev. Joseph Smythe, Center for Spiritual Care, Upstate University Hospital. The event also offers a free lunch, featuring soul food with a healthy twist by Chef Bleu (Will Lewis). Vegetarian options are included. The program will be live streamed at the Community Campus and free soulful desserts will be available at the Community Campus.

- Live streamed broadcast of The State of HIV in America with Daniel Reed, ARC facilitator

Friday, Feb. 6, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Two locations: 1507 Setnor Academic Building and the Kinney Foundation Performance Center, 11th Floor, Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Sponsored by the National Black Leadership Commissions on AIDS.

-Walk the Talk Diversity Lecture. Breaking Sickle Silence, Putting a Face on a Forgotten Disease

Wednesday, Feb. 11, Noon to 1 p.m. 9295 Weiskotten Hall, 766 Irving Ave., Syracuse. The discussion will address the impact of sickle cell disease on both the child who has the disease and the child’s family. Presenter: Kristi L. Griffin, MS, Ed, Upstate’s Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders. Free lunch for the first 50 people who attend the lecture.

- Be the Match: Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Atrium, Setnor Academic Building, 766 Irving Ave. Syracuse. Every four minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer. The first step to being someone’s cure is to join the Be The Match Registry® if you are between the ages of 18 and 44.

- Discussions of the movie, Selma

Wednesday, Feb. 18, Noon to 1:30 p.m. 3507/3508 Setnor Academic Building, 766 Irving Ave., Syracuse. A discussion of the movie, Selma, based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches. Free and open to the public. Free lunch for the first 50 people who attend the event.

- Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Dinner

Friday, Feb. 20, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Campus Activities Building, 155 Elizabeth Blackwell St., Syracuse. Proceeds will benefit the Sickle Cell program at the Upstate Cancer Center. Tickets are $10 for Upstate students, $15 for all others. For information and to purchase tickets contact Sharon Huard, huards@upstate.edu, 464-8855

- Elizabeth Blackwell Day Lecture

Wednesday, Feb. 25, noon. Presentation: Medical Alumni Auditorium, Weiskotten Hall, 766 Irving Ave., Syracuse. Keynote address by Ruth Hart, MD ‘80, clinical associate professor of family medicine; clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine. Organized by Claire Hennigan.

- Sarah Loguen Fraser Day

Friday, Feb. 27, 12:30 p.m. 2231 Weiskotten Hall, 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse. Lecture and recognition of scholarship recipient Michael Enechukwu, class of 2017, College of Medicine. Free lunch for the first 50 people who attend the event.

- Closing ‘Open Mic’ celebration

Thursday, Feb. 26, noon to 2 p.m. Cafe 750, Upstate University Hospital Downtown campus. Employees and members of the community are invited to perform poetry, song, dance, etc. Chefs Daniel and Curtis will prepare special soul food cuisine for purchase. Coordinated by Danielle Fraser, Yvonne Goodman and Patrice Chang (464-4924 or changp@upstate.edu to sign-up).

Upstate’s Black History Month events are supported and coordinated by the Faculty and Staff Association for Diversity (FSAD), Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student National Medical Association, Medical Alumni Office, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Office of the President.

For more information, call 464-5234 or 464-5433.

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