NASA Astronaut’s Visit Boosts Packed Schedule

NASA astronaut Guy Bluford broke racial barriers when he first soared into space in 1983. Now Bluford makes a landing at Eastview Campus in February to help Austin Community College celebrate Black History Month.

Bluford’s ACC appearance on February 23 is one of many events planned.

“It’s going to be an exciting month of celebration with a variety of activities,” says ACC Community Outreach Director Loretta Edelen.

The schedule offers a surprising mix of entertainment along with hard-hitting discussions. “The variety of activities bring credence to the richness of our culture and accomplishments as well as the issues we face,” Edelen says.

The events are open to ACC students, faculty, staff, and the community.

“Our Black History Month events will educate, inspire, and celebrate,” says Dorado Kinney, Eastview Campus a dean of student services who helped coordinate the events with other ACC departments and African American organizations.

“Everybody likes to celebrate differently. You can participate in something fun like trivia, lay back and watch videos, or really get involved in a discussion on policy and the future,” he says.

Black History Month Events

Video Showings

Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Eastview Campus, Rm. 2125

Drop in to watch a variety of documentaries, movie classics, even Broadway shows. Sponsored by the African American Cultural Center.

Open Mic Reading

Feb 2, Noon-1 p.m.

Eastview Campus Student Lounge

Share your favorite historical African American prose & poetry over the lunch hour. You can sign up to speak – selections will be available – or sit back and enjoy. Sponsored by the ACC Men of Distinction, Student Life, and Student Services.

Career Forum & Marketplace

Feb 5, Noon-2 p.m.

Eastview Campus Multipurpose Rm. 8500

Meet face-to-face with employers and participate in resume building and interview workshops. Confirmed participants include Sell State Realty, the City of Austin, Austin Community College, Omni hotels, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and Skillpoint Alliance. Sponsored by Austin area chapter of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education.

Gospel Extravaganza

Feb. 5, 2-5 p.m.

Eastview Campus Multipurpose Rm. 8500

Local gospel performers take the stage, with more than 20 performances and activities for the whole family. The Rev. Dr. BW McClendon, of St. James Missionary Baptist Church, opens the event, and ACC Campus Police Officer Roy Shipp emcees. Sponsored by ACC Community Outreach.

African American Trivia

Feb 9, 2-5 p.m., noon-1:30 p.m.

Eastview Campus Student Lounge

Brush up on your African-American history for this fast and fun information shootout. You can see two-person teams go head to head or find yourself a partner and join in. Prizes go to the winners. Sponsored by the ACC Men of Distinction, Student Life, and Student Services.

Love Don’t Have to Change

Feb 14, 5:30-7 p.m.

Eastview Campus Student Lounge

Join a frank and honest discussion on African-American male and female relationships in 2011. Cory Walker, of the African-American Men & Boys Harvest Foundation, serves as moderator. Sponsored by the ACC Men of Distinction, Student Life, and Student Services.

Open Mic Reading

African American Prose & Poetry

Feb 16, Noon-1 p.m.

Northridge Campus Student Lounge

Enjoy a lunch hour and share your favorite historical African American prose & poetry over the lunch hour. You can sign up to speak – selections will be available – or sit back and enjoy. or sit back and enjoy. Sponsored by the ACC Men of Distinction, Student Life, and Student Services.

Overcoming Your Obstacles to Educational Excellence

Feb 22, 6-7:30 p.m.

Riverside Campus, Bldg. G. Rm. 8100

Judge Gregory Evans is a cosmic learner with three Ivy League degrees including a law degree. But life hasn’t been easy. He’s lost both parents to cancer and before being diagnosed recently with Stage 4 cancer he was beginning work undergraduate work to enter medical school. He’s eager to talk with students about how to overcome their own obstacles. Sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, ACC Student Government, ACC Men of Distinction, Student Life, and Student Services.

Guy Bluford, the first African American in space

Feb 23, Noon-2 p.m.

Eastview Campus Multipurpose Rm. 8500

Meet and listen to NASA astronaut Guy Bluford as ACC celebrates students’ out-of-this-world goals and the accomplishments of the nation’s first African-American aboard the space shuttle. Enjoy refreshments, music, “i am acc” photos, and a video of an ACC student group’s research project in space. Sponsored by Student Life and the Austin Space Aces.

African American Trivia

Feb 23, Noon-1:30 p.m.

Northridge Campus Student Lounge

Brush up on your African-American history for this fun and fast information shootout. Witness two-person teams go head to head or find a partner and join in. Prizes go to the winners. Sponsored by the ACC Men of Distinction, Student Life, and Student Services.

The Miseducation of Texas Youth

Feb 28, 5:30-8 p.m. | Eastview Campus Multipurpose Rm. 8500

The Texas chapter of the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens are raising alarm over attempts to rewrite U.S. history by softening the depiction of slavery practices in public school textbooks. Hear a panel of experts address the issue of textbook revisions that will impact the learning for future generations of Americans. Sponsored by Austin area chapter of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education.

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