By Walter Ryce

In January, local community members and leaders — including guest speaker Vanya Quiñones and CSUMB campus folks — marched together on a rainy day across Seaside and assembled in Oldemeyer Center to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 36th National Holiday.

Building off that momentum, this year’s Black History Month further integrates the campus community with our local communities in a number of two-way exchanges that support a unified cause.

First, the CSUMB campus events:

Know Your Rights Workshop
12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Otter Student Union #208
Black Students United organized this workshop to teach students about  law codes and practices, LGBTQIA rights, housing rights and much more. 

From a Panther’s Point of View
5 - 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Otter Student Union #208
Former Black Panther, Mel Mason, will share about his experiences as a civil rights activist.

Black History Month Celebration
6 - 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Avocet Lobby
A presentation about BHM and the importance of Black resistance. Email questions to lhampshire@csumb.edu.

Celebrating Black Faculty Excellence
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 (by invitation only)
A celebration by African Heritage Research of Stephanie Johnson, John Wineglass, Althea SullyCole, and Dennis Kombe.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
7 - 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the Otter Student Union
The hit sequel to the blockbuster original movie, which incorporates political and historical narratives into its exciting action sequences.  

All Black Gala
4-6pm Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Otter Student Union Ballroom
This is a formal event that celebrates Black history, diversity, culture, and experiences. This year the theme is “Celebrating Black Excellence in STEM: Leading the Way Through Science." The keynote speaker is Dr. Calvin Mackie, an award-winning mentor, inventor, author, former engineering professor, speaker, and entrepreneur. In 2013, Dr. Mackie founded STEM NOLA, a non-profit organization created to expose, inspire, and engage communities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. As always, the All Black Gala is an inclusive event that fosters belongingness and community in a fun atmosphere.  

Members of the CSUMB campus are also supporting BHM events in our local communities including:

• Black Leaders and Allies Collaborative Film Screening, 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 8 and 15. A two-part screening of Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise at Lighthouse Cinemas in Pacific Grove.
• Black History Month exhibit at Avery Gallery in Seaside’s City Hall, opening 7 - 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10. It runs through March 2.
• Coalition of Scholarship Organizations high school forum, 9am Saturday, Feb. 18, at Oldemeyer Center (986 Hilby Ave., Seaside).
• The monthly meeting of the NAACP Monterey County Branch #1049, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at Oldemeyer Center in Seaside. CSUMB’s Vanessa Lopez-Littleton has been elected the organization’s 1st Vice President.

The celebration and uplift doesn’t have to end in February. Super Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. March 18 at CSUMB’s University Center, is a community forum for all to improve the preparation and graduation rates of African Americans. With President Vanya Quiñones, a special guest speaker, campus support programs, and a student panel.