Black History Events

Black History Month At LMC, we celebrate Black History Month all year with BHM 365. During the month of February and beyond we highlight special programming covering BLACK heritage and experiences.  

BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS WEEK - April 22 - 26, 2024

Building a Better Future Together: the Urgency is Now 

The 2024 Black Student Success Week is scheduled for April 22-26, 2024. This year’s theme is Building a Better Future Together: the Urgency is Now. The 2024 Black Student Success Week will focus on innovative approaches to ensure Black and African American students succeed in community colleges. Daily webinars are available, see below for more information. 

  • #TheBlackHour / 12-1pm

    Register on Zoom or join our watch party daily in the Student Union 2nd Floor, Pittsburg campus.

    Monday, April 22
    12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    California Community College Bachelor’s Degree Programs: Are They Delivering on the Dream for Black Students?
    California Community College began granting bachelor’s degrees with a CTE focus in 2015. Approximately 5 students (current and recent graduates) will serve on the panel to discuss their participation in a CTE Bachelor’s Degree program across the CCC system. The session will help viewers gain insight into student awareness, access, program experience, and benefits upon completion. The session will explore any obstacles/roadblocks the student may experience that may have impacted outcomes. 

    Tuesday, April 23
    12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    Combating the Affirmative Action Ban: Levers for Increasing Black Student Success at the State and Federal Level
    Hear from state, local, and federal experts on how we streamline and scale racially equitable policies and what is next for California as a state who has navigated the ban on affirmative action for over two decades. Speakers will address K-12 to higher education pathways, affordability policies, and how Black students can navigate the college-going process in a “race-blind” admissions landscape.

    Wednesday, April 24
    12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    Empowering Black Excellence: Policies, Workforce Development, and Apprenticeships for College-to-Career Success
    “Empowering Black Excellence” is a dynamic and insightful workshop that will inspire, inform, and equip participants with the knowledge and tools to make a difference in the lives of Black students through innovative practices. This session delves into the intersection of policy, workforce development, and apprenticeship programs as they pertain to Black students’ educational and professional journey.

    Thursday April 25
    12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    Just Because We Make It Look Easy, Doesn’t Mean It Is
    In this session, we will highlight and engage practitioners on the front lines of Black student success in the community college system from across the state. Join us as we learn about innovative strategies for engagement, outreach, foundational community building, and responsive programming that have yielded holistic success for our students across the state.

    Friday, April 26
    12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    AI and Racial Equity
    Faculty and leading experts in digital innovation will take a deep look at the pros and cons of the use of artificial intelligence (AI). They will lead a discussion on the increased implications AI may have on Black learners in the educational system. Viewers will benefit from the latest research and tools on how to incorporate AI into educational spaces.

  • #TheAfterParty / 1-2pm PT

    Join us for daily small group discussion forums immediately following #TheBlackHour webinars. These facilitated discussion forums will provide an opportunity for participants to debrief and reflect on topics and themes highlighted during #TheBlackHour.

    Register on Zoom or join our watch party daily in the Student Union 2nd Floor, Pittsburg campus.

  • #TheStudentHour / 6-7pm PT

    This student-centered series focuses on the needs and resources available to help current and prospective college students succeed. Working with the California Community College Chancellor’s Office “I Can Go To College” campaign, #TheStudentHour webinars occur Monday through Thursday from 6 to 7 pm.

    Register Here. 

  • #THEBLACKOUT ADVOCACY DAY - Thursday, April 25th

    Join us for Advocacy Day, an opportunity for stakeholders and interested parties to (VIRTUALLY) engage with local elected officials and key higher education policymakers to discuss priorities for ensuring Black student success. 

    No prior legislative advocacy experience is needed. We will provide you with all resources, training, and supported needed to successfully participate.

    Sign-up Here to participate in Advocacy Day

 

 

 

BHM 365 EVENTS

  • BHM 2023
    • February 2023

      Black History Month Virtual Reading
      February 13-24, 2023

      Virtual- Foothill Elementary and Highlands Elementary Pittsburg, CA

      Los Medanos College continues the tradition of reading books to local elementary schools. Virtual recordings of LMC student, faculty and staff are provided to the schools. This will our 9th year participating connecting with the student in the community.

      For more information, please email equity@losmedanos.edu 

    • March 2023

      Please check back for updates

    • April 2023

      Black Student Success Week

  • BHM 2022
    • February 2022

      Library African American Studies Research Guide
      Celebrate Black History month by learning about our history and recognizing remarkable African Americans of the past and present.

      Black in STEM Week February 8-11, 2022
      Contact Nicole Trager for Information Regarding Black in STEM Week

      Buttons & Boba (Black History Art)
      Tuesday, February 8, 2022
      Brentwood Center, Math Lab
      3:00 PM- 5:00 PM 

      AND

      Wednesday, February 9, 2022
      Pittsburg Campus, MESA Center
      3:00-5:00 PM

      Drop-in to say hi, make a button inspired by pioneers in STEM and grab Boba while it lasts!

      Virtual Movie Event "See You Yesterday" Thursday, February 10, 2022
      6:00-7:30 PM
      Two teenage science prodigies spend every spare minute working on their latest homemade invention: backpacks that enable time travel. When one of their older brothers is killed, they put their unfinished project to the test to save him.

      MESA Alumni Career Panel

      Friday, February 11, 2022
      1:00-2:00 PM

      Our Guest Speakers will be MESA Alumni Panel- 
      Damon Williams: Life Science Research Professional, Stanford University School of Medicine

      Bio: Damon Williams is a biomedical researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine who specializes in Stem Cell/Developmental Biology and works on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind Cardiovascular disease in humans. He graduated in 2017 from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. Damon’s ultimate career goal is to be a computational biologist that leverages in silico tools and in-vitro/vivo datasets to find novel cures to low-survival rate cancers.

      Shanice Blake:  Quality Inspector and Technician Supervisor,  Abbott Laboratories

      Bio: I am Shanice Blake. I currently work with Abbott's Sustaining Quality Engineering team in Menlo Park as a Quality Inspector and Technician Supervisor. I graduated from Antioch High School in 2016 and started attending Los Medanos College where I studied Engineering then transferred to UC Davis in Fall 2019. I graduated from UC Davis in Spring 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Engineering and specialization in Medical Devices and Biomechanics. 

      Giles Djomani : PhD  Seeking Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University

      Bio: Before transferring to UCLA in 2018, Gilles began his undergraduate studies at Los Medanos College in 2016. There he completed an Associate of Science degree in both Mathematics and Physics. At UCLA, he did research on quantum hardware devices and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 2021. He is currently pursuing an Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. at Cornell University, where he plans to do research in quantum computing and AI.


      Documentary: "Tell Them We Are Rising"
      Tuesday, February 22, 2022 | 11:00 AM- 1:00 PM
      The Story of Black Colleges and Universities examines the impact black colleges and universities have had on American history, culture, and national identity.
      Directed By: Marco Williams and Stanley Nelson

      Ask our HBCU Alums- Meet & Greet following the movie

    • March 2022

      Diablo Valley College ~ Social Justice Event
      "The Accidental Activist: What Happens When a Local Act of Solidarity Goes Viral?
      Guest Speaker: Justin Gomez
      Monday, March 7, 2022
      4:00 PM - 5: 25 PM

    • April 2022

      Black Student Success Week
      April 25-29, 2022

    • June 2022

      Library Juneteenth Studies Research Guide
      On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s historic Emancipation Proclamation, U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free. Granger commanded the Headquarters District of Texas, and his troops had arrived in Galveston the previous day.  This day has come to be known as Juneteenth, a combination of June and 19th. It is also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, and it is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

      Student Life Displays
      June 13-20, 2022
      Student Union, 2nd Floor
      Stop by the 2nd floor of the Student Union to view a display as well as videos that share the struggle ending slavery in the United States.

      June 14-15, 2022
      Student Union, 2nd Floor
      11:00-1:00 PM
      "Freedom Is..." Campaign
      Use art to share your voice- Canvas and paint provided.

  • BHM 2021
    • February 2021

      Library African American Studies Research Guide
      Celebrate Black History month by learning about our history and recognizing remarkable African Americans of the past and present.

      LMCAS Courageous Conversations
      Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2021
      Time: 3:00-4:00 PM
      Join us to learn about the LMCAS Resolution in Support of African American Students at LMC. Join student leaders in a discussion on how to better support the needs and success for our Black students.      

      Open Mic Virtual Event (Museum of African Diaspora)
      Date: Thursday, February 4, 2021
      Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
      External Campus Event:
      Join the Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD) for a virtual open mic night. You can sign up to show off your poems, spoken words, and other talents.

      Virtual Game Night with Student Life
      Date: Friday, February 5, 2021
      Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
      There's an Impostor Among Us! Join us for a night of Participants will play together over Zoom and have the opportunity to meet new players, talk about the game, and compete in this multi-player game of teamwork and betrayal.

      MLK-Cesar Chavez Donation Drive
      Dates: February 16, 2021-March 31, 2021
      As we are not able to host a canned food drive due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consider making a donation to the LMC Foundation to support the LMC Marketplace (formally LMC Food Pantry).

      IMPACT CONFERENCE WEEK: Social Justice & Basic Needs
      Dates: February 16-19, 2021
      Calendar of Events w/ Zoom Links: IMPACT Conference
      Participants will learn from campus and community leaders about access to resources related to Food Security, Economic Interventions, Crisis Support, Housing, Health & Wellness, and Job Search Strategies.

      MESA Speaker Series: Raven the Science Maven
      Date: Friday, February 19, 2021
      Time: 1:00 PM
      Raven Baxter, also known as Raven the Science Maven, is an internationally acclaimed science communicator and molecular biologist who works to progress the state of science culture by creating spaces that are inclusive, educational, and real. She is recognized as a global influencer in Fortune Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list for 2020.

      Black College Expo
      Dates: Friday, February 19, 2021 & Saturday, February 20, 2021
      Register for Zoom Link: Black College Expo

      This is an online experience where students can get access to colleges, highlighting HBCUs, and other educational programs. Students can gain acceptance on the spot, have college application fees waived, be awarded scholarships, and participate in seminars and workshops.

      Mindful Monday: Centering Black Breath
      Date: February 22, 2021
      Time: 4:00-5:00 PM
      Start off the week with centering your breath, mind, and body with Licensed Trauma Consultant and Yoga Instructor Jasmine Y. Allen.   

      Writing Your Own Liberation ~ Envisioning Black Joy & Freedom with Dr. Candice Mayo
      Date: February 24, 2021
      Time: 4:00- 5:15 PM
      In times of social upheaval let us be grounded in both thought and action. Join English Faculty,  Dr. Candice Mayo as she guides us in holding space to mourn, celebrate, uplift, and re-imagine Black life.

    • March 2021

      Mindful Monday: Centering Black Breath
      Date: March 1, 2021
      Time: 4:00-5:00 PM
      Start off the week with centering your breath, mind, and body with Licensed Trauma Consultant and Yoga Instructor Jasmine Y. Allen.                

      LMC Connected Series: Stories from the Intersections of Afro-Latine & Queer Identities
      Date: March 8, 2021
      Time: 4:00-5:00 PM
      Join us for a round-table conversation on the intersections of Queer and Afro-Latine identity and the ways to combat anti-Blackness and homophobia.

      Writing Your Own Liberation ~ Envisioning Black Joy & Freedom with Candace Mayo
      Date: March 10, 2021
      Time: 4:00-5:00 PM
      In times of social upheaval let us be grounded in both thought and action. Join English Faculty Candice Mayo as she guides in holding space to mourn, celebrate, uplift, and re-imagine Black life.

      LMC Connected Series: Building Movements in Time of COVID-19 with Shamell Bell
      Date: March 11, 2021
      Time: 4:00 PM- 5:00 PM
      Dr. Shamell Bell a founding member of BLM LA will discuss the ways students can engage in grassroots movements during a time of Covid-19.

    • April 2021

      Building Movements for Liberation
      Date: April 29, 2021
      Time: 5:00-6:00 PM
      Dr. Bell will highlight how to name and push back against oppressive structures, and how to shift and create a collective vision for justice. Learn about strategies to empower Black students, create your Freedom Dream in your Liberation Journal, and connect with community and joy. 

    • June 2021

      Juneteenth: Practicing Freedom
      Date: Thursday, June 17, 2021
      Time: 5:30-6:30 PM
      Equity & Inclusion invites you to participate in the upcoming Juneteenth event, "Juneteenth: Practicing Freedom", brought to you by community organizer, Dr. Shamell Bell
      * Learn about the historical roots of Juneteenth
      * Create your Freedom Dream in your Liberation Journal
      * Connect with community and enjoy!


      Juneteenth Panel & Conversation with LMC Professor Reggie LeMay
      Date: Monday, June 21, 2021
      Time: 1:00-2:30 PM
      The LMC History Faculty invites you to a Juneteenth panel discussion/book club discussion on June 21st from 1 pm to 2:30 pm.  Our panel will feature a “Conversation with Professor Reggie Lemay” about the history and importance of Juneteenth, and Professor Lemay will also share his personal history of the Juneteenth holiday. 

      At this same panel discussion we will discuss the book On Juneteenth recently published by the Pulitzer prize winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed.  This book is a very short and very readable personal history of the Juneteenth holiday.  Below is a short review of Gordon-Reed’s book.   We will forward potential discussion questions at a later day, but wanted to make you aware of this book club reading now. 

       

Sponsored By: Umoja, MESA, Office of Student Life, LMCAS, English Department, Transfer & Career Services, EOPS/CARE, and  Equity & Inclusion