Living the Legacy of Black History Month

Minneapolis College invites the community to join its students, faculty and staff in celebration of Black History Month, Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 6 p.m. in its Technical Building Plaza. Where Do We Go from Here: Living the Legacy of Black History Month is a free celebration featuring inspirational messages, smooth jazz and delicious food. Register here.

“The event grows from the College’s desire to promote unity on campus and in the broader community,” said Charles Watson, Minneapolis College African American Empowerment Program coordinator and chair of the MLK Planning and Programming committee.

“Minneapolis College aspires to be an anti-racist institution and this event acknowledges and celebrates differences while recognizing the importance of the achievements, histories and centrality of the black experience in the Americas.”

Pastor Anthony Galloway from St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church in Duluth will keynote the event. Galloway is a member of the Minnesota Council of Churches Reparations Task Force and a board member for numerous non-profit and community initiatives. During the past 15 years, Galloway has worked for education equity, engaging youth and adults in racial discourse.

After the murder of George Floyd, Galloway turned his attention to healing discourse work. Galloway also leads a division centered around experiential equity and racial conscious development at Dendros Group, a firm dedicated to cultural change in organizations, and is a founding member of “Counterstories” an award-winning Podcast.

“Representation matters and we have a sizeable number of people of color on campus,” says Watson, who will announce a series of Black History Month events that will occur on campus in February during the event. “We invite our community to join us in actively engaging in conversations that allow us to live the legacy of Martin Luther King and acknowledge how we are living black history right here, right now.”

Throughout the event, smooth jazz will be performed by Kenne Thomas and Lifeforce. Drawing on his roots, education and international experience, drummer and band leader Kenne Thomas composes and arranges for the group. The current members of Lifeforce have been together since 2018 and their energetic live performances are known for bringing audiences to their feet! 

As Watson expressed the potential impact of the event on campus and in the community, he said, “It’s a feeling. A human experience. A heart experience. It’s where community and belonging awaken the intellect when we gather in numbers, creating a buzz and energy in the air with the recognition that together we can inspire action.” 

Minneapolis College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and offers students more than 100 liberal arts, career and technical programs designed to prepare them for good jobs in high-demand professions or to transfer to a four-year college or university. Located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, more than 10,000 students enroll annually in credit and non-credit programs.