Heritage & Health Series Program
Even if it makes others uncomfortable,
I will love who I am!
Please join us in community, celebration and love for our BHM events in February. Check the campus events calendar for all upcoming events.
Monday, Feb. 5
Artist Talk with Foothill Alum David Morales
10 a.m. – Noon in Appreciation Hall (1501)
Davied Morales is an actor and rapper from San Jose, California. Mr. Morales received
most of his training through Foothill College where he earned his AA in Theatre Arts
and was featured in many of their productions. He has worked for many theatre companies
throughout the Bay Area and since the pandemic he has started branching out into Voiceover,
Commercials, TV and film. David teaches improv in Prison throughout the week with
Red Ladder Theatre company. He releases music under the name "Activepoet."
Follow him @daviedmorales to keep up with all his acting endeavors.
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Black History Month Opening Ceremony
Noon –1 p.m. in Dining Hall
Join us as we open BHM by paying homage to our ancestors, and listening to the Spoken Word Artistry of Foothill College Alumnus, NAACP Image Award Nominee, D'dra White.
D'dra White is an empath, using poetry and spoken word to tell the stories of those who forgot that they had a story to tell. At its core, her work is a love letter to the Black Experience.
Complimentary food and beverage provided.
Monday, Feb. 12
Black & Palestinian Solidarity: From Black Lives Matter to the Gaza Strip
Noon –1 p.m. Join by zoom
Dr. Lila Sharif (she/her/hers) is a creative writer, researcher, and educator. She
is new faculty in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University
where she teaches courses on Indigenous ontologies, race/ethnicity, Arab and Muslim
experiences in the United States, food studies, global feminisms and a host of other
topics. In her talk, she will speak to the ways in which white supremacy and state
violence play out in Palestine and the US, and the solidarity that emerges as a result.
Sponsored by Allies for Peace & Justice in Palestine and co-sponsored by VIDA at De Anza College, along with the office of Student Affairs & Activities.
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Political Awareness Day
11 a.m.– 1 p.m. in Dining Hall
Join us for Beats, Beads, Ballots and Boba, a Mardi-Gras-themed event to prepare to vote in the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election.
Sponsored by ASFC/ BHM
Questions? Email Daphne Small at smalldaphne@fhda.edu
Activities include:
- Music Beats by Shay Franco-Clausen —DJ and Statewide Political Director for Equality California and PAC Chair for Courage California
- Information about how to register to vote
- League of Women Voters and more . . .
- See more information about how to register to vote.
- Free Swag, Beads, New Orleans Style lunch for active participants
Wednesday, Feb. 14
Strength to Love: Reflections of Radical Love
Noon – 1 p.m. in Umoja Village (4223)
In honor of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass (2/14) and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1/15), this event will amplify Radical Love through an Open Mic and a free- write activity.
Radical Love is rooted deep in forgiveness, compassion, resistance to hate, courage, reconciliation (grounded in freedom, legislation, and Justice), understanding and choosing to work through a love lens to heal the errors of humanity despite the atrocities of our history to transform the world we live in.
Participants can read excerpts of Dr. King, Frederick Douglass, or they can bring their own works from authors of their choosing who reflect the necessity of Love to change the world and their communities. Spoken Word enthusiasts, Rap connoisseurs, Poets, and all are welcome to participate.
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Black Panther Party 10 Demands Table Museum
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. in Dining Hall
The Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland, California in 1966 by two California community college students. Join the Umoja Learning Community as we learn about the Black Panther Party’s list of 10 Demands, Community Service Initiatives, and the Women behind the movement.
Wednesday, Feb. 21
Ethic Of Love: Breathwork and Mindfulness for healing
Noon – 1 p.m. in BIPOC Multicultural Center (Campus Center Lower Level Room 2100)
Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” ― Audre Lorde
Adeshina, Lady Indigo, the heart & soul of Indigo Rizing Healing thru Wholeness. For the past 15 years, she has built a strong rapport within her community, especially women over 40, as a healer, spiritual adviser and truth seeker. She has made it her life’s mission to create safe, sacred spaces to process & release mental, physical, and emotional blockages, trauma and the impact of negative programming.
With transformational breathing techniques & a practical approach to life coaching, she encourages personal awareness, self acceptance, and releasing those things that no longer serve you. Adeshina brings a calm simplistic approach to navigating the inevitable changes in life & standing in your power every step of the way.
Thursday, Feb. 22
Black Elegance in Entrepreneurship — Cancelled
We regret this BHM event has been cancelled.
Entrepreneurship showcase featuring (local) Black entrepreneurs showcasing their business/products while sharing their experiences as black entrepreneurs.
Tuesday, Feb. 27
Virtual Artist Talk with Raymond Thompson Jr
Noon – 1 p.m. • Register for Zoom Access
Please join artist, educator, and visual journalist Raymond Thompson Jr for a talk
about "It's hard to stop rebels that time travel" (2021 to present), his photography project that utilizes archival fragments, historic ephemera, and
his own images to focus on individual stories of slaves, maroons, and runaways whose
existence is only now revealed through traces in the collective archive.
This project works to expand narratives about the Black experience and our connection to the “American” landscape. This work has been guided by local historic archives of runaway slave ads, lynching news articles, Black folklore and other location specific historical events.
For more information and images of Thompson's work, visit raymondthompsonjr.com.
Wednesday, Feb. 28
BHM Closing Ceremony
Noon–1 p.m. in Library Quad (Appreciation Hall Rm 1501 in case of rain)
Join us as we close out BHM with traditional African drumming, body percussion, and call and response.
Complimentary food and beverage will be provided.
Questions? Please contact Victoria Strelnikova at strelnikovavictoria@fhda.edu.
BHM Planning Committee Members
Thank you to all our students, faculty and staff who helped plan our BHM events this month.
- Dokesha Meacham, Chair
- Dr. Tiffany Rideaux
- April Henderson
- Kamara Tramble
- Samuel White
- Nyla Byers
- Jailah Mitchell
- Zara Ainge
- Shahana Shaik
- Molara Mabogunje
- Daphne Small
- Victoria Strelnikova, Advisor
