Anniston, AL – Gadsden State Community College is gearing up for a month-long celebration of Black History Month, with a series of engaging events across its campuses. Pam Clough, Gadsden State’s ADA coordinator and liaison of the Equity and Inclusion Committee, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming events and their potential to recognize the remarkable achievements of Black Americans.
The highlight of the Black History Month celebrations will be a program scheduled for February 26 at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center, featuring Miss Alabama 2023, Brianna Burrell. The festivities will commence at 10 a.m. with a Meet-and-Greet with Burrell, followed by performances from the Gadsden State Show Band and the A Cappella Choir at 10:30 a.m. Brianna Burrell, known for her advocacy in STEM fields, will share her platform, SAVE-A-STEM, emphasizing the importance of engaging students of color and underfunded schools in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Clough emphasized the significance of promoting STEM engagement and praised Burrell’s community initiative. The event will conclude with a photo session with Brianna Burrell from noon to 12:30 p.m. This program is free and open to the public, and local schools are encouraged to attend.
Gadsden State’s Ayers Campus will also contribute to the celebration by hosting a month-long series of movies, television shows, and documentaries focused on Black history, culture, and entertainment. The screenings will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the Learning Resource Center. Attendees are welcome to bring food and drink. For further details, contact Michael Gibson at mgibson@gadsdenstate.edu.
At Gadsden State’s Valley Street Campus, the area’s only HBCU, Financial Literacy Lunch and Learn events are scheduled throughout February for various programs, including Dental Assisting, Construction Technology, Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nursing, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography. On February 28, the Valley Street Campus will collaborate with Gadsden Job Corps for its second annual Black History Month Celebration at 12:30 p.m. Keynote speaker Dr. Charlie Parker, principal of Litchfield Middle School, will be accompanied by performances from the Gadsden State Show Band and Litchfield Middle School Choir. The event is open to the public and will be held in the Job Corps Gymnasium on the Valley Street Campus.
For additional information about events at the Valley Street Campus, please contact Keana Howze at khowze@gadsdenstate.edu. Gadsden State Community College looks forward to fostering community engagement and celebrating the rich history and contributions of the Black community throughout the month of February.
