Penn State Harrisburg to offer events celebrating Black History Month

Lion Shrine with red, yellow, green and black background overlaid with the words Black History Month
Credit: Sharon Siegfried

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg will hold events in honor of Black History Month throughout the month of February. Here’s a list of events happening on campus:

Joan “Lyrical” Leslie, Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. Oliver LaGrone Cultural Arts Center, Olmsted Building

Slam poet Joan “Lyrical” Leslie will share her lyrical content as she expresses the Black experience.

ZuZu Acrobats, Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m., Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre, Student Enrichment Center

ZuZu Acrobats is a five person Kenyan acrobatic show which embodies the Bantu culture of East Africa. The show features fast pyramid building, limbo, chair balancing, comedy, fast skip rope, juggling and much more all set to high energy Lingala music. The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

This event is sponsored by the Penn State Harrisburg Student Affairs Office of Student Engagement and the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. For more information, please call 717-948-6273.

Natural Hair: An Identity of Authenticity, Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m., Oliver LaGrone Cultural Arts Center

This panel discussion will be comprised of three Black women from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They will share stories and their experiences wearing their hair natural. There are many stigmas with natural hair, and they will discuss how to advocate for yourself to show up authentically. 

Panelists include: Keea Hart, Girls Running Sh*t; Mia Marshall, Luxurae Hair; and Janita Kelgore, marketing/communications specialist and creative.

Just Dessert: Celebration of Black History and Networking Event, Thursday, Feb. 24 at 5:45 p.m., Olmsted Gallery Lounge and Oliver LaGrone Cultural Arts Center

This event aims to facilitate dialogue to help student participants initiate conversations and network. Speakers include Christine Titih, founder and president of Oaks of Central PA; Felicia Brown-Haywood, associate vice president of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Institutional Success at Lebanon Valley College; and Shauntey James, assistant teaching professor of criminal justice in Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Public Affairs.

The event is sponsored by the college’s School of Public Affairs and the Office of Student Engagement and Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Speak To My Soul: A Montage of Voices, Saturday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m., The Ware Center, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will sponsor a trip to The Ware Center in Lancaster to see Speak To My Soul: A Montage of Voices. This is a two-act choreopoem that tells a story of the Black experience. Tickets are limited. Registration is required. This is a free event for all Penn State Harrisburg students. Information will be provided to those who have registered regarding bus pick up.