MCCC to Celebrate African American History Month with Community Events

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The student dance troupe, Born Free, which performed at the college’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremonies, is featured on Feb. 4 at MCCC’s “Celebration: Africans in America” event at the JKC campus.

West Windsor/Trenton, N.J. - "Lifting as We Climb" is the month-long theme for Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) observance of African American History Month. The varied schedule of events includes presentations by inspiring African American leaders, dance and other entertainment, and an open house that explores the cultures of Africa. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.
According to Lucia Brown-Joseph, coordinator of Mercer's African American History Month programming and the college's bursar, February's activities are designed to educate, stimulate and motivate. "Mercer strives to prepare our students to make a difference in their communities and make their own lives better," she said.
Community events include:
• Wednesday, Feb. 1, noon to 1 p.m.: Opening Ceremony at Kerney Hall on Mercer's James Kerney Campus (JKC), 102 North Broad Street, Trenton. Ray Broach, MCCC alumnus and the interim superintendent of the Trenton Public Schools, will present the keynote address. A native of Trenton, Broach has a 40-year background in education, including serving as the superintendent of the Ewing School District. Students from the Garvey Charter School in Trenton will provide entertainment. After the talk, guests are invited to a luncheon of Southern style food in the JKC Center City Cafe prepared by culinary students from MCCC's Career Training Institute.
• Saturday, Feb. 4, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: JKC hosts "Celebration: Africans in America," a community open house. Groups from African countries including Liberia, Kenya, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and South Africa will tell stories of their origins. An MCCC student dance troupe, Born Free, will perform. Cultural food and music will be part of the day's festivities.
• Wednesday, Feb. 15, noon to 1:30 p.m.: A discussion, "State of the Black Man," will be presented in JKC's Kerney Hall, moderated by Terrance Carter, advisor for the JKC Student Activities Board.
• Friday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m. to midnight: A "Caribbean Carnival Fete" in the WWC Student Center Cafeteria. Tickets are $5 each for all attendees. Music will be provided by D.J. Serggy.
• Monday, Feb. 20, noon to 6 p.m., and Thursday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: The Blood Center of New Jersey will hold a Blood Drive in the WWC Student Center, SC211.
• Friday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: A musical event featuring the soul band "Frequency" will be held at the Center City Café at the James Kerney Campus.
• Sunday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.: An "Evening of Praise Gospel Explosion" will take place at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor Campus. MCCC student performers, local gospel choirs and praise dancers will perform. Donations are welcome, with funds to be donated to the MCCC Student Emergency Fund.
For more information, call (609) 570-3404 or visit www.mccc.edu.