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March 2, 2001

Maricopa Community College District Office Celebrates Black History Month in Style

Tempe, AZ - Throughout the month of February, the Maricopa County Community College District Diversity Committee planned activities and displays that celebrated the rich cultural heritage and contributions of African Americans. The events of the month were effectively triumphed in the luncheon and fashion show on February 22, emceed by Ralph Thompson, Coordinator of Prospect Research for the Maricopa Foundation.

Guests were treated to a "soulful experience of home cooking, Southern style" from Bev's Kitchen of fried chicken, fried pork chops, red beans and rice, green beans and cornbread topped off with a perfect peach cobbler.

Colorful fashions from the House of Miasia were modeled by Joy Hanton, Terresa Toney, Brachelle Pennington, Josh Mackey, Dolores King and Lois Garland. Each model presented four different ethnic outfits as Miasia Pasha, owner of the House of Miasia, described each of the fashions. As promised, the fashions tantalized "your senses with unique, imported ethnic fashions for both men and women."

While both the food and the fashions were outstanding highlights of the luncheon, the audience was definitely moved when Dr. Arnette Ward, President of Chandler-Gilbert Community College, began the luncheon with the Negro National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing Till Earth and Heaven Ring."

The fashion show was followed with an explanation of "KWANZAA," by storyteller Hannah Harrison. "Kwanzaa," said Harrison, "is a unique African American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of family, community, responsibility, commerce and self-improvement."

Harrison explained that Kwanzaa is neither political nor religious nor a substitute for Christmas. It is celebrated from December 26 through January 1 and was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Kwanzaa is based on Nguzo Saba, the seven guiding principles, one for each day of the observance: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, purpose, creativity and faith.

Harrison also delighted the audience with stories that reflected some of the guiding principles of the Kwanzaa.

Luncheon and Fashion Show guests received a copy of the story of Kwanzaa and a calendar, which is a journey into 365 days of Black History. For each day of the year, the calendar highlights a specific African American history item.

Other Black History Month activities at the Maricopa County Community College District office included a performance by Madison Walker portraying Nat Love, an African American Cowboy in the late 1800s and early 1900s. District employees could also see the movie, "Ruby Bridges," about a six-year old chosen to be the first African American to integrate her local New Orleans elementary school. On display in the lobby were paintings by John Anderson (compliments of Edythe Nedd) and a collection of Black Americans on US Postage stamps (compliments of Pamela Williams). A timeline in the employee lounge depicted African Americans in American history.

Members of the district's diversity committee are John Baba, Joyce Goldstein, Marie Parker, Dee Dee Tapson, Ralph Thompson, Emily Weinacker and Pamela Williams. Williams chaired the fashion show and luncheon.

The Maricopa County Community College District is composed of 10 community colleges, several satellite campuses, skill centers and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 264,000 students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu.

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March 13, 2002