[Important Information for Employees] Black History Month

[Office of the President]

Dear Campus Community,


Today begins our recognition and celebration of Black History Month.

In the United States, this month-long spotlight during February is an
opportunity to celebrate the countless essential accomplishments of the
Black community and the impact they have had, not just on the country, but
the world. This designation of February is also a time to highlight Black
leaders and their activism and advocacy as we seek to dismantle systemic
and institutionalized forms of oppression that still threaten the safety,
equity and justice of Black and Brown lives.

As a reminder, SUNY Plattsburgh is one of only forty eight Truth, Racial
Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers in the entire country, which
speaks to the great effort, dedication and investment of our staff carrying
out the TRHT mission to "plan for and bring about transformational and
sustainable change, and to address the historic and contemporary effects of
racism."  Our SUNY Plattsburgh TRHT Center
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/about/centers/trht/index.html> is guided
by the Office
of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/index.html>, which
oversees our Title IX office
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/health-safety/title-ix/index.html>,
our DIRECT team
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/direct.html> and our
Campus, Community, and Safety Advisory Committee. Together, these services
and resources support and strengthen our continued commitment to teach and
instill values of diversity, equity and inclusion in our greater campus
community.

It is our hope that you have seen the first issue of Diversity News
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/_documents/plattslife/diversity-news-january-2023.pdf>,
a new communication resource from the Office for Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion (DEI). This newsletter will be sent to the campus community each
month, and will also be available and archived on the DEI webpage
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/resources.html>. It is
directly linked to our campus commitment, and our strategic priority, to
ensure an inclusive, equitable campus that not only acknowledges the
diversity of our students and employees, but that celebrates it through
regular updates, highlights, and recognition.


Last semester’s Black Solidarity Day
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/teach-in.html>
campus-wide teach-in was a remarkable collaboration among all our students,
faculty and staff. Many across campus and from the local community
participated, led workshops, and engaged in listening and learning about
how we can all function as a truly inclusive and equitable campus. Although
we have held similar campus-wide events in past years, Fall 2022 marked the
first Black Solidarity Day to officially be added to the academic calendar.
And we know that our Fall 2022 effort was only the beginning of many great
annual events to come.


In addition to our campus-wide efforts, SUNY Plattsburgh played a
significant role in this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. community
celebration, featuring DEI VP Allison Heard as the keynote speaker, and the
talented MLK singers, under the direction of Dr. Dexter Criss.


And on January 17, following an inspirational MLK Day ceremony
<https://www.pressrepublican.com/news/speaker-do-the-right-thing-in-the-spirit-of-dr-martin-luther-king/article_488823fe-95dd-11ed-be9c-f78012d06ef0.html?fbclid=IwAR3Esz1fft7hhlhh-ioDkXxFpYwZCHeaQaDfvpIN6tOJ2qlXn7S5xry-vW0>,
the Office for DEI and the TRHT Center hosted a watch party in the H.U.B.
to screen and discuss the digital series #CHANGINGTHENARRATIVE – BUFFALO
<https://www.nbcnews.com/video/racial-healing-is-changingthenarrative-of-communities-across-america-159981637886>.
Topics included:

   -

   Diversity, equity and inclusion challenges and issues faced on our
   campus and in our North Country communities
   -

   The history of systemic racism in the Plattsburgh area and its impact on
   our present day communities
   -

   SUNY Plattsburgh TRHT Center’s mission, progress and plans for the
   future.

Throughout February, various individuals and groups will collaborate to
host events and activities to honor Black history and its pivotal role in
our national identity.

   -

   February 1, 1pm-3pm: Vice President Heard will lead a PSUNY team to
   facilitate an off campus DEI workshop at Saranac Central School District
   for over 100 teachers and staff as part of our goal to grow DEI and
   collaborate with the north country
   -

   February 3, 10am-1pm: The TRHT Center will host a Healing Circle in the
   H.U.B.
   -

   February 10, 10am-1pm: The Office for DEI will host a "Loving Every
   Shade of You" pre-Valentine's Day Event in the Hawkins Hall lobby
   -

   February 13, 10am-1pm: The Office for DEI will host a "Loving Every
   Shade of You" pre-Valentine's Day Event in the Angell College Center lobby
   -

   February 17, 10am-2pm: Sigma Tau Delta (ENG honors society) and Feinberg
   Library staff will host a Black History Month Read-in. Location TBD and
   information will be shared with campus when available.
   -

   February 21, 4:30-7:30pm: The Office for DEI, College Auxiliary Services
   and  Chartwells will host a Mardi Gras and Carnivale Celebration in Clinton
   Dining Hall complete with a DJ, decorations, and tables advertising student
   clubs and organizations
   -

   February 23, 4pm-6pm: The Department of Human Development and Family
   Relations will partner with the Office for DEI to host a book
discussion on The
   Souls of Black Folk and Soul Food Dinner in Burghy’s Lounge
   -

   February 25, 6:30 pm: Black Onyx: The Black Student Union will be
   hosting its Annual Black History Month Banquet in Warren Ballroom. You do
   not want to miss this special event.
   -

   Throughout the month of February: Stop by the H.U.B. to see videos, hear
   speeches, and listen to music about Black History and Culture.

Additional events being planned for February include guest speakers from
the Underground Railroad Museum, the John Brown Farm State Historic Site
and Timbuktu in North Country, several film screenings and discussions, a
mask-making event for Mardi Gras Celebration, and more. Please check the DEI
webpage <https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/index.html> often
throughout the month for ongoing updates, additions, and specific
information about event dates, times and locations. Special thanks to our
cultural programming committee for their assistance in planning, hosting,
and volunteering to help with events.

Please join us in commemorating Black History Month by continuing the
essential work of self-reflection and intentional efforts to promote an
anti-racist stance all year long. It is through these thoughtful and
constructive efforts and conversations that we will become a stronger, more
equitable, more successful SUNY Plattsburgh. Please remember that education
and awareness around diversity and inclusion does not stop or start in one
month. Each of us has a responsibility to make an intentional effort to be
an advocate for justice every day, every month, every year. This is how we
collectively change the narrative!


In appreciation,

Dr. Alexander Enyedi

President

Allison Heard
Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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