March 29, 2024

City, UMW Announce Addition of Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail to U.S. Civil Rights Trail

The City of Fredericksburg and the University of Mary Washington on Thursday, Feb. 8, announced that the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail has been added to the national collection of landmarks that make up the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The U.S. trail, which spans 15 states, includes churches, schools, museums and other locations that played a […]

UMW MLK Keynote Speaker Focuses on the Future With Jan. 24 Presentation

Binge-watching C-SPAN from his great-grandmother’s couch was just the beginning for Tylik McMillan. “That’s the only thing she watched,” he said. And as he sat there, too, seeing politics play out on the screen, he pictured himself – and other young men and women of color – with their own seat at the table. Now […]

Remembering JFMC Founding Director Forrest Parker

Enter Your Voting Era: The Importance of Civic Engagement, Sept. 7

The James Farmer Multicultural Center is co-sponsoring an event with the Center for Community Engagement and Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity, for UMW students, faculty and staff, as well as area high school students and the greater Fredericksburg community.

The event, titled “Enter Your Voting Era: The Importance of Civic Engagement,” will take place on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6 p.m., in Chandler Ballroom C inside the Cedric Rucker University Center.

Jessica Atkinson, Director of Elections, City of Fredericksburg; Derrick Lewis, National Field Organizer, NAACP; UMW Political Science Professor Jared McDonald; and Kate McDaid ’23, Field Organizer, NextGen, will speak to the audience about why it’s important for people to become politically and civically engaged, the structure of the General Assembly and how it functions for citizens of Virginia, how local and statewide elections can impact their everyday lives through public policy, the power of being an informed citizen by casting their vote each election cycle, and staying involved with the civic engagement process.

For more information, or with questions regarding disability-related accommodations, contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at 540/654-1044 or jfmc@mail.umw.edu.

City of Fredericksburg, University of Mary Washington Unveil Civil Rights Trail

During Black History Month and amid a flurry of fanfare, the City of Fredericksburg in partnership with the University of Mary Washington unveiled its civil rights trail: “Freedom, a Work in Progress.” The nearly three-mile walking trail, with some stops a close drive, guides participants through post-Civil War history into the modern day, drawing together […]

James Farmer Multicultural Center Black History Month Events

Black History Month posterUpcoming Cultural Events Presented by the James Farmer Multicultural Center:

The History of Afrofuturism in Music | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 5 PM | Chandler Ballroom C, Cedric Rucker University CenterThis interactive presentation will be led by Ronald Turner II, known as DJ R-Tistic and Assistant Director of the James Farmer Multicultural Center, Chris Williams. They will take the audience on an oral, visual, and sonic tour on the history of Afrofuturism in classic R&B, soul, funk, jazz, and hip-hop records.

Black Cultural Karaoke | Friday, Feb. 17 | 7 PM | The Underground, Lee HallSponsored by For the CultureJoin For the Culture for a fun-filled karaoke program for all UMW community members, honoring Black History Month with a very special playlist from the R&B and soul genres! There will be snacks and drinks provided.

Step Show [CANCELED] | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 7 PM | Dodd Auditorium, George Washington HallJoin area step teams from high schools, regional colleges and universities as they engage in a high-energy, entertaining competition. For information, please contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center.

Black Men and Masculinity: An Honest Conversation | Monday, Feb. 20 | 7 PM | Colonnade Room, Cedric Rucker University CenterSponsored by Brothers of a New Direction and NAACP at UMWJoin BOND and NAACP at UMW for an honest talk unpacking our masculinity as Black men, the good and the bad, focusing also on solutions to deep-rooted problems.

Caribbean/Mardi Gras Dinner | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 5 PM |Dining at the Top of the Cedric Rucker University CenterCost with Campus Meal Plan is one meal swipe or $13 Flex. The cost for EagleOne or credit card purchase is $15.

La diáspora africana en Latinoamérica: Poetas Afrolatinos Lectura de poesía (Poetry Reading) | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 4 – 4:30 PM | Combs Hall, Room 139You are invited to join us for this poetry experience!

MLK Virtual Project | Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Thursday, Feb. 23 | Digital Auditorium, Hurley Convergence Center
The vMLK Project out of North Carolina State University focuses on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “A Creative Protest” speech, commonly referred to as the “Fill up the Jails” speech, for which no recording exists. The vMLK Project brings together recreations and various technologies to allow viewers and visitors to experience the speech. Dr. Max Renner, Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities & New Media at Molloy College and Dr. Candice Edrington, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of South Carolina will provide a formal presentation on Wednesday, February 22 at 6 pm in the Digital Auditorium.

For more information, contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at (540) 654-1044 or umwjfmc@gmail.com. You may also visit students.umw.edu/multicultural. Please email us at umwjfmc@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding disability-related accommodations.

 

UMW Black History Month Keynote Features NAACP Youth Director

Wisdom O. Cole received rave reviews for a presentation he put together in college. The Afrikan Black Coalition Conference featured a host of prominent speakers and won Cole the Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity. But more than compliments and commendations, the event and its success gave him a glimpse of the future. “That was really […]

UMW Black History Month Keynote Features NAACP Youth Director

Wisdom O. Cole received rave reviews for a presentation he put together in college. The Afrikan Black Coalition Conference featured a host of prominent speakers and won Cole the Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity. But more than compliments and commendations, the event and its success gave him a glimpse of the future. “That was really […]

UMW Black History Month Keynote Features NAACP Youth Director

Wisdom O. Cole received rave reviews for a presentation he put together in college. The Afrikan Black Coalition Conference featured a host of prominent speakers and won Cole the Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity. But more than compliments and commendations, the event and its success gave him a glimpse of the future. “That was really […]

MLK Celebration Week Draws Upon Service and the Arts

In the tight text of her Twitter bio, Tara Murray uses these words to describe herself: human rights defender, truth teller, justice lover, freedom fighter. A civil and human rights lawyer in Washington, D.C., she’ll share more of her story tomorrow as the keynote speaker for the University of Mary Washington’s Martin Luther King Jr. […]