BFSA At Brenau

More footage from BFSA's Nyansapo Kente Stole Ceremony
December 13, 2022

What another successful evening adorning graduates at BFSA'S
Nyansapo Kente Stole Ceremony!
We appreciate everyone involved to make this happen!

Thank you for your beautiful and inspirational speech!!!

BFSA is growing and making an IMPACT!!!

We invite you all to attend Brenau’s new tradition hosted by the Black Faculty and Staff Association, NYANSAPO KENTE STOLE CEREMONY.

Come and support your fellow graduating peers as they transition from college to their new, enlightened lives.

December 13, 2022
6:00pm
Pearce Auditorium

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. – Koffi Annan

Congratulations!!!

The Brenau University Department of Dance present….ABLAZE
An Evening of Dance Concert.

November 3-5, 2022
Pearce Auditorium
7:30pm

Tickets can be purchased at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brenau-dance-presentablaze-an-evening-of-dance-concert-tickets-429962578647?aff=eand

Senior LaTonya Boston will be showcasing her final artistic work. The concert will also feature dynamic and pulsating works by guest artists Jennifer Archibald, Jesse Zarritt, Kaitlin Arena, and Pytron Parker. Enjoy a range of styles from contemporary modern, hip-hop, tap, and classical ballet.

The concert will also feature a daring and social-political work from faculty member Lyrric Jackson. "Paquita" restaged and coached by faculty Amy Jacques and John Streit. 

For more information contact [email protected] or follow us on Instagram ( Dance).

BFSA's member Dr. Michael L. Jones Accepted as Fellow in the Academy of Diverse Emerging Nurse Leaders

Dr. Michael L. Jones, who currently serves as Richards Endowed Graduate Nursing Chair in the Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing, was recently accepted as a fellow in the inaugural cohort of the Academy for Diverse Emerging Nurse Leaders.

Developed and hosted by Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee, this academy offers professional development for nurses from underrepresented groups in health care or academia leadership. The goal of the academy is to equip nurse leaders with evidence-based tools to be successful in their leadership roles. It will provide opportunities for leaders such as Dr. Jones to network with other leaders from underrepresented groups across the country.

In addition to his role as Richards Endowed Graduate Nursing Chair, Dr. Jones also serves as Chair of the Advisory Panel on Clinical Trials for the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and Co-Editor of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty Foundation Journal.

“Solange’s first commission for a ballet company.” Those words, spoken by New York City Ballet chair Diana Taylor Wednesday night, were enough to elicit thunderous applause from an eager audience, the cheers bouncing off gilded walls inside Manhattan’s David H. Koch Theater. She was introducing the world premiere of Solange’s sprawling, jazz-informed composition “Villanelle for Times” to accompany “Play Time,” from choreographer Gianna Reisen. With the thrilling new work, the 23-year-old dance prodigy—once the youngest ever to be commissioned by the NYCB five years ago, for a piece that had her collaborating with the late Virgil Abloh—upheld her reputation for breaking ballet’s rigidity by incorporating contemporary styles.

Though the night marked a new achievement for Solange—who is now the second Black woman to have a score commissioned by the NYCB, after Lido Pimienta in 2021—it’s not the first time the multidisciplinary artist has worked with a fine art institution. In addition to her 2017 A Seat at the Table showcase at the Guggenheim Museum and 2020’s Orion’s Rise show at the Sydney Opera House, she also staged performances at the Getty Museum, the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany. These architecture-centering works are a natural extension of Solange’s vision as a music video director. In the accompanying film to her most recent album, 2019’s When I Get Home, she included hypnotic sequences of Black dancers, who assume sacred geometries as they moved through different structural spaces, proposing the possibility that through communal motion, people can create new worlds.

Want to be a service to your community
Find a sense of belongingness?
Enjoy events and outings?

Join the Black Student Association!!

Want to know more about the BFSA Ambassadors? It is a group comprised of African American students and allies from Brenau whose goal is to assist BFSA in contributing to the betterment of the University by serving as advocates for educational equity with an emphasis on African-American students.

Interest Meeting
October 5, 2022
5:00pm-6:30pm
Wilkes Board Room -Dining Hall

Email [email protected] for a Zoom link if you can't make it in person.

Hispanic Heritage Month Fact:

When Arturo Schomburg was a child in Puerto Rico in the 1880s, a teacher once told him that Black people had no real history or achievements worth noting. Incensed but motivated, Schomburg, the child of a Black mother and white German father, set out to prove his so-called educator wrong. He’d later refer to the erasure of Black Puerto Rican achievement as “a conspiracy of silence” and dedicated the rest of his life to documenting and preserving the histories of Black people across the diaspora—African Americans, Afro-Latinos, Africans, and more, according to Vanessa K. Valdés’ Diasporic Blackness: The Life and Times of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg. After moving to New York City as a teenager in 1891, Schomburg eventually became an archivist and writer known as one of the fathers of Black history. Today, a stunning structure of brick and glass in Harlem, N.Y., bears his name, as home to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which he founded in 1925.

Yet even now, Black Puerto Rican history remains in many senses unexplored. The intersection of Black and Hispanic history still tends to occupy an uncomfortable middle ground. In my own quest to better understand my roots as a woman of Puerto Rican and African American heritage, I learned about Schomberg while researching the latter. I had been raised to take pride in Black American heroes I could look to for inspiration, like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth. Their images could be found in children’s books, shows, and songs that affirmed a love for my Blackness and the contributions of African American people. And yet, on the Puerto Rican side, the historical heroes I’d come to know were not people who looked like me, despite the key role of Africans in Puerto Rico’s national story.

Link:https://time.com/6213368/afro-latino-history/

The Black Faculty and Staff Association AND
The Department of Music present....

INGRID ARTHUR: My Love For Aretha Franklin

This concert will be accompanying by a live band led by the sultry and dynamic voice of Gainesville native Ingrid Arthur. The concert will also feature Brenau's Gospel Choir directed by Portia Burns.

Saturday, October 22 at 7:00 PM
Pearce Auditorium
Brenau University Historic Campus

Click the QR code to purchase tickets.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Carey Wooten spent nearly seven weeks hunting for safe drinking water for herself, her two children and three dogs after clocking out each day as a Taco Bell manager, so Gov. Tate Reeves’ announcement that the water is clean again in Mississippi’s capital came as welcome news.

But the crisis in the city of Jackson isn’t over, even if its boil-water advisory was lifted on Thursday. While the state plans to stop handing out free bottled water at sites around the city Saturday night, the city said water pressure still hasn’t been fully restored, and state health officials said lead in some pipes remains so worrisome that pregnant women and young children should still use bottled water.

“The water that’s coming out of my kitchen sink smells like fresh sewage ... as soon as you turn it on, it hits you right in the face. It’s horrible,” Wooten said earlier this month. “I’ve tried to give one of my dogs the water, but when she smells it she won’t even touch it. She walks away from it.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/science-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-mississippi-tate-reeves-5d51e0f19e923756f99a0abc3ee0f8b9

The city of Jackson was already struggling with a deteriorating water system long before the latest rains cut off access to safe drinking water for more than 150,000 people in Mississippi's capital.

For years, residents of the majority-Black city have endured everything from service disruptions and recurring boil-water advisories to concerns over contaminants like lead and E. coli bacteria, thanks to failures to upgrade Jackson's aging infrastructure.

With the city now under a state of emergency, officials are scrambling to distribute bottled water to tens of thousands of people in a city where roughly 1 in 4 people live in poverty. Amid the fledgling response, officials have sent mixed signals about how long it may take to restore service. City officials have said it could be "days," but Gov. Tate Reeves has said it is unclear exactly how long it will take.

Read more on:https://www.npr.org/2022/08/31/1120166328/jackson-mississippi-water-crisis

What a great time sharing the opportunities that BFSA is offering at Brenau’s organization fair.

The BFSA Ambassadors is a group comprised of African American students and allies from Brenau whose goal is to assist BFSA in contributing to the betterment of the University by serving as advocates for educational equity with an emphasis on African-American students.

Want to be a service to your community
Find a sense of belongingness?
Enjoy events and outings?

Join the BFSA Ambassadors Club and the BLACK Student Association!!

Contact [email protected] for more information and to complete an interest form.

The Black Faculty and Staff Association is wishing everyone a great school year!!

Mark your calendars:

BFSA KENTE STOLE CEREMONY: December 13, 2022 for Fall Graduates

Juneteenth 2022

Let's not have the commercialization of Juneteenth distract us from the true meaning of this holiday. Remember, we are standing on the shoulders of our ancestors who have sacrifice greatly for liberty. We may be free but there is still much work to be done to dismantle racist and discriminatory practices and structures.

I encourage all to read, learn, and discuss!!

Be Blessed!

BFSA is elated to recognize the importance of Juneteenth at Brenau University.

Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Tex., to inform enslaved African Americans that the Civil War had ended and they were free. Granger’s news came two months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House and more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Let's Not Forget, Let's Educate!!!!

This is the first year Juneteenth will be celebrated as an official federal holiday. Still, the date known to some as Emancipation Day or Black Freedom Day has been acknowledged by African-Americans for decades.

"Bring your red, white, and blue and bring your red, green, and gold too," said Rickey Young, President of the Gainesville-Hall County Black History Society. "It gives the nation another day to enjoy what our culture has to offer."

Juneteenth, which dates back to June 19, 1865, the day that slaves in Texas got word from Union Generals that President Abraham Lincoln had emancipated them, has long been considered a special date for Black Americans.

"This is going to be a historical celebration, and we're going to talk about the people in our community and how they've contributed to the American culture and American Dream," Young told AccessWDUN.

The celebrations, which get underway on Saturday at 3 p.m., will include a parade, marching bands, ROTC Color Guards, motorcycle riders, and a classic car show.

Organizers will be showing a film about Gainesville's History and the African American communities' contribution to the city. Representatives from Northeast Georgia Health Systems and Longstreet Clinic will be on hand to provide a series of talks about healthcare.

A notable change for this year's festivities is the location—most of the events will be held at the old Fair Street School, which was once the primary Black school in Gainesville.

"I think the last graduating class was in 1962, and it's still so special to the community," said Gainesville Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Brooks. "So everybody is excited about being able to have it at Fair Street."

Saturday, June 11
3pm
Fair Street Elementary School
Gainesville, GA

Le***an, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan.

The Stonewall riots in New York were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement. Initially celebrated on the last Sunday of June as “Gay Pride Day,” the day is now flexible. In major cities across the nation, the “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts. Learn more about the origins of Pride from the Library of Congress.

LGBTQ and same-gender-loving African Americans have helped to shape the course of American history. At the National Museum of African American History and Culture, you can find these stories within our inaugural exhibitions. Aaron Bryant, a curator for the Center for Black Equity, says, “It’s difficult to tell the story of African American history and culture without acknowledging the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans who cover a spectrum of identities and experiences, including gender identities and orientations.

Advocate Leaders:

Marsha P. Johnson

Mom's Mabley

James Baldwin

Alvin Ailey

Dear Graduates and Students,

As we close this academic year, we dare you to explore your dreams and discern those that needed to be pursued. What we have learned is that the dreams that most need to be followed are the ones where opportunity exists and where doors are opened. You won't be able to realize every dream; our ancestors dream of education shifted and changed and came to life through us, and we know through others. Know that your dreams may change and shift too. And, in turn, this will lead to new dreams and new opportunities. Our soul’s whisper – and our ancestors – has been inescapable. Even when our dreams have seemed impossible, a spirit of discovery and perseverance have made our truest dreams inevitable.

We hope you will listen to the whispers of your soul; dream big and in every area of your life. Have courage to realize your dreams – and the wisdom to let go of dreams not truly meant for you. Listen, discern, and leap! You have already shown perseverance, sacrifice, and resilience to be here at Brenau, and to make some of your dreams come true. Humanity needs you to keep dreaming . . . and living into your most inevitable and inescapable dreams. So DREAM. Because the whispers of your soul are what desperately need to be realized in our world today.

Love always,
BFSA

More moments form BFS'S NYANSAPO KENTE STOLE CEREMONY!

The Black Faculty and Staff Association's inaugural NYANSAPO KENTE STOLE CEREMONY was a tremendously suceess.

This new Brenau tradition will be held every Fall and Spring recognizing graduates!!

Save the date: December 13, 2022

Follow

Tonight is the Night!!

The NYANSAPO Kente Robing Ceremony. The event will recognize graduating undergraduates and graduates as they transition from student to global citizen. Nyansapo will take place for the Spring 2022 Graduates and their guests in person, Thursday, April 28th, 2022, at 6:00 pm at Pearce Auditorium on Brenau's historic campus.

Students will be adorned with a customized Kente stole with the adrinka symbol, NYANSAPO, which means “intelligence and ingenuity” by a BFSA member. You can wear your stole at graduation and other graduations in the future.

What is the adrinka and the meaning behind Nyansapo? The Asante tribe of Ghana use adinkra to express the connection between the verbal and the visual in Akan culture. Adinkra symbols appear on wooden prestige objects (scared drums), jewelry, brass weights and, most prominently, as two-dimensional stamped designs ornamenting cloth. Historically, adinkra was reserved for Asante kings and now is worn by all. There are over 60 adrinka symbols representing a unique meaning.

Why is Kente considered a sacred cloth? Kente is a Ghanaian textile, made of handwoven cloth, strips of silk and cotton. Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion by royalty among ethnic groups such as the Ashanti and Ewe tribes of Ghana.

The Kente Cloth is really a reflection of the Ashanti people who were from the Ashanti Empire in Ghana, West Africa who were enslaved to the modern life of Ghana. This Kente Cloth should always be represented as an important piece that reminds everyone of where you had come from and how much they had worked to get to where they are or even where they were before.
By participating in the Nyansapo Kente Robing Ceremony and donning the Kente cloth stole, students will reinforce their understanding of NYANSAPO.

Who Can Wear a Kente Stole? Kente stoles can also signify any hurdle for the wearer that might make academic success uniquely difficult for them. This allows Kente’s symbolism to overlap with many personal struggles regardless of the person’s ethnicity or skin color.

Brenau Dance presents….DISCORD

A senior thesis/faculty/guest artist concert APRIL 21-23 at Pearce Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/292428149467 (link available profile in profile on Instagram)

Seniors Caleigh Santa Maria Marideth Read, Dennia Kennedy (pictured here), Jodie Jernigan, Janan Mirza, and Jonathan Thomas will be showcasing their artistic works ranging in styles of contemporary modern, experimental dance, and ballet.

The concert will also feature a daring and social-political work from guest artist Du'Bois A'Keen. Another guest artist, Carl Flink, set a daring and athletic piece on the department's seniors as their final performance goodbye. L.A. based artist Owen Scarlett choreographed a pulsating and lively work that will surely spark conversation. Lastly, the department hosts Jennifer Archibald, who is creating a virtuosic work that will push the dancers' technical capabilities.

Faculty works include a West African piece choreographed by Dr. Madia Cooper-Ashirifi and an Isadora Duncan-inspired work set by Amy Jacques.

For more information contact [email protected] or follow us on Instagram ( Dance).

📸:
🕺🏻:

Brenau University Dance Dept.]
Brenau University Dance Dept.]

The NYANSAPO Kente Robing Ceremony. The event will recognize graduating undergraduates and graduates as they transition from student to global citizen. Nyansapo will take place for the Spring 2022 Graduates and their guests in person, Thursday, April 28th, 2022, at 6:00 pm at Pearce Auditorium on Brenau's historic campus.

Registration Link: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/BrenauUniversity1 #/selectSessions/3128935

Students will be adorned with a customized Kente stole with the adrinka symbol, NYANSAPO, which means “intelligence and ingenuity” by a BFSA member. You can wear your stole at graduation and other graduations in the future.

What is the adrinka and the meaning behind Nyansapo? The Asante tribe of Ghana use adinkra to express the connection between the verbal and the visual in Akan culture. Adinkra symbols appear on wooden prestige objects (scared drums), jewelry, brass weights and, most prominently, as two-dimensional stamped designs ornamenting cloth. Historically, adinkra was reserved for Asante kings and now is worn by all. There are over 60 adrinka symbols representing a unique meaning.

Why is Kente considered a sacred cloth? Kente is a Ghanaian textile, made of handwoven cloth, strips of silk and cotton. Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion by royalty among ethnic groups such as the Ashanti and Ewe tribes of Ghana.

The Kente Cloth is really a reflection of the Ashanti people who were from the Ashanti Empire in Ghana, West Africa who were enslaved to the modern life of Ghana. This Kente Cloth should always be represented as an important piece that reminds everyone of where you had come from and how much they had worked to get to where they are or even where they were before.
By participating in the Nyansapo Kente Robing Ceremony and donning the Kente cloth stole, students will reinforce their understanding of NYANSAPO.

Who Can Wear a Kente Stole? Kente stoles can also signify any hurdle for the wearer that might make academic success uniquely difficult for them. This allows Kente’s symbolism to overlap with many personal struggles regardless of the person’s ethnicity or skin color.

BFSA at Brenau wishes a huge congratulations Dr. Shatrela Washington-Hubbard, Ph.D on being selected as Dean of College of Business and Communication.

The Brenau University Provost’s Office announced on Monday, March 7, Shatrela Washington-Hubbard, Ph.D., will be the Swinton A. Griffith III Dean of the College of Business & Communication, effective immediately. Washington-Hubbard previously had served as interim dean since August 2021.

James Eck, Ph.D., provost and vice president of academic affairs at Brenau, praised Washington-Hubbard for her hard work during seven months as interim dean.

“Dr. Washington-Hubbard has spent several months creating synergy and momentum within the College of Business & Communication, and she collaborates effectively across the divisions of the university,” Eck said. “She embraces the challenges related to program growth and integration, and she has spearheaded new initiatives such as an innovative undergraduate major in international hospitality and a new graduate program in digital marketing. She is committed to developing a new advisory board for the college that includes executives who will help to ensure that our graduates are ready to enter the workforce and make a difference from day one.”

Washington-Hubbard, who also has been leading the work to renew accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, said she looks forward to continuing to expand opportunities for Brenau students.

“I am honored that I was selected to serve as the Swinton A. Griffith III Dean of the College of Business & Communication,” Washington-Hubbard said. “Serving as interim dean has allowed me to work with my colleagues on several initiatives to provide our students with rich learning experiences. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move each of these initiatives forward as we work to bring regional and national recognition to the College of Business & Communication.”

She specifically has partnered with The Women’s College at Brenau to increase course offerings, develop interdisciplinary programs and host a professional development week for students.