The University’s annual K. Leroy Irvis Celebration of Black History Month is bookended this year by two events. Each is themed “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” since it has been 100 years since the inaugural Black History Week in 1926.

The kick-off event, on Feb. 5, is a panel discussion on “The State of Affairs of African Americans at the University of Pittsburgh,” facilitated by Shallegra Moye (Educ, ’22G), director of educational enrichment and transition programs in the School of Education and instructor in the Department of Africana Studies, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences. The event is sponsored by Equipoise and the Office of Institutional Engagement & Wellbeing.

Register here for this event, which will take place at 1 p.m. Feb. 5 at the O’Hara Student Center. Light refreshments will be available.

On Feb. 24, the annual Community Champion awards will be presented at the K. Leroy Irvis Black History Month celebration, and nominations are now being accepted here through Feb. 4. Rules for the awards are here.

The seven categories are: Emerging Leader Award, Civic Impact Award, Student Leadership Award (one each in the undergraduate and graduate/professional categories), Innovation in Service Award, Excellence in Education Award and Distinguished Alumnus Award.

The Feb. 24 event, organizers note, will “celebrate the accomplishments of individuals whose careers and characters exemplify K. Leroy Irvis’s legacy of leadership, public service, education and cultural enrichment.” The free event in Alumni Hall’s Connolly Ballroom includes dinner. Register here.

— Marty Levine

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