Throughout February and March, Sinclair Community College will be the home to some celebrations of African American history month.
The Nia Awards and Gospelfest will take place on March 1 at 6 p.m. in Blair Hall Theatre.
“Nia is a swahili word that means purpose,” Event Coordinator Crystal Ethos said. “The Nia awards are a celebration of purpose.”
Ethos said the Nia awards are given each year to an African-American student, faculty member, staff member and community member that exemplifies the concept of purpose and diversity. A Diversity champion award is also given to anyone that demonstrates leading and promoting a diverse lifestyle. Nominations for the awards have already closed.
The event also coincides with the Gospelfest.
“Gospelfest is the celebration of the gospel tradition in the African American community,” Ethos said
Different choirs from around Dayton, as well as the Sinclair gospel ensemble will attend and perform gospel songs after the award ceremony. “What we’ve done is married those two events,” Ethos said. “So we do an award, then a choir.”
She said refreshments will be provided before the performance.
“It is at the end of African American history month, so I think it’ll be a good closure or conclusion,” she said.
The 11th annual Black Women’s Think Tank will take place on Feb. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“It’s a one day conference where we have workshops [and] presentations, for women, by women,” Event Coordinator Annette Ross-Gray said.
The theme this year is based on how “no is necessary.”
“This year, basically we’re trying to empower the women to say no,” she said. “No to health issues, no to stress, it’s a unique thing we have this year… Just saying no to issues that they have in their lives.”
She said they will have workshops based on health, fitness, careers, relationships, budgeting and domestic violence.
She asked presenters to base their workshops around the theme, “saying no”.
“Basically the workshops are to educate, empower and uplift women,” Ross-Gray said. “We’re trying to establish a platform where we can address issues and concerns that [affect] women in the community and the homes.”
She said the event is free and open to everyone. A free continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Various venders will attend, as well as different performers.
Keynote speakers are Keely Watkins and Tonya Lovelace, who is going to present “No: More: We need you to help end violence against all women.”