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National speaker LaTosha Brown to speak virtually at TCC

Tidewater Community College celebrates Black History Month 2021 with a keynote address by LaTosha Brown, a national speaker, professional moderator and owner of TruthSpeaks Consulting, LLC.

Brown has appeared on a variety of media outlets including MSNBC, ZoomwithOprah.com, CBS, HBO and CNN.

Brown will share a message entitled “Can’t Stop: The Movement for Black Lives in America” with students and the community during a virtual event on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. To register for the Zoom event visit here.

Brown is a contributor to the “The New York Times” op-ed page and a fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She is also co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund organization.

The program will be followed with a question-and-answer session, moderated by Tiffanye Sledge, TCC professor of sociology and chair of the Portsmouth Campus Faculty Senate.

The national theme for Black History Month 2021 is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.”

TCC’s Black History Month celebration includes an assortment of virtual events throughout February. All events are open to the public.

Each year, Tidewater Community College honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during Black History Month with a distinguished service award to a TCC faculty or staff member and provides a scholarship to a TCC student. To view the 2021 honorees visit here.

For more information contact Alicia Phillips at aphillips@tcc.edu.


Black History Month Events

Feb. 18 at Noon
Live via Zoom –
visit here to register
Distinguished Speaker Series: “The Business of Justice – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” with Jordyne Blaise, Esq.

Jordyne Blaise, Esq.

Jordyne Blaise, Esq., is a renowned diversity, inclusion and equity consultant and strategist. She earned her bachelors in English, with a minor in African American studies, and her juris doctor from Georgetown University. She is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida. Jordyne’s expertise in Civil Rights enforcement and diversity change management comes from her work with various organizations including Harvard Law School, NC State University and the District of Columbia Government.

*This event is sponsored by the Business, Computer Science and IT Pathway & the Virtual Student Center.

Feb. 18, 21, 25, 28 at various times
Register here for the live Zoom events

African HEAT (Healthy Energetic Authentic Transformation)

African dancer and Zumba Instructor Rita Addico Cohen presents African HEAT, a one-hour dance fitness class that includes cultural details with every step. Cohen is founder and executive director of the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance.

Feb. 21 from 4 – 6 p.m.
Register here for live Zoom event

“Health Equity, Inclusion & the African American Community”

Award-winning filmmaker and health advocate and educator Terrance Afer-Anderson will screen excerpts from “The Black Walnut,” his film about the alarming prostate cancer disparity impacting African American men.

Afer-Anderson will lead a panel discussion on health equity issues in the Black Community. Panelists include Mark Fleming, M.D., past president, Virginia Oncology Associates; Natalie S. Burke, president and chief executive officer, CommonHealth ACTION; Mekbib Gemeda, vice president, diversity and inclusion, Eastern Virginia Medical School; and Angela Mercer, M.D., vice president, Greater Norfolk Medical Society of South Hampton Roads.

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions and comments via the YouTube comments window.

This event is sponsored by My Thoughts. My Voice. My Art and the Arts & Humanities Pathway.

Feb. 23 from 12:30 -1:30 p.m.
Live via Zoom.  Password:23501
Empathy Matters

This event was inspired by questions posed by Tidewater Community College students. In looking for answers, a panel of experts address the subject of empathy and its role in restoring balance and fostering positive change. The discussion centers around the power of empathy to transform relationships, circumstances, context and trajectory. Information about TCC student success and support resources developed in response to changing needs will be provided.

This event is sponsored by My Thoughts. My Voice. My Art and the Arts & Humanities Pathway.

Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. – Noon
Live via Zoom
Martin Luther King Jr. Recognition Program

Tidewater Community College honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during Black History Month with a distinguished service award to a TCC faculty or staff member and provides a scholarship to a TCC student. This year’s virtual event includes remarks from featured speaker Ruth Jones Nichols, president and chief operating office, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Since 1998, Tidewater Community College has presented these awards to faculty, staff and students whose lives best exemplify Dr. King’s visionary legacy.”

For information on additional events celebrating diversity and inclusion visit here.

MLK honorees Professor Gabriela Toletti and student Tomelade Aigbokhan.