Trinity Western University honours Black History Month this February. Join us as we recognize the importance, impact, and contributions of Black history and culture on a global, national, and local scale.
Find out how TWU is celebrating Black History Month (BHM), and how you can participate.
See our month-long schedule of events below:
February 1
Library Event and Book Display – Presentation by Aklilu Mulat, Senior Vice President, Business Operations & CFO, Trinity Western University
11:45 a.m. | Glass Room, Norma Marion Alloway Library
- Topic: Blacks' Contribution to the TWU Family: The Ethiopian Connection
Mr. Aklilu Mulat's speech is inspired by his own journey and connection leading to Trinity Western, going as far back to the former emperor of Ethiopia (Haile Selassie), and the visible legacy that the connection created. Lunch provided.
February 2
TWU Afro-Caribbean Club (ACC) Games Night
8 p.m. | Global Lounge, Kuhn Centre
- Join us in bringing TWU together, especially the student community, for a fun night of games, conversation, and friendship-building. Snacks will be shared.
February 3
TWU Chapel: Praise Chapel
11 a.m. | Enarson Gymnasium
- Enjoy a special Praise Chapel worship experience with the TWU BHM Choir.
February 3
Black History Month Opening Event
5 p.m. | Kuhn Centre Lobby
- Our Black History Month kick-off celebration features music by TWU's BHM Choir and the Kara-Kata Afrobeat Band from Vancouver, alongside talented TWU students Ose Obetoh, David Mutabazi, Eddison Bryan and Tamilore Awonusi.
- Warm appetizers and Afro-Caribbean beverages provided.
February 8
TWU Chapel: Justice
11 a.m. | Enarson Gymnasium
- TWU President Mark Husbands continues the Chapel sermon series on Justice.
February 15
Black History Month Movie Night
6 p.m. | DeVries Auditorium
- Movie: Hidden Figures
See the story of three African-American female mathematicians working at NASA—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson—whose efforts served to launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a monumental accomplishment in U.S. and world history.
February 19
Black History Month Podcast Interview
- Learning Matters: a Bridge to Practice – Episode #50
What do you get when a Communication Scholar, Historian, Geographer, and a Biologist walk into a room during Black History Month?
On the podcast Learning Matters: a Bridge to Practice, hosted by TWU's Scott Macklin, professors and scholars Divine Agodzo, Robynne Healey, Maxwell Ofosuhene and Laura Onyango discuss and celebrate intersections of black contributors to history and issues of diversity, inclusion and reconciliation across the full spectrum of our educational offerings and scholarship. Answering questions such as, What do you believe are some of the unique challenges facing Black students in Christian universities today, and how do you work to support and empower them? In your opinion, what can be done to address systemic racism and discrimination within Christian universities and communities? What are some books or movies that you consider helpful in exploring or learning about black history?
February 27
Black History Month Closing Celebration
11:45 a.m. | Reimer Centre Entrance
March 7
Talk by Hon. Justice Olufunlola Adekeye, CON, CFR,JSC (rtd.) Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria 2009-2012
12 p.m. | DeVries Auditorium
- Topic: The Place of Black Women in Leadership in the 21st Century—Experience as a Trailblazer
Hon. Justice Adekeye will share her Lordship’s experience as a Christian woman who helped to break the glass ceiling in the Judiciary of Nigeria. She was the first woman to rise to the High Court of Ondo and Ekiti States, and the second woman (and first in Southern Nigeria) to rise to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which is the highest court in the country.
Hon. Justice Adekeye will provide insights to young adults and especially young women who are striving for excellence.
Throughout the month of February: A display of books written by Black authors will be featured at the Norma Marion Alloway Library.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.