UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Black Graduate Student Association and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center will host a Celebration of Black Lives at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, in Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center at University Park. The event will serve as a celebration of self-determination, excellence and achievement in the African American community.

“It’s the idea that we have this central belief of coming together,” said Latisha Franklin, president of the Black Graduate Student Association. “It’s a means of giving members of our organization and members of the local community new grounds to connect on. And that’s a tradition we’d like to continue.”

The Celebration of Black Lives event is part of a series of activities performed by Penn State’s black and African graduate student community during Black History Month. Dinner will be provided, and there will be a speech from John Henry, a young Dominican-American entrepreneur, on his life and work.

All are welcome to attend this free event, but space is limited. For tickets, contact Alexander Vera at atv31@psu.edu or Cierra Chandler at cbc5718@psu.edu. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 

The event is sponsored by the Black Graduate Student Association, Paul Robeson Cultural Center, Penn State Educational Equity, the Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs, and the University Park Allocation Committee.