Read all about it! The latest recap of our February 2019 Community Town Hall is now available online for your reading pleasure!
Be sure to read it here: https://wp.me/p7o8lu-gQl
As many of you know, February is BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
Black History Month (BHM), also known as African-American History Month, is an annual observance time celebrated in the U.S.
There are a handful of other countries worldwide who celebrate BHM under a different name called “Black Achievement Month”.
The precursor to Black History Month was “Negro History Week” created in 1926 in the United States, by historian Carter G. Woodson
It was chosen to be on the 2nd week of February because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Fredrick Douglass (Feb. 14).
Beatitudes Campus has a “Black History Month (BHM) Planning Committee” The 2019 members are, Josie Gay, Nancy Cortez, Anthony Farias, Conroy Dennis, Bob Longoni, Betty Greathouse, Shirley Kendrick, Sherika Johnson, Doris Lyke, Ella Adams, Barbara Williams, Emma Walls, Betty Hullaby, and Gerald Roseberry, we are all motivated to participate in the BHM related events.
This year, the BHM Planning Committee wants to expand the recognition throughout the month instead of cramming all of the information into one 90 minute event like has been done in the past.
It all starts with me writing this article.
There will be a Black History Month display once a week in the Bistro during lunch time. Each display in the roadrunner will be advertised with the date and time.
The BHM Committee will host one movie each week this month in the Life Center which will also be advertised in the Roadrunner.
Look for BLACK HISTORY related information posted on the BEATITUDES CAMPUS COMMUNITY CHANNEL throughout this month.
The recognition will conclude at the end of the month with our grand finale!!! THE BEATITUDES 6TH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH event created and lead by campus staff member, Josie Gay, on Thursday, February 28.
I am most excited about my former fitness client and friend, VERNON PARKER, (Paradise Valley’s 1st Black Mayor) who will come and speak at the event. He will be sharing his experiences from when he worked in the White House during both “President Bush” administrations.
Why am I so excited to participate in this event?
Many different conversations lead me to realize that a lot of our residents and staff do not know of the many aspects of Black history. I thought that it was common knowledge to most Americans, but I was wrong.
For example, most poeple in one of my wellness classes didn’t know that there is a Negro National Anthem.
The reactions were quite comical before I convinced the ones who didn’t know that the song really does exist!
What I found most amazing about this matter is that residents whom I spoke with (who are not African American) were interested in knowing MORE about African American Culture. It will be our pleasure to present these topics to you, just think of it as “Black History 101.” Please join us in the Celebration. I hope that you will find it to be educational and fun! *
We hope you made it over to the Life Center last Monday for our inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Day! Over 150 residents and staff members participated in this happy event. CEO Michelle Just and President of Beatitudes, proclaimed January 21, 2019 as Beatitudes Campus Diversity and Inclusion Day. Thank you, Michelle! Here is a segment from that proclamation:
“Now, therefore, I, Michelle L. Just, President and CEO of Beatitudes Campus, with a continued commitment to diversity, inclusion and equality, proclaim January 21st, 2019, (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Beatitudes Campus’ Diversity and Inclusion Day, and we resolve to stand together with all people of good faith in our community recognizing we have the power to change our attitudes, to overcome our ignorance and fears, and ability to influence our peers and neighbors to embrace and build together a more loving, caring community, open and affirming of all.”
On large maps of the world and USA, participants were invited to mark their places of origin and cultural heritage. Attendees also explored exhibits and gathered information about Black History, the LGBTQ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning), the personal and cultural meaning of Dia de los Muertos, and they were able to see and handle cultural heritage artifacts from Indonesia and Ukraine. The Success Matters team gave attendees the opportunity to experience age-related changes such as losses in their vision or hearing. The differences in how folks responded when they actually experienced those losses surely represent another, very personal kind of diversity. Participants were invited to write out answers to the question “What does Diversity mean to you and what makes you unique? How would you answer?
The celebration continued with staff members dancing, singing, and playing music at the event. Resident, Barbara Levy, read a very moving poem she had written in memory of Martin Luther King, Jr, and his call for a more just and inclusive world. In keeping with the spirit of the celebration, there was delicious food from around the world. Throughout the event, one video offered Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, another moving video entitled “The Real Thing” explored how to support transgender community, while another video focused on exploring the meaning of diversity. Most importantly, and enjoyably, there was time just to talk with each other. Residents and staff shared stories about many topics, including service in the Peace Corps, participation in civil rights demonstrations, and the many personal moments where there were deep vows to raise children and grandchildren in a more just world guided by values and faith.
So why was the event held? The Diversity and Inclusion Action Council, made up of staff and residents, organized and planned the event. The Council has been meeting since last April to further explore and focus our attention on diversity and inclusion, and we decided to highlight diversity and inclusion through this event! Our Beatitudes Campus Promise statement moves us to “value the diversity of all” and that promise was surely kept in this celebration. This event was an addition, not a replacement to the long-standing campus traditions of honoring Black History, Veterans, LGBT community, and older adults.
Our campus is a special place where we come together to create a community of welcoming for all– regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and age. As you know, we welcome all faiths and those choosing not to identify with a faith. Beyond welcoming, our activities and day-to-day interactions and life on the campus illustrate our commitment to learning from one another and always expanding our beliefs and worlds. We also bring our commitment to diversity to off-campus community involvement through volunteering at schools, participating in neighborhood organizations and so much more.
Our Diversity Day highlights our rich past and guides us to future actions about diversity on campus. What are some of your reflections about diversity on campus? What would you like others to know about you or your heritage? Let’s keep the dialogue going! The Diversity and Inclusion Action Committee is looking for others who are passionate about this work so if you would like to join the Council or would like more information, please call Linda Travis, at X16365, or Chaplain Peggy Roberts at X16109 *
Our 3rd Annual Resident Art Show is just around the corner and if you have never been to our resident art show, you won’t want to miss it! From wood work to ceramics, photography to acrylic/water paintings, sewing to knitting and much more, it’s always such inspiration to see the talent. The art show will be taking place on Thursday, February 9th from 10AM-4PM and Friday, February 10th from 10AM-2PM in the Life Center. Please take time to pass on through and enjoy the art show with your neighbors. Some pieces will be available for purchase. 30 percent of all sales are then donated to the Resident Assistance Fund on campus. We hope to see you there!
Valentine’s Day is here! Join us for our Dancing with the Stars dinner on Tuesday, February 14th in the Life Center. We will be celebrating with the 11 piece Havin’ Fun Band with dinner included. Tickets are limited and must be purchased before the dinner (prior to Feb. 13th). You can find tickets at all dining venues on campus beginning Tuesday, February 7th for $11.00.
If you missed the first Game Classes for All with Marc Adelman, be sure to make the next one! Marc will be teaching folks how to play Rummy Cube. If you would like to join the group and just play, that’s fine with us! The next class will be taking place on Wednesday, February 15th at 10AM in the Recreation Center. No sign up required, just show up.
Interested in showcasing your furry friend at our upcoming Dog Show? Please contact Didi Cruz at x18473 for details. This is a fun event with resident judges, treats for your pet and prizes to win! We’d love to have you!
A few changes have been made since our February Synopsis was distributed. The Paradise Valley Community College Readers Theatre Group performance of “Misconceptions” scheduled for Friday, February 24th, has been cancelled.
Also, the movie and lunch trip scheduled for Tuesday, February 28th has been cancelled due to the Black History Month Celebration taking place on campus the very same day. This trip will be rescheduled in March. Please make note of these changes and we look forward to bringing them back to the calendar.
For any questions, please call Didi at x18473 or Monica at x18526.
February is Black History Month and Beatitudes Campus provided the 3rd Annual Black History Month Program with great flair and panache. On Thursday, February 18th, this year’s event centered on a music festival theme and was a spectacular gathering of residents, staff, and guests. The program featured piano playing, singing, readings, and dancing. Music history facts were shared by the readers and touched on topics such as how:
The program also paid tribute to B.B. King, an African American blues musician, who was named “The King of Blues” during his career and who believed that “Music was the way to the heart” with his lady guitar! It was an amazing celebration of music!
As with any program of this magnitude, many thank you’s must be shared. It could not have been possible without the participation of Beatitudes Campus residents Louis Smith, Barbara Beerling, Doris Lyke and Dosia Carlson who highlighted the show with singing and playing the piano! Shirley Kendrick and Ella Adams (members of the Campus Housekeeping Department) showed up and cleaned the dance floor putting on an amazing performance of “Baby Love” by the Supremes with Chris Mason (Life Enrichment). I must also give a shout out to the staff in the Health Care Center and Housekeeping Departments that graced the dance floor in a praise dance performance, shared quote filled readings, and so much more!
Special thanks must be given to Josie Gay (Staffing Coordinator, Health Care Center, 17 year Campus employee) and Chris Mason (Life Enrichment Specialist, Health Care Center, 9 month Campus employee and a firecracker recruit from Wisconsin last spring). Josie was the original catalyst behind the Black History Month program three years ago and just when we thought her energy and passion couldn’t be matched, she teamed up with Chris. These ladies tirelessly planned, encouraged, practiced and executed an educational and fun event in addition to their daily work here at the Campus. Co-planner Chris Mason stated, “We just want to thank everyone who participated, especially our audience, we couldn’t have asked for a more involved and encouraging crowd.” Our congratulations also go out to, Louise McCarthy and Bob Mulligan, who each won a raffle prize of an amazing gift basket full of unique items put together by the Black History Committee. Enjoy!
If you missed the show, never fear, video clips will be available on the Community Website soon. I also encourage you to get in touch with Josie (@jgay) or Chris (@cmason) if you have an interest in helping with the 4th Annual Black History Program in 2017. As they say, “There’s no business like show business!” Have a wonderful week! *
