Grand Valley: African/African American Studies News GVSU African/African American Studies News http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/ Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:10:35 EST Grand Valley: African/African American Studies News http://www.gvsu.edu/images/rsslogo.gif http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/ 112 33 Year-End Trip, FW 2011-2012 2012-04-07 00:00:00.0 On Saturday, April 7, 2012 declared minors in the AAAS program participated in a end of year trip to to see the Broadway play, FELA! in Chicago, IL.

]]> http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/module-news-view.htm?newsId=38CF120B-D3F3-ED77-DDDA7382F948F6BF Wearing Hoodies in Support of Trayvon Martin 2012-04-05 00:00:00.0

On Thursday, April 5th, 2012 students in Professor Robert Stevenson’s course, “Introduction to African American Studies” joined other students across the nation in a silent march to show support for Trayvon Martin, belated victim of gun violence in Sanford, FL.   The resulting event shows what happens in GVSU’s AAAS program wherein there is direct engagement between the course work and current events.


Professor Stevenson makes the classroom a laboratory that measures the relevance of the lessons he teaches to the contemporary social context.  Therefore, training young people to recognize their: right to participate in discussions of critical current events; ability to engage the society at large; and, responsibility to one another in terms of social justice for all.  Introducing course participants to the legacy of student activism for social justice in the nation is one way in which students can have their voices heard.


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued that the goal of education is to prepare us and to challenge us to think critically, analytically and objectively.  The AAAS program at GVSU follows in this tradition.  In the following story about students you see the way in which students answered Professor Stevenson’s challenge.  As they initiated the Trayvon Martin Project, it is clear that they are on the right path to effecting awareness and change from the world to GVSU campus, and back again.  Click here to read the story in the Grand Rapids News.

]]> http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/module-news-view.htm?newsId=311C1A49-CD9D-6D99-37D9FDDF58C612A9 African Diaspora Conversation Series - Dr. Scott Stabler & Prof. Mary Owusu 2012-03-14 00:00:00.0 Professors Scott Stabler (History) and Mary Owusu (Baldwin Wallace College, Ohio) were the final speakers for the African/African American Studies program, African Diaspora Conversation Series, FW 2011/2012.

]]> http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/module-news-view.htm?newsId=373E329A-B342-653C-38BD376EBB7ACB5C African Diaspora Conversation Series - Professor DeValera 2012-03-12 00:00:00.0 Professor DeValera (University of Cape Coast, Ghana) was one of the March speakers for the African/African American Studies program, African Diaspora Conversation Series.

]]> http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/module-news-view.htm?newsId=370D5529-FEB0-5F34-F22089DAA0B2D5A3 African Diaspora Conversation Series - Dr. Dwayne Tunstall 2012-02-22 00:00:00.0 Professor Dwayne Tunstall (Philosophy & African/African American Studies) was the February speaker for the African/African American Studies program, African Diaspora Conversation Series.

]]> http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/module-news-view.htm?newsId=36F3EC27-956D-34D3-F68681EC27457BC3 Grand Valley Students Honor Black History Month by Volunteering 2012-02-11 00:00:00.0 In 1955 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune wrote the following words in “Last Will and Testament:”  “Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service.  Without faith nothing is possible.  With it, nothing is impossible.”  While the staff at Guiding Light Mission in Grand Rapids, Michigan may or may not know who Mary McLeod Bethune was, and while they may or may not know her quotations, they certainly are living her words.  On Saturday, February 11th students, staff and faculty traveled to the Guiding Light Mission as a part of GVSU’s Black History Month Day of Service.   And there, all had a chance to see the principle of Bethune’s words in action.    

The Guiding Light Mission is founded on the principle that every man, no matter how far down he may stumble, must have within himself the audacity and pride to get up and start all over again.  Here, he can find a safe haven where he can gain his bearings.  The Mission provides food for those in the community (e.g. meals, food baskets); and, housing for the homeless, low-income clients and/or those who are in unsafe environments.  Students had an opportunity to talk with men in the Residential Recovery program.  Over the course of six to ten months, those clients who find the courage to acknowledge they need assistance to re-learn how to live successfully take part in work therapy, and life skills classes. 


AAAS is thrilled to co-sponsor this event to show students one avenue by which they can continue to practice a life of service. 


Watch the video and read the story featured on Fox 17 News here!

]]> http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/module-news-view.htm?newsId=31503612-9F6F-D458-EDF56BB70223BED5 African Diaspora Conversation Series - Dr. Steeve Buckridge 2012-01-23 00:00:00.0 Professor Steeve Buckridge (History & Area Studies) was the January speaker for the African/African American Studies program, African Diaspora Conversation Series.

]]> http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/module-news-view.htm?newsId=36706E90-F737-882D-80E57C497E2714E8 African Diaspora Conversation Series - Dr. Kwadwo Opoku-Agyemang 2011-11-28 00:00:00.0 Professor Kwadwo Opoku-Agyemang (University of Cape Coast, Ghana) was the inaugural speaker for the African/African American Studies program, African Diaspora Conversation Series.

]]> http://www.gvsu.edu/aaas/module-news-view.htm?newsId=322EE357-02F5-E79A-7C16C9C08882D9E3 City Hope Celebrates 8th Anniversary 2010-11-05 00:00:00.0 Professor Rik Stevenson was featured in the Grand Rapids Times in celebration of City Hope's 8th anniversary.  Read the feature story here.

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