The Department of Human Resources and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion invite students, employees, and community members to attend a series of upcoming events to raise awareness about civil rights and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The following events are free and open to the public:

  • Conversation: Can one person change the world?
    Feb. 3, 6 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center
    Ask Big Questions is an organization that brings diverse people together for conversations that help people better understand themselves and others. These conversations create community and spark action. For Black History Month, the conversation will focus on civil rights. Refreshments will be provided.
  • Speaker and Reception: Reading Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God as Gender History
    Feb. 27, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Brush Mountain Room, Squires Student Center
    Nwando Achebe, History professor at Michigan State University, founding editor of the Journal of West African History, and author, will discuss her late father’s work, which was published the same year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed. African cuisine and other refreshments will be provided. This event is being hosted by the Africana Studies program, and will be followed by a reception at 1 p.m.
  • Webinar: Lived Experiences During Campus Integration
    March 21, noon-1 p.m., National Capital Room, North End Center
    This discussion is part of the Department of Human Resources’ lunchtime webinar series, “Our VT: Building Community at Virginia Tech.” Participants can log into the webinar or attend in-person. Registration will be required. Details will be provided via Virginia Tech News as they become available.
  • Ceremony and reception: Everyone Matters
    April 2, 4:30-7 p.m., Assembly Hall, Holtzman Alumni Center
    Virginia Tech will bring the Everyone Matters global campaign of inclusiveness and equality to the university. The program will include remarks by University Distinguished Professor Nikki Giovanni and a short film, followed by a candlelight ceremony and reception. Registration will be required. Details will be provided via Virginia Tech News as they become available.

Individuals with a disability who desire an accommodation should contact University ADA Services via the HR Service Center at 540-231-9331 during regular business hours at least 10 days prior to the event.

Learn more about the upcoming events

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

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