LBC hosts Black Love Week
The event aims to unite the community.
Published April 13, 2009
The Legion of Black Collegians' Black Love Week started Sunday, and the group has events planned every day to "change the way we view black love."
Events include a financial seminar, a movie night, a game night, a fashion show, luncheons, a relationship seminar, health screenings and a field day with a three-on-three basketball tournament.
"The overall purpose is to unite the community," LBC Vice President Jerusha Wells said. "Most events are free for the community to come together for a week."
One of the biggest events this week is a fashion show coordinated in part by the LBC and Visions, another outreach group on campus. Visions began as the plan of three freshmen women, now sophomores, who wanted to focus on community service while being involved on the high fashion scene. Visions teamed up with the Legion of Black Collegians to present what Wells calls one of the highlights of Black Love Week. The show does keep with the theme of the week, she said.
"The fashion show has a cultural awareness aspect," Wells said.
Sunday kicked off Black Love Week with an appreciation brunch for LBC senators. The organization presented awards for outstanding senators.
Monday's event, "The Black Market," was a financial planning seminar focused on the economic situation for college students. Professor Starla Ivey and graduate student Yvonne Hampton provided information and advice about topics ranging from credit scores to 401Ks and tuition reimbursement from employers. A discussion with Hampton followed the presentation as students asked questions about specific situations.
Tuesday night's "Blackbuster" is slated to show a political awareness-based movie that the LBC has not yet chosen. The movie will be shown from 7:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. in Chamber Auditorium in the new student center.
Wednesday night is all about "The Black Family," as LBC sponsors a gaming night from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center.
"We're trying to pull people together to have some fun in the middle of the week," Wells said.
Thursday's events focus on relationships within the black community. "Name the Game," with guest Michael Teague, will focus on relationship problems, successes and advice, and will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Black Culture Center as well.
"With the relationship forum, we're aiming to increase stability in black relationships," Wells said.
Health screenings ranging from blood pressure readings and general health testing to HIV screening, will be provided as a follow-up to the relationship forum, along with the LBC's free "Hunger for Love Lunch," held from noon until 3 p.m. at the Black Culture Center.
"The free lunches will be part of a cultural awareness day," Wells said.
The "Visions First Annual Fashion Extravaganza" will follow Friday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites.
Saturday closes the Black Love Week festivities with a block party, "Celebrating Black," on Carnahan Quadrangle from 2 to 6 p.m. Planned as a community outreach day, the LBC plans to get participants involved beyond the MU campus.
"We have invited the Columbia community to join us, and we have invited local schools so they can get acclimated to the campus and announce the event over their PA systems," Wells said.
The LBC contacted Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Columbia to try to schedule a collaborative field day, but the organization had prior plans.
"We're going to try to collaborate with them in the future and get something going on with the Freshman Action Team," Wells said of a branch of the LBC.