Penn State Berks celebrates Black History Month

Step Afrika! logo
Credit: Courtesy Step Afrika!

READING, Pa. — In honor of Black History Month, Penn State Berks will hold the following events in February. All events are free and open to the public.

Step Afrika!
7 p.m.,  Tuesday, Feb. 6 — Perkins Student Center Auditorium

Step Afrika! is the first professional dance company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. Founded in 1994 as an exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of Johannesburg, South Africa, the company tours internationally presenting performances, residencies and workshops. Shows feature an introduction to the history of stepping and a lot of audience participation. Step Afrika! gets people moving toward a greater appreciation for the arts and a better understanding of each other.  

Dr. Chidi Achebe
12:15 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21 — Perkins Student Center Multipurpose Room
7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21 — Perkins Student Center Auditorium

Dr. Chidi Achebe, physician executive and the son of the late Chinua Achebe, renowned African author of the novel "Things Fall Apart" and other distinguished works, will present two lectures on Feb. 21 at Penn State Berks: one at 12:15 p.m. titled “Investment in Nigeria” and another at 7 p.m. titled “Inequalities in Health Care in the United States: Why We Should Care.” Both lectures are free and open to the public.

Dr. Achebe earned his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School, his MBA from the Yale University School of Management, and a master of public health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. He is an advocate for health care equality. For his efforts in bridging health care disparities, Achebe was awarded the 2012 Dartmouth College Martin Luther King Award. He is currently the president and CEO of African Integrated Development Enterprise.

Penn State Berks reserves the right to limit the photography and/or recording of any program. The permitted or prohibited activities during a particular program will be announced at the beginning of the event and/or included in the printed program. All media requesting interviews and/or access to photograph and/or tape any program must contact the Office of Strategic Communications at 610-396-6053.

This presentation is part of the Arts and Lecture series. For more information, contact the Office of Campus Life at 610-396-6076.