JEFFREY JOHNSON TO HEADLINE ODU'S CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Old Dominion University will sponsor a wide variety of events to commemorate Black History Month. Jeffrey I. Johnson, producer and host of BET's popular "The Cousin Jeff Chronicles," will kick off the celebration with a talk at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1.
Free and open to the public, the lecture will be held in the Mills Godwin Jr. Building auditorium.
Johnson, the voice for a new generation of leadership, brings political and social activism to "The Cousin Jeff Chronicles," a series of mini-documentaries that tell the stories of black and Latino communities. The former vice president of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Johnson also can be seen weekly on BET's "Rap City," enlightening young viewers about important political and social issues affecting their communities.
In addition, Johnson does segments on BET's "106 & Park" and "Access Granted." He also has appeared on CNN, MTV and C-Span, and been featured in The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Formerly the national director of the NAACP Youth and College Division, Johnson was responsible for more than 700 Youth Units, representing over 60,000 young people. Under his leadership, the Youth and College Division created the Phoenix Units, chapters that provide encouragement to incarcerated youth, and expanded the leadership training component.
An AME minister, Johnson serves as the youth pastor at the Empowerment Temple AME church in Baltimore, where he lives with his wife and three children.
The following additional Black History Month events are scheduled throughout the month of February:
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Old Dominion University Ebony Impact Gospel Choir performs "Negro Spirituals," 12:30-1:30 p.m., Webb Center. 683-5490
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Old Dominion University and the NAACP present "A Walk Through History," 12:30-1:30 p.m., Webb Center. 683-5490
Thursday, Feb. 15
Norfolk Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. presents "Les Ballets Africains: Mandinka Memories," a blend of traditional dance, music and storytelling, complete with acrobatics, comedy and drama, 7:30 p.m., Crispus Attucks Theater, 1010 Church St., Norfolk. 683-5490 $
Friday, Feb. 23
Ninth annual Old Dominion University East Coast Gospel Festival Fun Nite, sponsored by ODU's Ebony Impact Gospel Choir, 6 p.m., Webb Center. 683-5488
Saturday, Feb. 24
Ninth annual Old Dominion University East Coast Gospel Festival Concert, sponsored by ODU's Ebony Impact Gospel Choir, 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church Lambert's Point. 683-5488 $
Wednesday, Feb. 28
Old Dominion University presents "Harlem Renaissance," performed by ODU students and sponsored by the NAACP, Webb Center. 683-5490. Time TBA.
All events are free, except where noted by $, and open to the public. For more information about Black History Month at Old Dominion University call 683-5490.