Career Connections Panel: Black Excellence at Work
Wednesday, February 21 | Noon - 1:30 pm | IVC Performing Arts Center
Hosted by Black Student Success Scholars
Come listen, learn, and lunch as esteemed black professionals from our local community share their unique personal and professional career stories. They will provide insight regarding the paths they chose, the experiences they gained, and the lessons they learned along the way. Our diverse array of panelists represents expertise in a wide range of industries from entrepreneurship, academia, the sciences, and more!
Celebrated in February, Black History Month is an annual observance of achievements by African Americans and their central role in U.S. history. It was first proposed when Harvard-educated historian Carter G. Woodson and community activist Jesse E. Moorland, founded what is now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, or the ASALH. In 1926, ASALH launched a "Black History Week" to address the underrepresentation of African Americans in the study of American history
February was chosen because it encompasses both abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ birthday on February 14 and President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded to a month.
Join Irvine Valley College for a celebration of Black History all throughout the month of February!
Events at IVC
“A Journey of Resilience and Inspiration” Dr. Yancie Carter
Thursday, February 29 | Noon - 1:30 pm | IVC Performing Arts Center
Hosted by Black Student Success Scholars and Rising Scholars
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on Project Scholars, prison reform, and the transformative power of education. Irvine Valley College is honored to host Dr. Yancie Carter, a distinguished figure in the field of education and a passionate advocate for prison reform. Dr. Carter brings over two decades of experience working with formerly incarcerated individuals, and his groundbreaking Project Scholars program has been transforming lives by providing a pathway to education and reintegration. Refreshment provided.
Events in Our Community
A²MEND Summit
Wednesday, March 6 - Friday, March 8 | Hyatt Regency LAX | Register »
Attend A²MEND’s 2024 17th Annual Summit. The summit is hosted by the African American Male Education Network and Development (A²MEND), a nonprofit organization of African American male educators, who voluntarily use their professional expertise to operate a statewide mentoring program for Black male college students. A²MEND's mission is to ensure the interest and success of African American students, faculty, staff, and administrators at California’s community colleges.
Black Student Success Week
Vision to Action: Building Systems and Structures for Black Student Success
Monday, April 22 - Friday, April 26
Black Student Success Week returns April 22-26, 2024 inviting administrators, faculty, staff, and students from across the California community college system to examine the resources and programs that support Black student success.
For a listing of other events throughout the year highlighting and celebrating the Black Community in and around the area, please visit Black Cultural Events.
IVC Communities
Black Student Success Scholars
The Black Student Success Scholars program aims to connect students of the African diaspora to experience Black Excellence through a safe and welcoming environment. The program will bring an African-centered education lens to support services, academic counseling, academic and cultural workshops, cultural enriching field trips, transfer planning, and HBCU tours. More Info »
Fellowship Exchange of Lessons Learned and Academic Support (IVC FELLAS)
IVC FELLAS (formerly EMCEES) is a DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) driven male initiative focused on student success and community engagement for the college’s self-identified men of color students, staff, and faculty. This brotherhood was created to encourage college completion and transfer and to establish a sense of belonging. All are welcome. More Info »
Womxn of Color Collective (WoCC)
The WoCC is a group dedicated to building community and empowering self-identified womxn of color students, staff, and faculty. Womxn is used in place of “women” to be inclusive of all gender experiences surrounding femininity. Non-female-identifying students such as non-binary and gender expansive folks are explicitly invited and welcomed. More Info »
Black Student Union (BSU) Club
The Black Student Union (BSU) aims to cultivate a sense of belonging and acknowledgement at IVC through building a strong campus community. The BSU will create awareness of the Black and African-American experience to teach and spread Black and African-American cultural knowledge and understanding through the formation of mutually-respected relationships along with a deeper understanding of the culture. These visions will be attained through planning historically cultural events, having tough conversations, creating and attending educational workshops and conferences, and reaching out to and volunteering with IVC within the community. More Info »
Black History-Related IVC Courses
- ANTH 3 - Culture and Language
- ANTH 23 - Africa, Oceanic, and Indigenous North American Art
- ANTH 27 - Art History Survey III: Non-Western
- COMM 9 - Intercultural Communication
- DNCE 1 - Introduction to Dance
- DNCE 30 - African Dance: Overview
- DNCE 60 - African: Dance and Drumming
- DNCE 61 - Pan-African Dance/The Diaspora
- DNCE 62 - West African Dance: Empire of Mali
- ETHN 10 - Introduction to Ethnic Studies
- ETHN 40 - Introduction to African American Studies
- GEOG 2 - People, Places, and Environments
- HIST 1 - The History of World Civilizations to 1500
- HIST 2 - The History of World Civilizations Since 1500
- HIST 11 - The West and The World Since the Renaissance
- HIST 30 - History of Ethnicity and Culture in the United States
- HLTH 6 - Health and Social Justice
- HLTH 7 - Global Health
- HUM 10 - Introduction to Cultural Studies
- MUS 27 - History of Jazz
- SOC 2 - Race and Ethnic Group Relations
- SOC 20 - Race and Ethnic Group Relations
IVC Library Resources
Community Resources
- National Museum of African American History & Culture (Smithsonian)
- Knowing the Past Opens the Door to the Future (Smithsonian)
- ASALH: Origins of Black History Month (Association for the Study of African American Life and History)
- Black Culture Connection (PBS)
- NBC News: Ways to Celebrate Black Excellence (NBC News)
Businesses and Organizations
Social Media
- Black History (Instagram)