SU concludes final week of Black History Month with celebration events, workshops
Black History Month 2022
119 Euclid saw a big turnout during their Trap N Paint event last weekend as they continue hosting many of the SU’s Black History Month events.
“We plan by what’s needed on our campus and what students are actively looking for or engaging in,” Cornelia Stokes, office coordinator at 119 Euclid, said. “Just listening to them when they say ‘this is what we want.’”
119 Euclid — an affinity space for Black students at SU— in collaboration with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Barnes Center at The Arch and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion has planned collaborative events in celebration of Black History Month this February.
According to Stokes, the Black History Month celebrations incorporate student engagement and culture. All of the offices involved rely on students’ input for planning and executing their events.
On Friday, February 11, their Trap N Paint night rendered the highest turnout they’d seen all month. Students stayed past the ending time and “ it was a great time out. A great vibe,” Stokes said.
They have hosted a series of events throughout the month surrounding Black culture and Black history. Among these are the Art Walk “Voices of the Heroes” which runs from Feb. 11 to Feb. 19 and Black Market which showcases Black businesses within the university.
On Feb. 20, the office hosted the first ever Black History Month Basketball Classic with a student and faculty team. The game featured a performance of the Black national anthem performance of the Black national anthem by Erika Turner as well as halftime performances from the Kalabash Dance Troupe and Milan Chin.
This week — Feb. 21 through Feb. 26 — will be the Black Health and Wellness Expo. “We’re addressing topics that may not be actively discussed or might not be accessible,” Stokes said.
119 Euclid — in partnership with The Barnes Center — will facilitate the events for the health and wellness week centered around health and development.
The week will include events such as “The Challenge of Debt for Black Students and How to Manage It”, “Pop-Up for Sex (Ed)”, “Climate Change – Impacts on the Culture”, “Move – IT Workout”, “Supporting Black Mental Health through Self Care” and “MealPrep – For Those Who Get It”.
These events are centered around wellness; focusing on both physical and mental health as well as important issues affecting the Black population. This week will also serve for community improvement and emphasizes the work that is encouraged at 119 Euclid.
Stokes said event promotion is a key aspect of seeing a high turnout at these events. 119 Euclid has relied on word of mouth as well as social media posts and flyers to engage with students and make their presence known.
“Students trust their peers,” Stokes said. “If they’re excited about it, they’ll know how to get others excited about it”
With the final week of Black History Month approaching, Stokes said she encourages all students to attend their events and support the Black student experience at SU.
“119 is open and welcomes everybody who supports the Black student experience at Syracuse University,” Stokes said.
Toluwanimi Fajolu contributed to the reporting of this story.
is a reporter for the NewsHouse.
is a senior majoring in Political Science and Magazine and a Lead Campus News Producer for The NewsHouse.
