Monday, March 4 | 4:30 p.m.
Wriston Art Galleries
Poetry reading featuring Dasha Kelly Hamilton, former Poet Laureate for the City of Milwaukee and the 2020-2022 Poet Laureate for the State of Wisconsin. Part of Black Feminist Fortnight programs.
Read more about Dasha here: https://poets.org/poet/dasha-kelly-hamilton
Part of Black Feminist Fortnight programs, generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges.
Wednesday, Feb. 28 | 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Wriston Art Galleries
Come relax and listen to N.K. Jemisin short fiction from “How Long ‘Til Black Future Month?” The first 30 folks will receive a paperback copy of the book.
Part of the Black Feminist Fortnight Programs. Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges.
Friday, March 1 | 7-10 p.m.
Wriston Auditorium
Director Jennifer Lin will present her 2020 documentary film Beethoven in Beijing. The event is open to the Lawrence community as well as the greater public, and will include a director’s Q&A.
Thursday, Feb. 22 | 4:30 p.m.
Wriston Art Center
Also a showing of The Donnor Party, a creative commentary on colonization
Reception with refreshments to follow.
Part of Black Feminist Fortnight programs, generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges.
Saturday, Feb. 24 | 7-9 p.m.
Warch 224 – Esch Hurvis
Cultural Expressions is Black Student Union’s highly anticipated annual talent showcase, where Black and Brown students across campus express themselves through art mediums such as song, dance, poetry, film, and so much more.
BSU’s marquee event that wraps up Black History Month, Cultural Expressions serves as an ode to the Black and BIPOC communities of LU and beyond, displaying to all the beauty of our backgrounds.
Monday, Feb. 26 | 5:30-7 p.m.
Wriston Auditorium
Come listen to our faculty and staff discuss the importance of Black History in the United States. We look forward to this discussion and to hear questions from all of you.
Monday, Feb. 12 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Spirit Space Living Room
Join us and celebrate the lunar new year! This year is the year of the dragon. We will wrap/ cook dumplings, do paper art, calligraphy, and fun activities!
Sponsored by the Department of Chinese and Japanese
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 8-11 p.m.
Warch 224-225 – Esch Hurvis
Black Excellence is Black Student Union’s annual dance/ball where students come together for a night of fun.
The goal is to showcase Black beauty and enhance Black community.
Thursday, Jan. 18 | 7 p.m.
Harper Hall
Acclaimed poet Paul Tran is the author of the debut poetry collection, All the Flowers Kneeling (Penguin, 2022), winner of the California Independent Bookseller Association Golden Poppy Award and Wisconsin Library Association Poetry Award, finalist for the PEN Open Book Award, Lambda Literary Foundation Transgender Poetry Award, and the Kate Tufts Discovery Award, and named “Editor’s Choice” by The New York Times, “Best Book of 2022” by The New Yorker, and “Books We Love” by NPR. Paul is an Assistant Professor of English and Asian American Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Sponsored by the Mia Paul Poetry Fund, IDEAS, and SHARE
Monday, January 15 | 6-7:30 p.m.
Lawrence Memorial Chapel
Lawrence University is excited to host the 33rd Fox Cities Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
Hear from:
With musical performances from:
Also featuring the presentation of Jane LaChapelle McCarty Unity in Diversity MLK Community Leader and MLK Educator awards:
Thank you to our sponsors!
The Fox Cities MLK Committee (a group of passionate and experienced community members and leaders from non-profit organizations and schools) are proud to plan and host the 33rd Annual Fox Cities Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.
This free community event is successful largely thanks to donations made by you, our community! All funds will be used only for the annual MLK Day celebration.
Thank you for your support!
Donate to the Fox Cities MLK Celebration
About Cainan
Cainan Davenport, affectionately known as “K” within the community he serves, is the co-owner of Taperz Barber Shop and the co-founder of People of Progression. He has dedicated his career to being a community business professional, committed to making a positive impact in the areas that need it most.
A proud Army military veteran, Cainan served as a Combat Medic, gaining skills that now fuel his efforts to foster unity and collaboration within the Appleton community for over 15 years.
Cainan’s community initiatives are nothing short of inspiring. He is the force behind the Appleton Back to School Block Party. Additionally, he actively participates in Jefferson Elementary School’s Back to School Bash.
As a testament to his belief that bringing like-minded individuals together, Cainan was honored with the MLK Community Leader Award in 2023.
In 2007, Cainan opened “Komplexions Barber Shop,” Appleton’s first black-owned barbershop and later established “Taperz Barbershop.” Despite the challenges faced as a minority business owner, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, he continues to lead various community events, turning Taperz into a hub for all people in the Fox Valley, particularly those of color.
As the Vice President of Generational Guidance Group, a local organization supporting kids in the Fox Valley, Cainan actively contributes to events that build character, teach teamwork, and
boost self-esteem.
Recognizing additional needs in the community, Cainan created Taperz Talks, providing a safe space to discuss life grievance. His barbershop serves as a haven during off hours for open forums, fostering open conversations within the community. His constant goal is to bring like-minded individuals together to actively work on solutions, creating a stronger and more empowered community.
About Dr. Adriana McCleer
Adriana McCleer, Ph.D., is the Community Partnerships Supervisor at Appleton Public Library, where she oversees programs, community engagement, outreach, and partnerships related to teens and adults.
Adriana’s approach to librarianship is asset-based, collaborative, and community-centered, so engagement in local initiatives is central to her work. She is the chair of Casa Hispana, Inc. Board of Directors, event chair for Latino Fest, a member of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center’s NEW PAC and supports various local programs and projects.
