MESA, Arizona – March 5, 2021 — In celebration of Black History, Mesa Community College (MCC) presents Black History 2021 - A Year of Recognition. MCC will honor the achievements of Black people past and present by hosting events featuring Black history and culture through December 2021.
“By celebrating the entire year we will have a greater opportunity to reflect on Black history and culture, further acknowledging and learning about the historical and modern injustices,” said Tricia White, director of the MCC Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Black History Year Committee member. “We hope, by continuing the momentum launched in February during Black History Month, to engage with our students and our community to identify ways we can move forward, together.”
The community is encouraged to participate in MCC Black History Year events and programs and to review the resources and features found online at mesacc.edu/black-history-year.
“This Year of Recognition explores the impact Black Americans have made in areas such as our local community, entrepreneurship, education, film and arts, politics and law, and much more,” said Mona Scott Figueroa, Ed.D., MCC American Indian Studies and Sociology faculty, Phi Theta Kappa Advisor and Black History Year Committee member. “We are also sharing the accomplishments of our Black colleagues who excel in their area of expertise and have advanced diversity, equity and inclusion at MCC.”
Faculty Spotlights, celebrating the lives and accomplishments of Black employees, are published online monthly. To date, four Spotlights are available featuring employees from several areas within the college: Michelle Traveler, Ph.D., MBA from the Computer and Information Systems Department; Luis Ellis, a doctoral candidate at Fielding Graduate University, from Student Success Programs; Anthony Griffith, Ph.D. from the Reading Department; and Sheba Jones from the Dental Hygiene Department.
Recordings of virtual Black History Month events, including Community Resilience: Queer. Black. Trans., facilitated by Monic Jones, BSW, executive director of the Outlaw Project; and Where to we go from here: Chaos? Or Community?, led by Richard Crews, are available on demand at mesacc.edu/black-history-year.
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Media contact: Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu or 480-461-7892
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized as an Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community College and is known for service learning, career and technical programs, civic engagement and innovative approaches to education. For more than 50 years, the college has served as a resource for career readiness, transfer education, workforce development and lifelong learning. Host to more than 30,000 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs at its two campuses, additional locations and a combination of online formats. Through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, MCC is transforming how it champions student success, college completion, university transfer and career attainment and advancement. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution and nearly 50% of its students are the first in their families to attend college. Its American Indian Institute serves students from the 22 federally recognized tribes of Arizona as well as out-of-state tribes. MCC has the largest indigenous student population of all the Maricopa Community Colleges. The diverse student body includes more than 300 international students from 55 countries. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to successfully transfer to a university or compete in the workforce. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, on the traditional territories of the O'odham, Piipaash and Yavapai Peoples, MCC is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Visit mesacc.edu to learn more.
MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.