African Student Association Red Spots series

During the month of November the African Student Association will host "Red Spots," a series of events designed to raise awareness about important issues taking place on the continent of Africa.

Fall Soccer Tournament.
Friday, November 13, 6-9pm in the Field House of the University Recreation Center (1906 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455). Proceeds of the tournament will go to Students Against Hunger.

Presentation by Oromia Student Union & Eritrean Student Association.
Wednesday, November 18, 5pm in Coffman Union room 201. OSU & ERISA will give presentations on their history and culture, and look at controversial issues affecting their peoples.

Invisible Children screening of Together We Are Free.
Wednesday, November 18, 7pm at the Oak Street Cinema (309 Oak St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455). Together We Are Free is a documentary that follows youth around the world as they call attention to the situation of child soldiers in East Africa. A panel discussion follows the screening. This event is free.

Screening of the documentary Africa Open for Business.
Tuesday, November 24, 5pm in Coffman Union room 201. "Imagine an Africa with entrepreneurial spirit that is striving to take care of itself and finding African solutions to African problems."

NOMMO African American Author Series

On Wednesday, November 11, the NOMMO African American Author Series begins its 2009-2010 season. Professor Alexs Pate hosts Ishmael Reed at 7:00 PM in the Coffman Memorial Union Theater. Ishmael Reed is a poet, publisher, editor, and author of 25 books, including Conjure, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

November 4 "coffee hour" presentation

On Wednesday, November 4, Ann Dillard will present "Friends of Senegal" from 2:30-4:00 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). [Presentation Abstract]


For the past two years Ann Dillard has taken mission trips to Senegal, West Africa. She toured many sites in Senegal, but has concentrated her work in the village of Rufisque. Ann learned of the devastating problems and many deaths of children and adults from widespread malaria in the area. Research shows that every 30 seconds a child under the age of five dies of malaria in Africa - more than 3,000 every day- more than a million every year. Malaria is the number one cause of death in Senegal.
Upon returning from Senegal in February 2008, Ann started an organization called Project Safety Nets (www.projectsafetynets.org). The mission of this organization is to provide support to members of underserved communities in Senegal that will help them meet basic every day needs. This support includes, but is not limited to: school supplies, non-prescription pain medication, resources to empower women entrepreneurs, and mosquito bed nets to protect against malaria.
In this coffee hour presentation Ann will share stories about her amazing journey and the work that continues to be done in Senegal.

"For Colored Girls..." play

The U of M's Nolte Xperimental Theatre presents Ntozake Shange's 1975 stageplay For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf October 29 - November 1. This choreopoem features seven different women, nameless, each known by a different color. Stories of love, abandonment, rape, domestic violence, strength, independence, and healing are shared with the audience. October 29-Ocrtober 31 performances are held at 7:00 pm; the November 1 perfromance is at 2:00 pm. For reservations call 612.625.1876 or email thex@umn.edu.

40th Anniversary exhibit

In 1969 the University of Minnesota established the African American and American Indian Studies Departments, the second and first such departments respectively to be founded in the United States. To celebrate the anniversary of this historic event the University Libraries system has put together a display of archival materials commemorating 40 years of history. An opening reception will be held Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 4:00-6:00 p.m. in 120 Andersen Library. For more information see the Libraries 40th Anniversary exhibit event.

Social Justice Film Festival

Housing & Residential Life, the Social Justice Leadership Retreat, the Office of Student Affairs, Equity and Diversity, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, and the Institute on Community Integration are hosting a Social Justice Film Festival on Saturday, October 24 from 10 AM until 5 PM in the Tate Physics Building. Twelve different films will be shown during the Festival with four being shown at each start time of 10 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. Folks are welcome to come for just one film or watch three throughout the day.

Most of the films are near one hour in length and all of the films will be followed by one hour of discussion facilitated by the office sponsoring the film.

To see a list of the films that includes a short description, please check out the following website: www.housing.umn.edu/filmfestival/

Ada Comstock lecture presented by Prof. Brewer

Professor Rose Brewer will present the Fall 2009 Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholars Lecture at 4:00 PM on November 5, 2009. "Colorblind, Postracial, or Not? Exploring Race in the Obama Era" is the topic for the event in the Cowles Auditorium of the Hubert H. Humphrey Center. Professor Brewer will share the results of her research and invite us all to become involved or re-involved as progressive social activists. The Ada Comstock award honors a University of Minnesota woman faculty member's exceptional research, scholarship, teaching, and leadership contributions via a public lecture. For more information about the Ada Comstock award visit the University of Minnesota Women's Center.