iAfrica at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

From 6-9 P.M. on Thursday, January 21, 2010 the Minneapolis Institute of Arts presents iAfrica: Connecting with Sub-Saharan Art. Visitors with iPhones can download an application that incorporates detailed information about the objects and themes in the exhibition. The app also has a component that allows visitors to virtually play one of the musical objects in the exhibition. Both the app and the iAfrica event are free.

Kwanzaa research featured in an AP story

Professor Keith Mayes' research on Kwanzaa is discussed in an Associated Press article. His research is also featured in a multimedia story on the CLA home page.

Kwanzaa research on CLA home page

Professor Keith Mayes' research on Kwanzaa is the featured story for December 14-20 on the CLA home page. The multimedia story includes a video and a podcast.

History Museum Fellowship Program

The Minnesota Historical Society and the College of Liberal Arts are seeking to fill 10 positions for undergraduate students who are interested in learning about careers as museum professionals or public historians. This program is designed to address the underrepresentation of individuals from communities of color and American Indian Nations in historical organizations and public history graduate programs. Participants will be chosen through a competitive application process. Applicants chosen for the program will:

• Register for a weekly, directed studies seminar through the Department of American Studies for spring semester 2009-2010 instructed by program staff, visiting scholars, U of M faculty, and MHS professionals.
  
• Receive a paid internship ($2,500) with MHS during the summer of 2010 designed to provide participants with real-world public history experience.
  
• Go on a week-long, summer study tour of museums and historic sites in and around the Washington D.C. area. Participants will visit museums and network with other professionals in the museum and public history fields. Travel expenses will be paid by the program.
  
• Receive follow-up mentoring from program staff regarding employment opportunities and graduate programs in museum studies and/or public history.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION, please contact program coordinator, Chris Taylor, at chris.taylor@mnhs.org

Langston Hughes event

"Juke Box Love Song: A Celebration of Langston Hughes on the 50th Anniversary of Selected Poems" will be held on Friday, December 4, at 7:00pm in Lind Hall 150. This Department of English program celebrates poet, dramatist, and novelist Langston Hughes. The department is seeking people to read Hughes' poems (or excerpts from his plays or novels) out loud in whatever language they choose &mdash maybe even one of the poems he chose not to include in Selected Poems. To sign up, email Terri at sutt0063@umn.edu. There will be food, drink, and good company.

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.