Black Joy Week – Mindful Meditation

Today’s Event…

Community Mindful Meditation

Black Joy Week Mindful Meditation for Black Mental Wellness

Slow down the week with some mindful meditation. All are welcome and encouraged to pause and access your inner joy even if just for a moment.

  • Location: The Quad – under the tree area in front of Hicks near the parking lot
  • Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • All are welcome for guided and non-guided meditations, snacks, and handouts on meditation for black mental wellness.

Have you heard? 6 days until Black Joy Week!

Celebrate Black Joy Week

Yes, it’s really happening!

That’s right, BAFSA is back for the third annual Black Joy Week! This year, BAFSA, the Arcus Center, Counseling Center, Intercultural Center and the BSO have joined together to create a week full of fun!

Preview of Events

  • Tue, May 30 – Black Joy Week Kick-Off and 3 vs 3 Student, Staff, and Faculty Basketball Game (Basketball Sign-Ups)
  • Wed, May 31 – Community Mindful Meditation for Black Mental Wellness
  • Thu, June 1 – Capture your Joy 360 Photo Booth
  • Fri, June 2 – Pop-Up Dance on the Quad

Visit the Black Joy Week page for more details on times and locations of these events.

Final Day of Black Joy Week – BSO Daily Trivia and BJW Schedule

Daily Trivia Question

a graphic with illustrated cookies and question marks along with the words "BSO Daily Trivia"

Which holiday is celebrated on the 19th of June also known as “Freedom Day?”

Comment your answer below!

Yesterday’s Trivia Answer: Gordon Parks

See our post tomorrow for the answer to today’s trivia question. The winners of each daily trivia will be contacted directly to arrange prize delivery.


Today’s Events

Juneteenth Block Party!

community celebrating through dance at a block party.
Register for the Block Party

Come Party!

End Black Joy Week and start your Juneteenth Celebration with a Block Party at K. The party will include food, music by DJ Chuck, as well as performances by O’Jamm.

Details

Day: Friday, June 18th
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Location: K-College Lower Quad
Participant Restriction: Available to Kalamazoo College faculty, staff, students, and administration only.


Black Music, History, and Celebration


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Celebrate Anywhere – Juneteenth Celebrations Near You


Get ready to celebrate Juneteenth!

Why all Americans Should Honor Juneteenth


Celebrations in the Kalamazoo Area

Kalamazoo College Juneteenth Celebration

Friday, June 18th, 2 p.m.

Location: K-College Lower Quad

Thank you to everyone who registered for the Block Party! Registration for lunch is now closed. However, we encourage you to join us from 2 – 5 p.m. for music with O’Jamm, games with BAFSA and dancing to the sounds of DJ Chuck on the Quad.

Soul Artistry LLC (virtual)

Saturday, June 19, 2021, 1 – 3 pm  

Livestreamed performances from the Mary Jane Stryker Theater at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum featuring youth poets, dancers, vocalists and a DJ ranging in age from 5 – 18 years old. Free on Facebook.

Soul Artistry FB Live Link

Black Arts & Cultural Center and Kalamazoo Public Library (virtual)

June 19, 2021, 1-3 p.m.

  • 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – Black and Underrepresented Businesses Video Compilation
    Video compilation highlighting Black and other underrepresented businesses to promote their goods and services.
  • 1 – 2 p.m. – Youth Virtual Paint Party for grades 4 – 12
  • 7 – 8 p.m. – Adult Virtual Paint Party
Juneteenth Freedom Day at Arcadia Creek Festival Site

Saturday, June 19, 12 – 6 p.m.

The event will feature musical performances, celebrate Black fathers and celebrate recent 2020-2021 graduates of 2 and 4 year colleges. This community commencement will begin at 4 p.m.

Juneteenth Basketball Tournament & Slam Dunk Contest

Saturday, June 19 at 10 a.m.

Location: Wings Event Center

This event will feature Doug Anderson, Kalamazoo native and Harlem Globetrotter. Advance tickets are $7 for children 12 and under, $15 for ages 13 and up. Tickets at the door will cost $10 for 12 and under and $20 for 13 and up. $5 of each ticket will go to Eliminating Racism & Creating/Celebrating Equity (ERACCE), Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy & Action in the Community (ISAAC) and Rootead.

Kalamazoo Nature Center

Address: 7000 N. Westnedge Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49009

The Nature Center is offering free admission throughout the month of June as a way to celebrate freedom and share the healing and nourishment that nature can provide. For free admission, simply mention that you are there to honor Juneteenth.

KZOO Juneteenth

A collaborative celebration of Juneteenth with programming by WMU, Kalamazoo College, and other Kalamazoo area organizations.

Visit the KZOO Juneteenth website for their list of events.

Brandford Marsalis at the Kalamazoo State Theatre

Saturday, June 19 at 8:00 p.m.

Branford Marsalis Tickets 

Statewide Juneteenth Kickoff hosted by Emergent Justice

Friday, June 18 from 6 pm – 11 pm

Address: 804 W. North Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Emergent Justice, PACCT, UPLift Kalamazoo, Urban Democracy FEAST, Urban Exposure Initiative, Fresh Start and Majyck Radio have partnered together to create a space of fellowship,celebration and sharing.

There will be content shared via Zoom from Detroit and Benton Harbor communities throughout the event. Performances from local artists, SkitzoMichigan and Kreative Kitty and Khadijah Brown, as well as children’s activities.

Featured documentary, Amend: The Fight for America (the first episode of the series) will be played once it is near dusk.

Amend: The Fight for America Trailer

Free PPE provided!

Amend Zoom Room Registration

The event will also be streamed FB live as well.

Minor Element: A Juneteenth Celebration (virtual)

Saturday, June 19 at 7 p.m.

Minor Element is an all-instrumental jazz fusion band from Battle Creek, Michigan. Originally a jazz trio, the group evolved over time to the diverse group of musicians it is today. As the band grew, so did their sound, pulling in elements of Jazz, Rock, Gospel, Fusion – basically anything that inspires them – to create their distinctive sound. Minor Element pride themselves on being music for the musician and the audience; not only can you hear the complexity in the original compositions, but you can find your groove too. This event is FREE but registration is required.

Register for Minor Element Juneteenth Celebration

Juneteenth Jam – A Celebration of Freedom

Saturday, June 19, 3 – 6 p.m.

Address: Upjohn Park 1018 Walter Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

The Black Action Movement and WMU’s Black Student Union have come together to plan a Juneteenth event for the community! Come our and show out! There will be games, music, educational resources, and food…all FREE to you!

For more information contact: 734.489.9220 or bsuwmu1968@gmail.com



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Black Joy Week Day 4- BSO Daily Trivia and BJW Schedule

Daily Trivia Question

a graphic with illustrated cookies and question marks along with the words "BSO Daily Trivia"

Which Black photographer said, “I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs.”

Comment your answer below!

Yesterday’s Trivia Answer: Oprah Winfrey

See our post tomorrow for the answer to today’s trivia question. The winners of each daily trivia will be contacted directly to arrange prize delivery.


Today’s Events

Black Boy Joy by Madison Triplett ’19

Kalamazoo College alumna, Madison Triplett '19

“Change the image, change the perception”

Join us for a conversation with Madison Triplett, the creator of the iconic photo series, Black Boy Joy and Sights of Joy.

Details

Day: Thursday, June 17th
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Register for the Black Boy Joy Conversation
Participant Restriction: None


More About Black Joy Week

Remaining BJW Events


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Black Joy Week Day 3- BSO Daily Trivia and BJW Schedule

Daily Trivia Question

a graphic with illustrated cookies and question marks along with the words "BSO Daily Trivia"

Which Black icon inspired Tyler Perry to pursue writing?

Comment your answer below!

Yesterday’s Trivia Answer: Amanda Gorman

See our post tomorrow for the answer to today’s trivia question. The winners of each daily trivia will be contacted directly to arrange prize delivery.


Today’s Events…

Juneteenth Keynote

Don’t miss the Juneteenth keynote with activist, historian, writer, and former Kalamazoo College Academic Director of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership & Professor of History, Dr. Lisa Brock. Dr. Brock is also one of the founders of this Juneteenth Celebration.

Details

Day: Wednesday, June 16th
Time: 12:00 p.m. EST
Location: Zoom – Register for the Keynote
Participant Restriction: None

Black Movie & Music Trivia Game

Join Kalamazoo College’s Black Student Organization (BSO) for a fun night of black movie trivia. The top two winners will receive special prizes!

Show Details

Day: Wednesday, June 16th
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST
Location: Register for Black Movie and Music Trivia
Participant Restriction: None


More About Black Joy Week


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