MDC North Campus Celebrates Black History Month and Joins Nationwide Effort to Promote Literacy

MIAMI – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) North Campus continues its tradition of convening special programs that bring literacy to the forefront with its own take on the 23rd National African American Read-In, at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6 at the North Campus.
 
As part of the nationwide initiative to promote literacy, MDC’s North Campus will host a live audience of more than 400 college, middle and high-school students, including various faculty and school administrators, corporate and community leaders – all of whom will simultaneously read literature written by professional African American writers. The African American Read-In will also be streamed live via the web to encourage participation from those not able to attend the event in person.
 
This year’s featured book is Oil on Water by Helon Habila, which encourages individuals to reflect on their own lives and determine how their personal values can be elevated toward a better world for all. Habila’s novel unveils to the reader Nigeria’s Oil Conflict, environmental devastation, and the endurance of local resistance. He teaches at George Mason University’s Graduate Creative Writing Program and recently visited with MDC North Campus students, under the auspices of The Center for Literature and Theater @ MDC, a sponsor of the campus Read-In. Habila also has won both the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and Caine Prize for African Writing.
 
The national African American Read-In initiative is sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English and endorsed by the International Reading Association. Each year, over one million readers from throughout the nation of all ethnic groups from the U.S., the West Indies, and African countries pay homage to African American writers and their contributions to reading, literature and literacy. The goal of this initiative is to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.
 
Beyond its own event, the role of MDC’s North Campus is to connect students to culturally relevant content, and foster a cross-cultural acceptance and understanding and align these efforts with the College’s Learning Outcomes (specific educational goals that teach college students lifelong skills in ten core areas). “Reading is a cornerstone of learning, and North Campus is proud to present its African American Read-In as a permanent and active link in a national chain that promotes literacy and otherwise enriches students,” said Dr. José Vicente, president of MDC’s North Campus.
 
Throughout the month of February, MDC North Campus students, administrators and faculty will visit several elementary, middle and high schools to conduct Read-Ins at school sites on the subject of bullying, personal, civic and social responsibility and literacy as a means of furthering the social and moral development of the most important human resources — children.