This Black History Month, North Park University’s (NPU) Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice hosted its inaugural Black Peace in the City series in collaboration with the Urban Peace Lab. Each Monday in February, NPU welcomed guest speakers to campus to share how Black people enact peace in 芝加哥 and beyond.
Dr. 彼得·K. B. St. Jean founded the Urban Peace Lab and peaceology, which he defines as the science and practice of sustainable and profitable peacefulness. 在亚游集团官方网站, he serves as professor of sociology, chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, associate dean of the Humanities and Social 科学 Division, and interim co-chair of the 文学院 and 科学.
The series included the following events.
- “How Black Businesses Succeed”
- “Family, Immigration, Migration, and Black Success”
- “From Economy of Violence to Economy of Peace”
- “Black Peaceology: How Black Folks Succeed with Low Stress and High Joy”
The first event in the series featured guest Michelle Renee Bester, associate director of 黑人剧团. Bester explained the 项目 and success of 黑人剧团 and its impact on creating a more peaceful 芝加哥.
Benneth Lee and Eric 威尔金斯 joined North Park to share their stories and discuss their work in the event “From Economy of Violence to Economy of Peace.” Lee is cofounder of the National Alliance for the Empowerment of the Formerly Incarcerated, which helps returning citizens with voter registration, 简历, 工作申请, 以及其他服务. 威尔金斯, who was shot as a young man and left paralyzed, is the founder of Broken Winggz Foundation, a nonprofit that assists survivors of gun violence and helps create safer communities in 芝加哥 and beyond.
最后一项, NPU welcomed the Bernard Crump and Friends band, who performed 芝加哥 blues, 节奏与蓝调, 和爵士乐. Dr. 洛雷塔Hall-Martin, a retired educator and current dance instructor, also joined the event to introduce the North Park community to the history of 芝加哥 step dancing and provide stepping lessons to the live music.