Students and the entire community are invited to celebrate a great mashup of cultural reflections on racial justice, civil rights, historically inspired entertainment and other full-flavored festivities.

It’s all going down at San Bernardino Valley College.

On Tuesday, February 18 from noon to 2:00 p.m., Umoja-Tumaini hosts its Mac & Cheese Throw Down cooking competition. The taster’s choice explores the history of soul cuisine with tradition versus contemporary palates. The group will look at familiar foods in the Black community, and how some recipes achieved popularity and longevity. Everyone can grab a bite or two at the event to be held in B-100.

On Friday, February, 21, all are invited to the Black History Month Breakfast held from 9-11 a.m at the SBVC Sun Room/Student Center. Under the theme, “Know the Past, Shape the Future,” the Black Faculty and Staff presents four honorees in recognition of their many years of service to the community and students. Among them, Patricia Nickols-Butler, CEO of Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County and board member of the SBVC Foundation. The featured speaker is LaQuetta Bush-Simmons.

Also recognized will be Assemblymember James Ramos, San Bernardino County deputy chief probation officer Kimberly Ellis, and SBVC custodian Jerry Mason, a community coach who has led many track teams and students onto victorious careers.

Gospel group Gary Gary will perform. Umoja Tumaini club will be on-site to greet and serve.

“We plan on having a good time,” said Keynasia Buffong, president of Black Faculty and Staff. “This year, Black Faculty and Staff wanted to make sure that we engage the students in every way. We want to honor folks actively working to shape the future and change things for African Americans in this community.”

Umoja Tumaini is presenting a slide show of African American historical contributions, some of which are not found in typical lineups.

“We’re looking to celebrate some of the unsung. We want to make sure that they understand that they helped shape our lives today,” she said.

On Thursday, February 27, the Precinct Reporter newspaper and the SBVC Black Faculty & Staff will present “Black Butterfly,” a modern fusion dance concert with Maura Townsend’s Project21Dance, Spoken Word artist Alex Avila from CSUSB, and classically trained vocalist William Lacey, which explores a deeper, often tragic trajectory of police abuse.

The event also presents a tribute to Nina Simone.

On Friday, February 28 from 1:00-3:00 p.m., fashionistas can get their sister wrap on with “My Black is Beautiful Head Wrap Party” to be held in B-100. Light refreshments will be served, and ladies will discover the origins of the royalty behind the headwrap, and may learn to walk a bit taller.

The event leads into yet another dynamic breakout evening on campus with a Civil Rights/Black History Month Concert from 7:00-9:30 p.m. It will be held in the auditorium. The annual Black History Month concerts continue to grow with a wide array of compelling performances from all corners of the community.

She considers it the most important concert that they hold in the performing arts department all year long. Her favorite part is always the music. She appreciates how it expresses the spirit. “The spirit which yearns to be free and equal, these things don’t exist in a vacuum. These things can only exist in a society that is free to express itself, which is another civil right,” she said.