The Parkland College Blog

Parkland College will observe Black History Month in February with month-long virtual and in-person events.

With the theme "Black Health and Wellness," the college will look at historical health issues and healthcare disparities facing African Americans as well as noteworthy African American accomplishments in health, medicine, and technology.

Parkland invites all community members to participate in the following events; most events will have attendance restrictions, and some may have virtual options. Session links will be available at parkland.edu/BHM.
 
Music That Soothes the Soul
Feb. 2
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Union Building stage

Time Management and Study Skills Workshop
Feb. 2
1 p.m.–2 p.m.
Learning Commons
Facilitator: Angela Jancola, Counseling Services

Diversity Committee Book Study
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 26 (through April 8)
9–10 a.m.
Enjoy a discussion of “The Sum of Us” by Heather McGhee
On Microsoft Teams
Contact mburke@parkland.edu for registration.

AIDS/HIV Awareness Informational Table
Feb. 7
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Union Building first floor

Free Lunch
Feb. 8
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (or until food runs out)
Union Building first floor

Black History Trivia Event
Feb. 9
1–2 p.m.
Room U140
Facilitator: Dr. Willie Fowler, Social Sciences and Human Services

Protecting Your Career and Educational Well-Being during the Pandemic
Feb. 10
1–2 p.m.
Zoom
Facilitators: Dr. Marietta Turner, Dean of Students, and Brennon Hightower, Counseling Services

Mental Health and the Black Community
Feb. 11
Noon–1 p.m.
Room U140
Facilitator: Donna Tanner-Harold, Counseling Services

Black History Month Karaoke
Feb. 14
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Union Building stage

Suicide Prevention
Feb. 16
1–2 p.m.
Learning Commons
Facilitator: Dr. Marya Burke, Counseling Services

RACE Talks
Feb. 17
Noon–1 p.m.
Room U140
Facilitators: Donna Tanner-Harold, Counseling Services, and Dr. Marsh Jones, Social Sciences and Human Services

Domestic Violence as it Affects the Black Community
Feb. 18
Noon.–1 p.m.
Room U140
Facilitator: Osajuli Cravens, Courage Connection director of engagement and development

Game On! (Gaming)
Feb. 22
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Flag Lounge

Self-Care Presentation
Feb. 22
Noon–1 p.m.
Room U140
Facilitator: Joe Omo-Osagie

Kofi Bazzell-Smith Speaks
Feb. 23
1–2 p.m.
Room U140
Parkland alumnus shares his academic success journey

Classroom Talks: Black Pioneer Contributions in Technology
Faculty-led discussions in campus classrooms throughout February
Facilitator: Dr. Marsh Jones, Social Sciences and Human Services

NOTE: The Black History Month Committee at Parkland College also recommends the following wellness resources to community members: 

• African American Wellness Project: aawellnessproject.org
• African American/National Alliance on Mental Illness: www.nami.org
• Black Women's Health Imperative: www.bwhi.org
• African American Health/Vital Signs CDC
• BlackHealthMatters.com
• BlackMen’sHealthProject.org

Residents who live with daily pain or who have difficulty completing simple to more complex day-to-day activities can get in-person or virtual help from a free clinic at Parkland College.

The Learning Information for Everyday (LIFE) Clinic, offered by the Parkland College Occupational Therapy Assistant program, provides individual consultation, modifications and assistive devices, and recommendations for simple strategies to conserve energy, perform daily tasks, and navigate activities better.

The student-led clinics consist of classes, activities, and engagement for greater C-U area clients to promote independence, socialization, and higher quality of life through individual and/or group activities, and in-person or virtual sessions with OTA students, supervised by Parkland OTA faculty.

Parkland will offer LIFE Clinic services Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, at Parkland College's Health Professions department at 1309 N. Mattis during the spring 2022 semester.

Residents can visit parkland.edu/lifeclinic for more information. To schedule an appointment through the clinic, please use the link above or contact Kendra Schroder at 217/353-2760 or kschroder@parkland.edu.

Parkland College Theatre will hold auditions for its spring production of "The SpongeBob Musical" on Saturday, January 22 at the Parkland theatre.

Director Chelsea Collier is casting 20-25 performers who can sing and/or dance in a contemporary pop style. Audition sign-ups are available at this link.

Auditions will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; check-in will take place in the lobby. Complete and detailed instructions for the auditioning process are available at parkland.edu/auditions.

Call-backs will be held Sunday, January 23, time TBD. Those who are called back will receive a phone call on Saturday afternoon, after auditions.

Performances for "The SpongeBob Musical" will run in Parkland's Harold and Jean Miner Theatre from April 14 to May 1.

All members of the community as well as Parkland and University of Illinois students are invited to audition; Parkland Theatre encourages diversity. Additional questions should be addressed to operations assistant HeatherAnn Layman at hlayman@parkland.edu. For more information about the Parkland Theatre, visit parkland.edu/theatre.

Although Parkland College's full-semester classes are now in session, another range of classes is available to students who still wish to enroll.

Registration is now open for Parkland's Late-Start Class session, which begins the week of January 31.

Residents can earn full-semester college credit in just 13 weeks, in classes taught at a slightly more accelerated pace than full-semester classes. Students can select from transferable, virtual, and in-person courses in math, biology, education, English, foreign languages, astronomy, and many other subjects, plus career-specialty classes in aviation, agriculture, health professions, computer science, and more. 

Registration for the 13-week session ends January 30. To get started at Parkland College, visit parkland.edu/getStarted or contact Admissions and Records at 217/351-2482 or admissions@parkland.edu.