Dear Faculty and Staff:

St. Charles Community College is proud to celebrate Black History Month which has been recognized nationally by every U.S. president since 1976. There are many events on campus throughout the month of February for recognizing the importance of Black history in America. The theme for this year’s program is health and wellness, and includes the following:

• Black History Trivia/Game Night - 2/9
• “Laughter is Good for the Soul” Comedian: Ray Money - 2/10
• Virtual Mental Health Panel - 2/15
• Spirit of Angela West African Dance & Drum Experience - 2/16
• “Let’s Talk About Race” Community Panel Discussion - 2/23
• Movie Night “The Color of Medicine” - 2/24

My appreciation is extended to the Department of Student Life, the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement (OMSE), and the African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) for their leadership in organizing all the events that help us celebrate Black History Month.

On Monday, January 31, I had the privilege of presenting to the St. Charles Economic Development Council, followed by a presentation this morning to the EDC’s Education Committee meeting. I was invited to share the recent good news of the Governor’s proposed budget and how that impacts the vision for our new Regional Workforce/Technical Center in Wentzville. The growth of our workforce programs is an important part of our ability to fuel economic development throughout our community while supporting the needs of business and industry.

At the January 25th President’s Council meeting, Vicky Herbel and Nancy Kammerer shared information on a new proposed initiative for SCC, called “Community Hour.” As shared during the presentation, many colleges and universities are dedicating one hour (some daily, others a few days per week) for faculty, staff, and students to come together outside the classroom to participate in a variety of community-building opportunities. The Council gave support for further exploration of this initiative, including implementation of a student survey.

Best wishes for a wonderful week.