Photography prints, art and copies of the book “What Happened to You?” were on display in Building 600 at a Black History Luncheon presented by BFSA, Umoja, and ONE Book, ONE Campus.
Outreach Librarian Lisa Valdez—who was honored at the event—teaches Umoja classes, research courses, co-advises AGS (Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Sigma Honor Society) and runs the ONE Book, ONE Campus program.
“This year we’re doing a book called, “What Happened to You?” but our theme this year is ‘healing invisible wounds to heal our campus,’” Valdez said. “So this is what we’re doing this year just because in the post-COVID era, people are just going through a lot—you notice in the way people drive, you notice in the way that people communicate. So it’s just that we want to address those things so we can figure out a way to get back to normal—I guess as close to it as possible—but also healing their hearts.”
Emil Rizkalla contributed to this story.
Librarian Lisa Valdez talks to the audience in Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 22, 2024. Photo by Icy Smith.
Students, professors and faculty gather to enjoy the Black History Month Luncheon at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb 22, 2024. Photo by Icy Smith.
Allayna Alexander, a psychology major, looks over her art at the Black History Month Luncheon in Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb 22, 2024.“My art represents a playful unique aura with a touch of feminine. I represent Black creativity and diversity,” Alexander said. Photo by Emil Rizkalla.
Professional Development Coordinator Shannon Krajewski serves food to computer science major Shannan Jackson at the Black History Month Luncheon at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb 22, 2024. Photo by Emil Rizkalla.
The book “What Happened to You” on display at a Black History Month Luncheon in Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 22, 2024. Photo by Raquel G. Frohlich.
Librarian Lisa Valdez (center) is emotional as Carman Wimsatt, an associate professor of psychology, and Kalynda McLean, the Umoja Coordinator/Counselor, honor and appreciate the hard work she does for the students and for the community at the Black History Month Luncheon at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb 22, 2024. Photo by Emil Rizkalla.
