INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE
2009-2010 Newsletter
FROM THE DIRECTOR
As we close the 20092010 academic year, the
Institute on Black Life
looks back on a very
active agenda.
The fall and spring Colloquia offered opportunities
to discuss diverse ideas
with an interdisciplinary group of scholars. As
we revisit the topics addressed, the critical
analyses presented, and the lively intellectual
exchanges stimulated by the Colloquium
speakers, we are proud to note that IBL
remained focused on its mission to facilitate
and support knowledge production on the
history and culture of people of Africa and its
Diaspora.
Although each semester’s Colloquium
Series primarily involved issues pertinent to
the U.S. and Haiti, IBL’s “Many Faces of Africa”
student conference refocused our attention on
the magnificent African continent. Students
from several Hillsborough County schools
attended this annual event, which always
offers IBL the exciting opportunity to engage
USF scholars in discussions on their research
and experiences in various African countries.
IBL’s new ventures this year included our first
HIV-AIDS Walk and the Black Emphasis Month
Talent Contest. The HIV–AIDS Walk was a
fundraiser for a new scholarship that will
support graduate research on HIV-AIDS. The
event was shared by USF students and our
community partners.
During the Black Emphasis Month Talent
Contest the IBL offices were bombarded with
visual and literary art. We were absolutely
thrilled to receive the unique and carefully
crafted work submitted by USF’s creative
undergraduates!
IBL’s work with community organizations is an
established tradition. As you will note in this
newsletter, we were actively engaged in
community events throughout Hillsborough
County. We are tremendously grateful for the
friendship and support from our community
partners.
The most exciting development for IBL is our
new relationship with the Africana Studies
Department (AFA). During the 2009-10
academic year, IBL and AFA collaborated on
several projects and events. In the spring we
held the first IBL-AFA Retreat, which engaged
the leadership, faculty and staff in developing a
vision for this new community. While the
partnership remains a work in progress, it will
enhance the distinctive goals of each unit while
also strengthening our mutual focus on issues
relevant to Africa and its Diaspora and our
shared commitment to community
engagement.
Cheryl Rodriguez
2009-2010
INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE
Page 2
COLLOQUIUM SERIES AND SEMINARS
COLLOQUIUM
Invited Speakers
Africana Studies Graduate
Student Research Presentations
The IBL Colloquium Series features USF scholars presenting original research. The talks are
opened to USF faculty and students and to the
Tampa Bay community at-large.
Cynthia Smith, “Healthy Food Access in the
Black Community”
Kendra Bryant’s talk, “A Mystical Approach to
the Spiritual Pedagogy of Michael Jackson”,
paid homage to an amazing musician whom
we will continue to mourn. Kendra is a doctoral
candidate in the English Department.
Dr. Melvin James
(Instructor, CAS) shared
insights from his new
book, God Bless America,
to a very receptive audience of undergraduates.
Dr. Leandris Liburd spoke on “Diabetes and
Health Disparities”. Dr. Liburd is a researcher
from the Center for the Disease Control and
Prevention in Atlanta Georgia. Her talk was
co-sponsored by the Trevor Purcell Memorial
Speakers Series.
In an exciting perspective on feminist thought,
Dr. Gary Lemons (Associate Professor, English)
presented, “This is what a (Black Male) Feminist looks like: Time has brought about a
Change!”
Robin Baldwin, “Disparities in
Academic Achievement: Perspectives of the Tampa Bay
Haitian Community”
Erica Fox, “Climbing the Ladder of
Success: Black Women’s Entrepreneurship in
Black Tampa”
Reginald Eldridge, “Representing the
Unrepresented”
SEMINARS
IBL’s Racial Profiling Seminar raised
issues about the ever-evolving presence of
racism in American Life. Experts examined
racial profiling in the context of education,
from a criminal justice perspective, and as a
human rights issue.
2009-2010
INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE
Page 3
COMMUNITY EVENTS
To fulfill its mission of bridging the University
and the global community, the Institute brings
together faculty, staff, and students with community leaders, national and international
speakers, lecturers, and consultants. IBL has
also partnered with other agencies to offer and
exchange information that is pertinent to the
local community as well as the University.
County & Career Fest
Sponsored by the Hillsborough Education
Foundation at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
Approximately 400 middle and high school
students attended. IBL advised and mentored
the students.
First Historical Tampa Bay Black
Nurses Banquet
National Black
Nurses Association
and IBL participated in the
historic event at
Pilgrims Rest M.B.
Church, Tampa
Florida.
National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day
Sponsored by CDC, U.S. Department of Health
& Human Services and IBL. About 104 were in
attendance and 54 signed up for testing.
Community Beautification Project
Sponsored by Hillsborough County kinship
Program and IBL. Fifteen volunteers took part
in a restoration project for the Francis House
which provides housing for (homeless)
patients infected with HIV. Restoration
included painting the interior, laying mulch,
planting shrubs, raking and various other
tasks as requested.
Fit as a Fiddle
A Health Forum
sponsored by Polk
County School
Board, Lakeland,
Florida. Mrs. Clara
Cobb presented a
session on Etiquette and Time Management to
over 300 middle and high school students
In honor of National Health Month, the
Black Nurses Association and IBL held Health
Fairs across Hillsborough County.
Health Fairs were held at the following
Locations:
 Buddy’s Furniture
 Friends Pharmacy
 Ultimate Medical Academy, Floriland Mall
 Greater Commission Baptist Church
 Bible-Based Church, Erlich Road
(continued on page 4)
2009-2010
INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Page 4
(continued from page 3)
Tampa Bay Community Events
Partners sponsored “National HIV
Testing Day”
Location:
Walgreens, 2115 E.
Hillsborough Ave.
Juneteenth Celebration
IBL teamed up with
SISTUHS of Tampa, FL
to celebrate Juneteenth,
an African American
celebration that commemorates the end of
slavery and the beginning of freedom for
Blacks in America. This event showcased nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay area.
USF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
MANY FACES OF AFRICA
CONFERENCE
IBL sponsors an annual symposium for
Hillsborough County students to enlighten
them on the many resources that Africa
provides and the different lifeways of Africa’s
people.
HIV-AIDS WALK FUNDRAISER
IBL sponsored its first HIV/AIDS Walk to raise
funds for graduate student research.
2009-2010
INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE
Page 5
STUDENT FOCUS
PAINTINGS AND POETRY
IBL’s contribution to the 2010 Black
Emphasis Month was a talent contest. USF
undergraduates were encouraged to
submit original pieces of visual or literary
art reflecting themes relevant to the
“Black Experience”. A panel of judges from USF
and the local community viewed and ranked
the entries.
The paintings adorned the foyer of the
IBL-AFA suite during Speakers Series events
and the literary pieces were displayed in the
IBL conference room.
During the March 17 Award Ceremony
winners and participants received certificates.
First place winner was Kathy
Golden for her Literary entry
“At Last”.
Second place winner was
Eileen Skyers for her
abstract oil painting
‘Inside Out: Roots’.
Third place winner was Sharon
Norwood for her oil painting of
Obama.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
The IBL currently administers seven privately
funded scholarships for undergraduate and
graduate students. The scholarships were
established to provide academically talented
students the opportunity to study at the
University of South Florida. This year IBL
awarded scholarships to seven continuing
undergraduates, nine entering freshmen and
one graduate student.
The application deadline for IBL scholarships
is February 15th of each year. The scholarship
applications can be found on IBL’s website
(ibl.usf.edu) under “Scholarships.” Click on
the names of individual scholarships for
descriptions and criteria. Please contact the
main office number 813.974.4727 for
questions related to scholarships.
2009-2010
INSTITUTE ON BLACK LIFE
Page 6
UPCOMING EVENTS
Please visit our website ibl.usf.edu for information regarding upcoming events
including:
Fall/Spring Colloquia Series
 Community Events
 Conferences

INSTITUTE STAFF
Dr. Cheryl Rodriguez, Director
Mrs. Clara Cobb, Coordinator
Brittany Lewis, Clerical Receptionist (student)
Institute on Black Life
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Avenue FAO 274
Tampa, FL 33620
Phone: 813.974.4727
Fax: 813.974.5042