Continuing to create: GVSU students celebrate Black History Month through student showcase

Aisha Jones remembers attending the Blackout for the first time during her first year at Grand Valley. “My freshman year, I had two friends. I knew there were organizations out there, but I didn't know how to find them,” she said. 

That night, Jones ran into an old friend. “I ran into my best friend from childhood that I didn’t even know went here,” she recalled. “We were able to meet people, build friend groups. It became one big family.” 

Two years later, Jones is the vice president of You Beautiful Black Woman and the president of Model Entertainment. Jones said the Blackout event holds a special place in her heart. 

“A lot of students feel disconnected from the Black community because they can't find us. The Blackout is a way for us to come together and for students to find us.” 

The Blackout is part of Black History Month programming held by Grand Valley’s Office of Multicultural Affairs. Tables and posters filled the Kirkhof Center lobby for 16 different Black and Afro-led student organizations during this year’s Blackout, held on February 7.

This year, the theme for Grand Valley’s Black History Month events is “Continuing to Create”. Phillip Todd, assistant director of the Office for Multicultural Affairs, said the theme was inspired by the students themselves. 

“I really wanted to make sure that we’re focusing on them,” Todd said. “They are the ones actively creating Black history every single day.” 

One of those students was Rodney Hackman, a member of the student groups BLACK, Black Male Scholars, and Black Excellence. He said he hopes all students find a group that gives them the same sense of community that he found. 

“Joining these groups is only going to benefit you,” Hackman said. “They care about you, we all want you here. You have nothing to worry about.” 

Following student organization tabling, several student organizations had the chance to perform as cheers bounced off the halls of Kirkhof Center. Hackman said the event helps display a sense of pride from all of the organizations. 

“It’s a chance to showcase all of the hard work they've been putting in and what they're all about,” he said. “It's amazing for everybody to come out and witness it.”

The rest of the events being held for Black History Month are all designed to support students in their journeys as they create Black history. Upcoming events include a Black Business Pop-up, where students can promote their businesses and sell their products, a Black Historical Living Museum, where they’ll share information about historical figures and a Taste of Soul event highlighting soul food from a local vendor. 

MORE: Read about how students are celebrating Black History Month.

Once a nervous freshman herself, Aisha Jones stood confidently behind her organization’s table at this year’s Blackout, inviting other students to learn more. Events like the Blackout remind Jones, who graduates in April, that she’s built a student organization that can stand on its own.

“When I joined, Model Entertainment was small, maybe 15 of us. By the end of last year, we had over 50 models, and now we have 86,” she said. “That's my biggest accomplishment, being able to get all of these people together in one community with one common goal.” 

To see full event details and updates, visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Black History Month Celebration website .