The 24th annual African American Read-In at Penn State Altoona will take place Feb. 18-19. This year’s theme, “Black Ecologies,” celebrates environmental writing by Black authors who examine the human relationship with the more-than-human world. Their works explore topics from wilderness and outdoor adventure to gardening, geography, environmental science, urban nature, and issues such as environmental justice and climate change. This theme is as old as the 400-year African American literary tradition itself, offering the enjoyment of both contemporary and historical works across a range of genres such as poetry, short fiction, novels, and essays.
The logo for the 2024 African American Read-in was created by student artist Mekhi Hicks.
The last week of February 2024 still offers a few events across campuses for Black History Month, including at Penn State Brandywine, Harrisburg, Dickinson Law, Lehigh Valley, Shenango, and York. In addition, several exhibits are still available to visitors at Penn State University Park, Brandywine and Harrisburg.
Students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre participated in a service project on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor King’s life and legacy. The campus joined with the Wilkes-Barre NAACP, O’Donnell Law Firm, the Wilkes-Barre Health Department, and the Friedman Jewish Community Center to assemble blankets and collect canned goods that will be donated to Keystone Mission, Ruth’s Place and Sarah’s Table.
Each year, Penn State Wilkes-Barre holds an annual campaign for the United Way of the Wyoming Valley. This year’s campaign began with a CommUNITY Breakfast for faculty and staff with a theme of sustainability.
