UMES OIE

ALT Although the Emancipation Proclamation was declared in 1863, there were still thousands of African Americans that were still enslaved in areas under confederate control. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when approximately 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved black people were FREE by executive decrees. Juneteenth is a national celebration of freedom for African Americans. Although it has been celebrated for decades in communities of color it was declared a national holiday only five years ago under former President Joe Biden’s leadership, in 2021. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/our-american-story-juneteenth

ALT Sexual and gender-based violence consists of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, and fondling. Although March is a designated month to raise awareness, our work to educate, prevent & remediate those affected is daily! Should you have an incident you would like to speak with one of our staff members about please do not hesitate to reach out to us! 410-651-6135 OR [email protected]. Be on the lookout for reporting procedures, information, resources, & event.

ALT Women’s History Month started at Women’s History Week in Santa Rosa, CA in 1978. Organizers of the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission selected the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women’s Day. This sparked a nationwide movement as other communities across the U.S. started to celebrate Women’s History Week the following years. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8th, 1980 National Women’s History Week. In 1987 Congress passed a public law designating March as Women’s History Month!

ALT For the final week of Black History Month we are spotlighting entrepreneur Earl G. Graves Sr., founder and creator of the Black Enterprise Magazine. An HBCU alumni, Mr. Graves, earned his degree from Morgan State University in 1957 in Business & Economics. In 1968 he sat on the advisory board of the Small Business Association (SBA) and created a newsletter that included information relevant to African American businesspeople and entrepreneurs. In 1970 he expanded his newsletter into a magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine. Black Enterprise Magazine was created as a ‘how to’ guide for black entrepreneurs to start businesses, corporations and franchises as well as teaching financial literacy and building wealth in our communities. The magazine is still being published digitally today as two of his sons Earl Graves Jr. and John Graves carry on their father’s legacy with leadership roles in the company.

ALT Black History month week 3! We are honoring & recognizing educator and civil rights activist, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Dr. Bethune was born in South Carolina, one of seventeen children and the first of her siblings to ever go to school. Dr. Bethune had a passion for education specifically the need for educating black women. She worked as an educator and opened her first school in 1904, a 5-room cottage called the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls in Daytona Beach, Florida. She started this school at the age of 29 with only $1.50. Initially she only had 5 students overtime her school grew into a 32-acre campus with 14 buildings and 400 students! In 1923 her school merged with Cookman Institute for Men in Jacksonville, Florida to create the HBCU Bethune - Cookman University which is still active and growing to this day. Dr. Bethune continued community efforts as she served as the 8th President of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) for four years.

ALT Bessie Blount Griffin was born and raised in Hickory, Virginia. She faced many hardships in life and had to leave school in the sixth grade. Later in life her family relocated to New Jersey. She obtained her GED and attended: Community Kennedy Memorial Hospital for nursing, Panzer College of Physical Education, and Union County Junior College. Griffin became an inventor and an ADA pioneer. She invented medical devices designed to help amputees and wounded soldiers in World War II. Griffin’s education in physical therapy allowed her to help soldiers regain movement in body parts injured and/or displaced from the war. In her later years (1969) she became a chief examiner in forensics for police departments in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia.

ALT Calling all students! The OIE office is hiring!! You have the ability to work up to 20 hours a week, flexible to your class schedule. Please see the link to the application below. Any questions please call the office at 410-651-6135 or send us a DM! https://wwwcp.umes.edu/hr/student-note-takers-tutors-mentors/