Gateway Community & Technical College and its partners in the Big Read grant invite the public to a wrap-up event Feb. 28 from 2-4 p.m. at the Center for Technology, Innovation and Enterprise (TIE) building, 516 Madison Ave., Covington.
This event will celebrate the Big Read wrap-up and Black History Month by inviting college faculty and staff, students and community members who participated to reflect on the themes from the novel, A Lesson Before Dying by Enest Gaines, and discuss insights gained. The purpose of this event and all events around the Big Read is to promote authentic conversation around justice in our community.
Speakers will include Dr. Fernando Figueroa, President of Gateway Community & Technical College; The Rev. Peter D’Angio, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Covington; James Orcena, Gateway Student; John C. K. Fisher, Kentucky Human Rights Commission, and Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Following the speakers, a question and answer session with the panel will take place and refreshments will be served.
Attendees are encouraged to visit Gateway’s gallery exhibit, also in TIE, which celebrates diversity and creativity that speaks cultural differences while examining justice and equality. This exhibit is part of Gateway’s Black History Month activities and aims to engage and educate our diverse community. Featured artists are with Visionaries and Voices, an organization celebrating the work of adults with disabilities, and Gateway students.
Gateway is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grant. As part of its grant program, the college collaborated with Boone, Gallatin, Grant, Hamilton, Kenton, and Owen County public libraries and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to host community events centered on the themes of its book selection, A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines.
Approximately 2100, people participated in Big Read events since September 2016, 300 of which were Gateway students. Eleven Gateway instructors incorporated the book into their course curriculum and 52 events have been held thus far. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Parking is available in the Midtown City Garage located at 5th and Scott Boulevard. A parking validation machine is available inside the Center for Technology, Innovation and Enterprise (TIE) building, in the UB106 office area near the elevator and rear entrance.
The event is free and open to the public.
