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Virtual Women in History Program Saturday

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Grab a front row seat from the comfort of your home this Saturday as Livingstone College celebrates women in history with a virtual program. The Livingstone College Katharine W. Osborne Women in History Program will begin at 11:30 a.m. via Zoom on April 10 featuring author M.J. Simms-Maddox, Ph.D., as the guest speaker. Simms-Maddox is an independent author and the publisher of the Priscilla Series. A South Carolina native, she grew up in the Snowbelt of Western New York and resides in North Carolina. She earned her doctorate degree in political science from The Ohio State University; has served as a legislative aide in the Ohio Senate; operated a public relations agency; and is a retired tenured professor in political science for thirty-odd years at Florida A&M University, Livingstone College, Rowan Cabarrus Community College and Wilberforce University. Simms-Maddox found her passion for writing fiction later in life and has written mostly mysteries and thrillers since 1999. Her debut as a fiction writer was “Priscilla Engaging in the Game of Politics,” for which the author’s background, education and early life experiences form the foundation for the fictitious Priscilla. Called “MJ” by fans and close friends, the author is affiliated with the African Literature Association, the American Association of University Women, the Chanticleer Authors’ Conference, the North Carolina Writers’ Network and the Women’s National Book Association. Also on the program will be Mrs. Kim Sheeks, also known as “The Hat Lady.” A retired educator and storyteller, Sheeks will share humorous stories about …

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Bakari Sellers speaker at Founder’s Day

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SALISBURY – Livingstone College will celebrate Founder’s Day on Friday, Feb. 26, with a virtual program premiering at 10 a.m. on its official YouTube Channel. The annual program celebrates the life and legacy of one of its founders and first president, Dr. Joseph Charles Price, and is held in February, the month in which Price was born. The speaker for the occasion will be attorney Bakari Sellers, son of a civil rights activist, a history maker and a rising star in the Democratic Party. Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just 22 years old, he defeated a 26-year incumbent state representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina State Legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. In 2014, he won the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor in South Carolina, and has also worked for United States Congressman James Clyburn and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Sellers was born into an activist family. He has followed in the footsteps of his father, civil rights leader Dr. Cleveland Sellers, in his tireless commitment to public service while championing progressive policies to address issues ranging from education and poverty to preventing domestic violence and childhood obesity. Sellers earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College, where he served as student body president, and his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He is the author of The New York Times best-selling book My Vanishing Country: A Memoir, which has been described as part memoir, part historical …

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CIAA cancels basketball, volleyball

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Virtual experience planned for popular tourney week  SALISBURY –– Due to growing concerns related to COVID-19, the Board of Directors for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) has voted to cancel the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball seasons, which was set to begin January 9, to include the 2021 CIAA Basketball Tournament. In addition, the board also voted to cancel the women’s volleyball season, which had been moved to the spring from the fall. “Since the beginning of this pandemic, Livingstone College Athletics has always kept the safety and well-being of its student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters as the main priority when decisions are made about practice and competition. We have no intentions of being cavalier in our approach to this situation,” said Livingstone College Athletic Direct Lamonte J. Massie-Sampson. “I met with all three of my head coaches and we discussed the next phase of this scenario,” he said. “Getting our student-athletes home safely and ready to return to campus in February is the priority now.  We will see what the science, data and common sense says when they return to determine what our next steps will be.” “Unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to challenge the conference’s ability to see a clear path to move forward collectively. The impact to health and wellness, community concerns, as well as the economic ramifications are real,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. “I want to commend our Board of Directors for exemplifying courageous leadership in college sports to ensure the well-being of the CIAA as …

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TV actor is Fall Convocation speaker

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  Imagine playing an atheist and getting a friend request from God on Facebook; or running for mayor to promote your mixed tape and unwittingly winning the race. These are the starring roles that have propelled Brandon Micheal Hall to center stage of a burgeoning acting career. The actor, who hails from Anderson, South Carolina, will be the guest speaker at Livingstone College’s annual Fall Convocation on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m. Hall, who was raised by a single mother, a minister, unabashedly shares his strong spiritual foundation and how that structure contributes to the actor and man he is today. His latest TV series, “God Friended Me,” ended after two seasons on CBS this past April. In it, Hall played Miles Finer, an outspoken atheist with a podcast who receives a friend request from God. He and a journalist friend ultimately accept God’s friend suggestions and inadvertently begin helping people in need. His first TV series was “The Mayor,” in which he played Courtney Rose, an aspiring rapper who ran for mayor only to promote publicity for his music but ends up winning. Hall attended Pendleton High School in Anderson before transferring to the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities, in which he received the 2019 President’s Alumni Award. He later attended and graduated from The Juilliard School in New York City, New York. The convocation serves as a rites of passage for freshmen students who are ceremonially inducted into the class during the program. …

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Livingstone awarded $500,000 grant from National Park Service to rehab library

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By Kimberly Harrington Livingstone News Service The National Park Service announced Monday that Livingstone College received a $500,000 grant to help rehabilitate its Andrew Carnegie Library. The grant award, funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and administered by the National Park Service (NPS), was announced Aug. 27 as part of $8.6 million in total grant funding to support projects that preserve significant historic structures on the campuses of 18 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). “This award will enable Livingstone College to repair the roof, update the HVAC and electrical systems, and install more connections for high speed internet,” said Dr. Carolyn Duncan, vice president of Academic Affairs and author of the grant. “We will bring in 21st Century conveniences for our public while retaining the historical grandness that makes this building so special.” Laura Johnson, library director, had been looking for funding grants to preserve the 110-year-old library for several years. In 2017, Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., formed the Federal Grants and Contracts Committee, which began seeking a funding project. The committee and Johnson started working together in the fall of 2017, collecting historical information, quotes from contractors and input from people such as Karen Hobson of the Historic Salisbury Foundation. “Hobson loves historical buildings and wants to preserve them for the heritage they add to the community,” Duncan said. Duncan, who is also a Livingstone College graduate, led the committee in crafting the winning proposal. “It was a labor of love,” she said. “It …

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Professor attends ‘Black Girls Write’ institute

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Livingstone College faculty member and recent children’s book author, Dr. Da’Tarvia Parrish, was selected to attend the “Black Girls Write” UNCF/Mellon Faculty Teaching and Learning Institute at Hampton University. She was among 16 applicants selected that included scholars, writers, artists, activists, filmmakers, and others who produce work in the creation of and representation of Black women/girls in Speculative Fiction. Parrish is the author of “Seven’s Heaven,” which addresses family displacement and the experiences children undergo when living with extended family members. “I am excited about this opportunity because I plan to make “Seven’s Heaven” a seven-text series whereas the main character, Seven, introduces her young readers to moments in time with a magical journal and pen. This institute is exactly what I need to give me that push as our workshops will include dialogue about our research and crafts while also investigating/sharing how our work speaks to larger cultural, political or societal concerns such as health, violence and sexual violence, global economics, religion, politics, education, access to resources including food, clean water and air, and so much more.” “Seven’s Heaven” will address many themes, but the focal point is children with imprisoned mothers,” Parrish said. “This is extremely critical in today’s society since women are the fastest growing segment of the prison population and more tragic, the average women are mothers to at least two children under the age of eight. My goal is to address the challenges of meeting the needs of children with imprisoned mothers.” The institution was held …

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First Lady of Livingstone presented Key to the City

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Dr. Faleese Moore Jenkins, second from left, the First Lady of Livingstone College, is presented with a Key to the City by Salisbury Mayor Al Heggins, left. Joining in the presentation are Jenkins’ daughters, from left, Attorney Ginger Cartwright and Dr. Lisa Lopez.   Dr. Faleese Moore Jenkins, the first lady of Livingstone College, admitted that it’s hard to pull a surprise on her. But on Monday, she got one of the biggest shockers of her life. During a Sorority Luncheon on the school’s campus, Salisbury Mayor Al Heggins read a proclamation proclaiming April 30, 2018, as Dr. Faleese Moore Jenkins Annual Sorority Day. Following the announcement, Heggins presented Jenkins with a Key to the City. “I am just overwhelmed, humbled, surprised and appreciative that the mayor would think about me to present such a cherishable token,” Jenkins said. “When I travel – and travel abroad – I will tell them about this.” Awarding Keys to the City is up to the discretion of the mayor, Heggins said. “Dr. Faleese Moore Jenkins meets the criteria of someone who does outstanding work, one who is a collaborator and someone who is doing everything to enhance our community and bring different voices together.” Heggins presented the award with Jenkins’ daughters, Attorney Ginger Cartwright and Dr. Lisa  Lopez, by her side. Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., Livingstone College president, said he is extremely proud of his wife and the honor bestowed upon her. “She is the wind beneath my wings and is deserving …

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Livingstone College wins $30,000 Home Depot grant

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Above, Livingstone College staffers are shown at the awards ceremony with “A Different World” cast members. Shown, from left, are Kadeem Hardison; Patrice Evan Saunders, Babcock Residence Hall director; Cree Summer; Jasmine Guy; and Anthony Brown, director of student activities.   Actor Laz Alonso of “Jumping the Broom” fame, shown far left, and Melissa Brown, Home Depot senior marketing manager, shown far right, present a $30,000 ceremonial check to Livingstone staffers, Anthony Brown, director of student activities, and Patrice Evan Saunders, Babcock Residence Hall director, at the Home Depot headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., Monday.   SALISBURY – Livingstone College has won a $30,00 grant from Home Depot’s Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant Program. The award was announced and presented Monday, April 30, at The Home Depot Store Support Center in Atlanta, Ga. The Home Depot Retool Your School program gives Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) an opportunity to make upgrades to their campuses. Nine campus improvement grants totally $360,000 are awarded each year. Schools are divided into three clusters based on their student enrollment population. All grants are awarded based on consumer voting (unlimited) and project proposal scores, which are determined by a panel of judges Livingstone College placed third in Cluster 3. The grant money will be used to upgrade the outdoor student pavilion next to the cafeteria. The Home Depot Retool Your School Campaign was led by Anthony Brown, student activities director; Justin Walker, communications project and technical specialist, and Vincia Miller, director of Alumni Affairs. …

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Senator Dan Blue keynote speaker for Livingstone College commencement Saturday

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Bishop Proctor is Baccalaureate speaker Friday night  SALISBURY – The 2018 graduating class of Livingstone College will experience a full circle moment on Saturday during May commencement. Senator Dan T. Blue Jr. was the guest speaker during Fall Convocation in 2014 when these class members were freshmen. Four years, later, he is returning as the keynote speaker for their graduation. Livingstone College will hold its 136th Annual Commencement on Saturday, May 5, at 9 a.m. at the Alumni Memorial Football Stadium. “Having Senator Dan Blue to return to address the same student body he did four years ago is serendipitous,” said Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., Livingstone College president. “He welcomed them in on the first leg of their journey and now he will bid them a fond farewell on the next chapter of their lives with what I’m sure will be great advice for success.” A native of Lumberton, Blue was first elected in 1980 to the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing Wake County, and has been re-elected 10 times. He held several leadership positions in the House, including chairman of Judiciary and Appropriations committees. From 1991-1995, Blue was twice elected Speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives and is considered a leader and mentor among his peers. After serving 22 years in the N.C. House, he left the Legislature to run for the United States Senate in 2002. He returned to the House in 2006 and now represents Wake County in the N.C. Senate, where he is …