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Lipscomb celebrates Black History Month with M.A.S.K. chapels

Lacey Klotz | 

In celebration of Black History Month, Lipscomb’s African American Student Services office, along with its Intercultural Development office, will host several Multicultural Awareness, Skills and Knowledge (M.A.S.K.) chapels to commend diversity and encourage unity on campus.

“Last year we started M.A.S.K. chapel, and over the past year, it has been instrumental in helping students understand the importance and the beauty that diversity brings when we live in community with one another,” said Paulette Cathey, coordinator of African American Services. “One way we are doing this this month is through partnerships with other breakout chapels on campus so our minority groups can interact with other groups as we share in that community together.”

“Our M.A.S.K chapels are practical, engaging, spiritual and soul-searching for those who want to embrace the cultures and diversity that surrounds us each day,” said Lisa Steele, assistant dean of student life and director of intercultural development. “A common thread that runs through each session is that we are all different, yet the same because God has created us all."

M.A.S.K. chapels are a part of Lipscomb’s breakout chapel series that meet on Thursday’s at 10:55 a.m. All Lipscomb chapels are free and open to the public.

The chapel series began Feb. 4 with its Black History Chapel Kick-Off Chapel featuring guest speaker Robert Gardenhire, preacher at Schrader Lane Church of Christ and retired director of logistics for Bridgestone America’s tire operations.

Other upcoming M.A.S.K. chapels include:

Dreams Do Not Happen Over Night
Thursday, Feb. 11
Partnering with College of Business
Location: Stowe Hall (Swang 108)
Time: 10:55 a.m.
*Pizza will be provided

Is our world safe? Steps for understanding trauma around the world: Paris, Kenya, Egypt, Tunis, Benghazi and others.
Thursday, Feb. 18

Partnering with Veteran Services
Speaker: U.S. Ambassador Gentry Smith, director, U.S. State Department Office of Foreign Missions
Location: Collins Alumni Auditorium
Time: 10:55 a.m.

Diversity, Work & Christian Faith
Thursday, Feb. 25

Partnering with Lipscomb Athletics
Speaker: Robert Solomon, Esq., assistant vice provost, office of diversity and inclusion at Ohio State University
Location: Ward Hall
Time: 10:55 a.m.

“These chapels are a good representation of what Black History Month stands for because as when we experience diversity in color, culture, size, etc., we truly get a piece of Heaven on Earth,” Cathey continued.

Black History Month is observed each year in remembrance of significant African American people and events that greatly contributed to our American History.

“We want our students to recognize and appreciate that a dream is a process and that change doesn’t happen over night – that is what we hope our students can get from these chapels,” said Cathey.

“We also want our minority students to feel empowered and excited to share their cultures with all students at Lipscomb, and we feel as though these chapels are a step in the right direction for our students.”

Other Black History Month activities include: 

  • Feb 17 - "Selma" will be shown in Stowe Hall; Reception dinner at 5:30 p.m., movie beings at 6 p.m. with a discussion to follow
  • Feb. 21 - Trip to Memphis & the National Civil Rights Museum; transportation and food at no cost
  • Feb. 25 - A Cultural Conversation with Diversity Expert Tasha Chusac in the Village Common Room

For more information visit: www.lipscomb.edu/intercultural