SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) will celebrates Black History Month with a special program, "Year of the Return: The Arrival of Enslaved Africans to the USA," which will be virtual and open to the public.

Dr. Malika Carter, chief diversity officer at ESF, will host the Zoom program to share knowledge about "The Year of the Return," and subsequent acknowledgements referred to as “Beyond the Return.” In 2019, Ghana successfully hosted "The Year of Return," a year-long program of activities to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first recorded enslaved Africans in Virginia in the United States. ESF's program will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Registration is required; to register, visit  https://linktr.ee/esfdiversity. For additional information contact Dr. Lizette Rivera, director of student inclusion initiatives and special assistant to the CDO, at lrivera@esf.edu.

U.S. Rep. John Katko for New York’s 24th congressional district will discuss the new Congress, bipartisanship and his role as the Ranking Member of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation subcommittee during this week's Thursday Morning Roundtable. This event will continue in a virtual format using Zoom to hear presentations from speakers followed by a facilitated Q&A. 

Join Joe Driscoll & Friends for an online music event to raise the last $10,000 to purchase a new van for the Westcott Community Center. The van will help the center deliver meals and medicine to senior citizens on Syracuse's East Side. Watch the live music event on the Westcott Community Center's Facebook page or Joe Driscoll page. Musical performances will include: Joe Driscoll, William Nicholson, Billy Harrison, Jess Novak, Steve Scuteri, Riley Mahan, Larry Hoyt, Major Player, Benjamin Ellis, Colin Aberdeen  and Chris Chiesa.

GreeningUSA will hold a virtual open forum to hear the community's ideas for a sustainable future. This even is free, but registration is required.

The CNY Diaper Bank, a local, volunteer-run nonprofit that collects diapers for families in need, invites adults, couples, family and friends to virtually participate in its first-ever “You Don’t Know Crap!” trivia night from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. The event will be emceed by local comedians Phil Farda and Josh Fish. While the event is free, a donation of $25 per person is suggested. All proceeds will go toward the CNY Diaper Bank’s diaper distribution program to keep area babies dry, clean and healthy. The event is sponsored by Midtown Shoe & Repair in Solvay.

As part of the 2021 Black History Month celebration being organized by Beauchamp Branch Library, a virtual yoga session will be offered over Zoom. To join, click on the link below. 

Thursday Morning Roundtable will continue in a virtual format to follow recommended health guidelines. On Feb. 18, Cedric Bolton, poet and adjunct professor at Syracuse University, will speak about Black History Month.

Mary Lee Hodgens, associate director of Light Work, will moderate a virtual conversation and Q&A with Aaron Turner from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. For the past seven years, Turner has been making "Black Alchemy." This photographic series and soon-to be-book published by Sleeper Studio uses still life, abstraction, appropriation, and occasional painting to reflect the complex historical representation of Black identity and culture.

The Narratio Fellowship is an annual intensive storytelling and leadership program aimed at providing resettled refugee youth with the tools and resources to share their stories on their own terms with local and global audiences. Under the guidance of 2020 Narratio Artist-in-Residence Ana Vîjdea, this year’s class have developed six short-form autobiographical documentaries that offer intimate and powerful glimpses into their lives, identities and memories—from epic journeys to daily routines. This virtual event marks the inaugural public screening of the Fellows' films, which will be followed by a discussion of the power of storying lives through film.

Say It Loud! and celebrate Black History with hosts Black Artist Collective and the Community Folk Art Center. The event will feature spoken word poetry, comedy and some of Syracuse's finest Black performing artists. Register online at the link provided.