The Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History
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Standing Programs of the Center

The work of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History falls under three categories: Scholarship and Scholarly Initiatives; Cultural Programming; and Social Justice Outreach and Community Programming.

 

Scholarship and Scholarly Initiatives

  • The Sonja Haynes Stone Memorial Fellowship and Lecture
    The Sonja Haynes Stone Memorial Lecture is the signature program of the Center and, each year, brings a woman lecturer to campus whose work, scholarship and service epitomize the vision and spirit of Dr. Sonja Haynes Stone. Past lecturers have included Pearl Cleage, Alfre Woodard, Angela Davis and Attalah Shabazz.

  • The African Diaspora Lecture Series
    The African Diaspora Lecture Series presents lectures, roundtables and debates on a variety of subjects from the African diaspora. Topics, as well as discussions, are provocative, wide-ranging and informative and give UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, students and the surrounding community an opportunity to offer a critical analysis of the evolution of African-American and other African diaspora cultures.

  • The Cross-Cultural Communications Institute (CCCI)
    The Cross-Cultural Communications Institute, founded in 1990, is a campus forum for discussions of ideas, issues and initiatives about ethnic, cultural, racial and other self-defined communities. The CCCI explores ways to bridge perceived and real differences through constructive dialogue and also proposes active solutions. It brings together students, faculty, staff and community resources in imaginative and creative ways and builds on the efforts of other campus offices.

  • Sonja Haynes Stone Collegiums
    The Collegiums Program provides support for joint research/study projects by faculty and students on various topics in Africana studies. Collegiums support collaborative work on African diaspora subjects from a wide-range of perspectives and from interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary vantage points. This is a new initiative (2004) supported by a donation from Daniel and Beth Okun.

  • Visiting Scholar Program
    Supports short-term residency by scholars from throughout the diaspora. While in residence, scholars may undertake research or other projects of their choice.

  • Undergraduate International Studies Fellowship
    Supports international study by two undergraduates of color or other students who, because of socio-economic or other reasons, may be underrepresented in study-abroad programs. Although the fellowship seeks to encourage students to study in Africa or in an African diaspora country, there are no restrictions on intended country of study.

 

Cultural Programming

Programmatic initiatives under cultural programming help the campus community, and others, to more critically assess and understand that African-American and other African diaspora cultures have a cumulative history of critical discourse that is consistently being examined, constructed and reconstructed. Our cultural programming includes:

  • The Pamela Nicole Cummings Visiting Artist Fellowship
    Supported by a gift from alumnus Anthony Wayne Cummings, the Pamela Nicole Cummings Visiting Artist Fellowship supports young, rising artists who are at the beginning of their professional careers. Artists may undertake a range of projects and activities during this short-term residency.

  • The Authors and Poets Readers Series
    a series of readings from new works by writers that includes book signings along with discussion.

  • The Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film
    a twice a year (Fall and Spring) series that features primarily independent film from all corners of the African diaspora and beyond with commentary by the directors of the films and scholars

  • The Hekima Reading Circle – an informal gathering of students, faculty and community residents who come together to discuss new literary works by writers from all corners of the African diaspora

  • Sauti Mpya – a literary and cultural arts annual produced by a collective made up of students and faculty

 

Social Justice Outreach and Community Programming

These programs connect the work and resources of the Stone Center with outside communities and seek solutions to socio-economic and other inequities that affect the quality of life.

  • Communiversity Youth Programs
    A program of after-school enrichment programs managed and run by UNC-Chapel Hill student volunteers. It offers homework assistance, computer literacy, literacy and other programs to K-12 students from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Chatham County school systems.

  • SHS Community Scholars Program
    The Community Scholars Program is a new initiative scheduled for fall 2005. It will bring community-based leaders from around the state to campus. While here they will undertake short-term training opportunities/programs organized by the Center to build their skills and competencies in key areas important for their community work. Community scholars will also have an opportunity to conduct workshops and information sessions on their work.

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