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March 28, 2013

ULM Culture Connection partners with Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum

The University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Education and Human Development Culture Connection and the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum have partnered to present a week of events, April 8-12.

These events will celebrate Monroe's African American culture in the form of the arts.

The partnership is the result of a conversation that took place during the ULM Culture Connection Multicultural Library opening in the fall.

"Joyce Powell, Monroe City Schools librarian, suggested we work with the museum to highlight local artists," said ULM sophomore education student and multicultural library manager Jesse Flunder.

"I grew up in Monroe, and yet I didn't know about the museum or the amazing artists in our community."

Flunder, who graduated from Wossman High School, worked with university faculty, student organizations, and representatives from the museum to create a week of events that celebrate creativity and the ways stories can be told through paint, poetry and movement.

Below is a list of the week's events:

Monday, April 8
At 9 a.m. in ULM's Strauss Hall 148, ULM teacher education graduate and self-published poet Jamie Mayes will speak to teacher candidates about African American poets and their influence on her poetry.

She will read from her book, "Pennies in My Pocket."

Of her work, she said, "I want the talent of Toni Morrison, the wisdom of Maya Angelou, and the gritty honesty of Nikki Giovanni with the beauty of Robert Frost. I want to be timeless like Shakespeare, but culturally connected like Langston Hughes."

Also on April 8, from 10:30-11 a.m. in Strauss Hall 106, ULM's Culture Connection and Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum will host a reception.

Wednesday, April 10
At 4 p.m. in Strauss Hall 148, Rev. Don Cincone Willis, a noted international painter, will speak on the empowerment of art and the stories behind some of his paintings.

Willis said, "Art is an expression of life for life. God is the true artist. If I do anything that is credible, that comes from God, I am only a thankful conduit."

Don Cincone's paintings have been displayed in exhibitions and museums around the world.

To learn more about his work, visit doncincone.com

Thursday, April 11

At 2 p.m. in Strauss Hall 148, ULM's African Caribbean students will be showcasing a fashion show featuring some clothing worn in their native country.

Some students will talk about the different cultures within their country and their transition over to America. African cuisine will be sampled after this event.

Friday, April 12
At 10:30 a.m., the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum will host an open house.

The public is invited to view the vivid displays of the artists Don Cincone, Bernard Menyweather and Daryl Tripplett.

Admission is $7. Students and seniors pay $5.

The museum is located at 1051 Chennault Park Dr. in Monroe. To learn more about the museum, call 318-342-8889.

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