Best of the Week 2022-2023: Teaching to the Future

ST. ED'S HOSTS "BODY & SOUL" DINNER, CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY AND CLEVELAND ARTISTS & MUSICIANS

On Thursday night, St. Ed's Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in collaboration with the Cleveland Kappa League hosted "Body & Soul: A Celebration of African American Culture." Over the past few years, St. Ed's has hosted a dinner in February to commemorate Black History Month, but this year, with the help of Dean of Student Life & Culture Anwar Shahid and Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Royal Eddie '13, St. Ed's extended the invitation to members outside our community for a meal of fellowship and celebration. "I've previously organized events like these for the city of Cleveland, so I was happy to see the imprint that events like these have on the students of St. Ed's," says Mr. Shahid.

This year's event was catered by CMB Soulfood, a local Black-owned restaurant and featured an open mic night where students and guests were invited to share poems, raps, and other creative talents with the audience. St. Ed's also welcomed local African-American poets and professional musicians to perform throughout the evening.

"This whole event was truly Black excellence at its finest," says Mr. Eddie. "The performers were phenomenal and the atmosphere was electric, but the true highlight of the night for me was hearing a personal testimony from Terrell Morton '23, who shared his appreciation for the efforts of St. Ed's Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. He spoke specifically on the impact he's felt of seeing representation through St. Ed's administration, faculty and staff and how that has positively impacted his St. Ed's experience overall."

"By highlighting Black excellence within the African-American diaspora, we wanted to share the beauty within the African American tradition to our community and provide our students and families with a place to share, learn and experience the diversity of art and the beauty that's reflected in other histories and traditions," says VP of Diversity Equity & Inclusion James Knight. "It was a great evening to bring together faculty, staff, students, families and people from across Cleveland to celebrate all together to build trusting relationships."