Calendar of Events
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in CARTA
Live Sessions for Black History Month
Feb 12
12:00-1:00 PM ET

Uncover Your Community + Resources
Instagram LIVE: @fiucarta – with Juliette St. Louis
Two-time FIU graduate, academic advisor and CARTA Diversity Equity & Inclusion advocate will share her journey in an interactive and informative IG live session. This IG live session will also provide students with the opportunity to learn more about CARTA resources and meet some of our amazing black student leaders from different Black student organizations and leadership positions at FIU.
Feb 19
12:00-1:00 PM ET

Trials, Turns, Triumphs and Tribulations
Instagram LIVE: @fiucarta – with Dr. Karla Kennedy
Whether you believe that your life’s journey is preset for you or that you are in charge of your own destiny, you never know where life’s path is going to take you. There will be some trials, turns, triumphs, and tribulation, along the way. Come join Miami native and graduate of Miami Northwestern Senior High, the University of Miami, Florida International University and the University of Florida as she navigates and shares the path that led her to FIU.
Feb 21
12:30 PM ET

Miami International GuitART Festival 2021
IDEA – Diversity in Performing Arts
GuitART Festival Panel: “IDEA in Performing Arts: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access”
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) are four related but distinct goals that must be embraced and developed to create a society where everyone belongs and can thrive. In the performing arts, there are specific challenges to reaching these ideals that differ from that of other disciplines. Through this panel, we will discuss the differences and interconnectedness between these four concepts, how they manifest (or not), and how the performing arts and our education programs can take the lead in these efforts. Panelists represent music and theater performance, music education and academia.
Feb 23
5:30 PM ET

Queer Voices in Arts & Social Justice
A Virtual Lecture Series Curated by Alpesh Kantilal Patel
Trans-identified artist Cassils works across live performance, sculpture, photography, sound and film. They will discuss their practice, including the groundbreaking project In Plain Sight (2000), a coalition of 80 artists, led by Cassils and artist Rafa Esparza, who united to create artwork dedicated to abolishing immigrant detention centers and the United States culture of incarceration. Students and faculty will have an opportunity to ask questions.
Feb 26
12:00-1:00 PM ET

#BlackScholarship & #BlackExcellence @ CARTA
Instagram LIVE: @fiucarta – with Dr. Rokeshia Renné Ashley
A candid roundtable among students, faculty and staff discussing research projects concerning Black people, Blackness and Black culture celebrating the progress of #Blackscholarship and #Blackexcellence.
Feb 26-27
8:00 PM ET

Is This America?
On February 27, 2021 at 8 pm (EST) the FIU Opera Theater and Symphony Orchestra in partnership with the Santa Fe Opera will present a special, free live stream of Is This America?, based on the new, one-act opera This Little Light of Mine that portrays key events in the life of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. A black woman of humble origins, she spoke truth to power and her tireless efforts culminated in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Spoken Word Competition

Unite the Mic
Calling all spoken word poets! Words have the power to connect and unite us. FIU CARTA is challenging all interested poets to create and submit an original piece centered around the theme of UNITY.
Creativity:
- Spoken word is a piece of creative writing that is best delivered through performance, so it can be a story, poetry or some combination of rap.
- You don’t need to necessarily be in the video, but it can feature audio of your voice reciting your piece.
- You may use costumes, props, music and visual aids to share your spoken word performance.
Rules:
- To enter the contest, you must be an active student at the FIU College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts.
- Your spoken word piece must be two-to-five minutes long. If it doesn’t meet the two-minute minimum, the performer will be ineligible for a prize.
- Submission format: A link to a YouTube video.
- Deadline: Please submit the video link to Jssaintl@fiu.edu no later than Friday, February 19 at 11:59 p.m.
Prize (Scholarship):
- 1st place: $500
- 2nd place: $300
- 3rd place: $200
Celebrating Black History Month
