AACRC Celebrates Successful Journeys of UC Students With Annual Ushindi Weekend

Sponsored by the University of Cincinnati African American Cultural and Research Center (

AACRC

),

Ushindi Weekend

celebrates the achievements of students from the

Transitions

program and the

AACRC Choir

, and also recognizes other students who have demonstrated leadership on and off campus. "Ushindi," which is Swahili for "victory," is held toward the end of each academic school year.

Ushindi Weekend takes place at UC this year April 23–25, 2010.

Transitions is a first-year experience program that uses a “Rites of Passage” approach to obtain higher retention and graduation rates for African-American students. The program helps students adjust to college and provides workshops, peer-mentoring and other social and academic activities to ensure that all participants are successful.

2010 Ushindi Weekend Activities:

• 5–7 p.m., Friday, April 23: Ushindi Cook-out Sigma Sigma Commons
• 3–3:45 p.m., Saturday, April 24: Ushindi Reception, 6th Floor Steger Student Life Center
• 4–5 p.m., Saturday, April 24: Ushindi Awards Ceremony, Tangeman University Center (TUC), MainStreet Cinema
• 4 p.m., Sunday, April 25: AACRC Choir Spring Concert, TUC Great Hall

The keynote speaker for the Saturday Ushindi Awards Ceremony is

UC alumna Martina Jones

(2008). Jones has traveled and lived abroad and has worked to increase the numbers of students of color who study abroad. While a student at UC, she was an active AACRC student, was chosen Miss Kuamka, and was a member of the Lambda Society and ADVANCE.

More about the African American Cultural and Research Center Choir concert Sunday, April 25, 2010, at 4 p.m. in the TUC Great Hall. The concert will be the closing event to the AACRC Ushindi weekend celebration, as the choir will blend and display powerful songs that will express messages of hope, love, encouragement, thanksgiving and praise. Connecting with the Ushindi theme of “Strengthening Our Legacy,” the concert theme, “The Music of our Legacy: The Music that Strengthens Us” will offer added excitement as the AACRC culminates a weekend of cultural programming and celebration.

Bottled water and canned goods will be accepted at the door in lieu of a ticket charge. Contributions will be given to Matthew 25 Ministries to assist in their Haiti relief efforts.

Tickets may be obtained at the African American Cultural and Research Center, Ethnic Programs and Services or from any AACRC choir member. For more information, call 513-556-1177 or visit the

AACRC Web site

.