The University of Colorado at Boulder's Black Biomedical Research Movement, or BBRM, will host an African-American Cultural Health Symposium and Cultural Fair March 15 and March 16 on campus.
The two-day event was created for black students of all ages. The campus events will be free and open to the public. Events held at the Boulder Theater Saturday evening, March 16, will cost $10 per person.Ìý
The event opens March 15 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Porter Biosciences Building with workshops and focus groups addressing key health issues in the black community. Refreshments will be served.
The symposium will include lectures on diseases affecting African-Americans and will include speakers from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as well as a keynote lecture from CU-Boulder Research Associate Patrick Allen, founder and executive director of BBRM. Quanisha Redding, a 14-year-old poet from New York, also will perform.
"This is our innovative approach to bridging gaps between science, health and culture for African-Americans," Allen said.Ìý
"We will exploit our culture to better our health by bringing together things that are popular among black people, such as music, dancing and sports, with the things that are unpopular with black people, such as science, health issues and doctors," he said.Ìý
"We anticipate the event will attract more than 1,500 minority students from Colorado campuses," Allen said.
The symposium will have health and medical information for African-Americans of all ages. Black students interested in studying biomedical sciences will have a chance to speak directly with graduate students, research scientists and science faculty attending the symposium.
The BBRM was formed in 1997 to encourage and assist blacks to take charge of their health by getting medical screenings for diseases that affect blacks in high proportions and to encourage a health-promoting lifestyle. BBRM also hopes to increase the number of African-American biomedical research scientists at major universities and institutions.Ìý
According to Allen, this event marks the first of many such events that BBRM will sponsor throughout the country in the coming years. Allen and his staff have joined forces with top performing artists, including reggae, rap and rhythm and blues musicians to make sure that BBRM's message reaches black youth across America.Ìý
Performances at the symposium will include Black Entertainment Television comedian John Laster, a Greek step-show put on by black sororities and fraternities, a Hip-Hop After-Party with The Lox and Jadakiss and Trelane Martin (Snipe Life).
Other artists include Julian Small (Crown Juls), Victor Earl (Iceman), Imani Short (Imani: World's Baby Sister), Jason Allen (Seven-11), Landron Lasley (Bunch) and Shreka Anderson.
For more information call 1-888-234-2495, or visit .