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Celebrate Black History month with CLC

by Public Relations and Marketing | Published Feb 01, 2023

College of Lake County (CLC) invites the Lake County community to celebrate Black History month this February. CLC has a wide variety of events scheduled throughout the month that are free and open to the public.

Black History month backgroundThe celebration is headlined by the Eleanor Murkey Community Center Ribbon Cutting and Reception to celebrate the opening of the top floor of the Lakeshore Student Center named after Eleanor Murkey, the first dean of the Lakeshore Campus. The event is from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5. RSVP is requested by Friday, Feb. 3 via email to SPS.Engage@clcillinois.edu 

“The purpose of Black History month is to remember and honor people who have made a difference at any level,” said Executive Director of the Career and Job Placement Center Dr. Sylvia Johnson Jones. “Eleanor is an icon that had a significant impact not only on CLC students and faculty, but the Waukegan and Lake County communities.”

All month long, the Black History Month Art Showcase will take place at all three campuses. The pieces, created by CLC students, reflect on culture and each tell unique stories. A free reception for the artists and community will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 in the Esper Petersen Reading Room in the Grayslake Campus library.

Black History month wraps up with the annual Salute to Gospel Music Concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Jesus Name Apostolic Church, 208 Lake St. in Waukegan. The concert features performances by GRAMMY nominated artist Jekalynn Carr and the CLC Gospel Choir. Purchase tickets at www.jlcenter.clcillinois.edu 

On Monday, Jan. 30, CLC signed a guaranteed transfer agreement with Lincoln University, a historically black college in Jefferson City, Missouri. It is the second historically black college and university CLC has an agreement with, along with Tennessee State University.

For the full list of events, visit www.clcillinois.edu/events/black-history-month 

About College of Lake County

College of Lake County is a comprehensive community college committed to equitable high-quality education, cultural enrichment and partnerships to advance the diverse communities it serves in northeastern Illinois. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, college classes are affordable and accessible to help each student achieve academic, career and personal goals. More than 70,000 students graduated with degrees and certificates since the college opened in 1969. College of Lake County is the only higher-education institution ranked among the top 15 best places to work in Illinois by Forbes in 2019 and is a national leader in many areas, including campus internationalization, sustainability and conservation.