Free movie screenings to be April 10
Sapphire, who penned the book “Push,” the foundation of the movie “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” will give a free speech at 7 p.m. Monday, April 12, at Wright State University’s Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, as part of the university’s month-long observance of Minority Health Month.
Her talk follows a violence prevention Expo scheduled that day from 3 to 7 p.m.
Free screenings of “Precious” will take place at noon and 3 p.m. on April 10 at the Neon Movies, 130 E. Fifth St., Dayton.
For more information call (937) 775-3207. To see a complete calender of events visit www.wright.edu/minorityhealthmonth.
FAIRBORN — The nation’s culture of violence impacts the region’s quality of life, said Hazel Rountree, Wright State’s assistant director of affirmative action, and Kate Johnson of the Dayton International Peace Museum.
“In order to do something about it, we have to wake people up and make them realize it doesn’t have to be that way,” Johnson said.
Wright State’s observance of the Minority Health Month focuses on violence as a public health issue and will be highlighted Monday, April 12, with a free Violence Prevention Expo scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m.
A free speech by Sapphire, who penned the book “Push,” the foundation of the movie “Precious,” will follow at 7 p.m. Both events will be held at the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway.
Organizers say the momentum behind Minority Health Month programming at Wright State University grew like the confidence of the incest survivor depicted in “Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push’ by Sapphire.”
“It started off small like a nugget, but it exploded like Precious’s life did,” said Gary LeRoy, Wright State’s Organization for Black Faculty and Staff president. “It exploded into something fabulous.”
Events throughout April tackle a broad range of violence related topics. They include movies, speeches and a 7 p.m. healing ceremony set for the Student Union April 27.
Sapphire was selected as the Minority Health Month speaker as the result of a partnership between Wright State’s Organization for Black Faculty and Staff and its Black Graduate Students Association.
The program expanded as organizers realized others in Greater Dayton were working on programs that addressed violence.
The expo will feature more than 40 organizations and agencies with information ranging from gun violence to bullying.
Schools, church groups and organizations are welcome to attend the expo and the month’s programs.
United Against Violence, a Samaritan Behavioral Health-led coalition preparing to implement a comprehensive, community violence prevention plan using $88,000 in grant funding, will be a featured presenter.
Susan Elias, Samaritan’s director of development, said everyone must help root out violence.
“Otherwise all you are doing is treating the aftermath,” she said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2384 or arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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