PNW celebrates Day of the Dead with author visit, campus events
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by welcoming Coco junior novelization author Angela Cervantes for a two-day visit to its Hammond and Westville campuses to meet with PNW and Northwest Indiana students.
In addition, PNW’s Building Community Through the Arts program will host a Día de los Muertos celebration from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Alumni Hall at the Student Union and Library on the Hammond campus, 2200 169th St. The event is a blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture that invites families to celebrate those they have lost through food, drink and music. The event is open to the public. For more information about PNW, visit www.pnw.edu.
St. Mary Medical Center to host fundraiser
St. Mary Medical Center Auxiliary will host the Nothing Bundt Cakes sale from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday in rooms 3 and 3A near the west entrance of the hospital, 1500 S. Lake Park Ave., Hobart. This fundraiser will feature a variety of bundt cakes. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale will go to the Auxiliary in support of the 2022 Scholarship Fund to benefit students pursuing a career in the medical field. More information is at 219-947-6011.
Literacy coalition will present a dinner theater fundraiser
The Gary Literacy Coalition, Inc. (GLC) will host the return of its signature Dinner Theater fundraiser at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway, Merrillville. The play “King’s Ransom,” written by author and GLC Board President Ben Clement, will be featured. Sponsorship opportunities are available. More information can be found at www.garyliteracycoalition.org.
Inauguration celebration at Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University is celebrating the inauguration of José D. Padilla, J.D., as its 19th president with a series of events through Sunday. Scheduled activities include lectures, a trunk or treat event, a parade, a theater production, basketball and the inauguration ceremony. A complete list of events can be found at valpo.edu/inauguration.
IU Northwest announces Climate Narrative Playwright-in-Residence
Indiana University Northwest School of the Arts has invited Jeff Biggers, an award-winning historian, journalist, author, and playwright, to serve as the campus’s Climate Narrative Playwright-in-Residence. Biggers will play a central role in the Climate Season project, a yearlong initiative combining the arts, climate change awareness and campus-community outreach and engagement. Through his playwright-in-residence role, Biggers was commissioned to write an original play entitled, “Kaminski’s Lot.” The production will open at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the IU Northwest Theater at the Arts and Sciences Building on campus, 3400 Broadway, Gary. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, 5, 11 and 12; and at 3 p.m. on Nov. 6 and 13. Tickets are $10 per person. Online reservations are strongly advised at https://go.iu.edu/47NX.
PNW hosts fall discussion series, ‘Race, Racism, Anti-racism’
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) presents a series of interdisciplinary lectures and discussions on critical race theory, racism and teaching evaluations, ethics of protest, and who is hurt by racism. The two remaining installments of the series, “Race, Racism, Anti-racism,” will be held virtually, and are presented by PNW faculty members from the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences. “Princes of Peace and Ethics of Protest: Gandhi, King, Dalai Lama, Mandela” will be presented by Deepa Majumdar, professor of Philosophy, and Karen B. Morris, associate professor of English, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday. “Who is hurt by racism? You might be surprised to find out…” with Alan Spector, professor of Sociology and director of the Center for Global Studies, will be held from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. on Nov. 30. All events are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged. Full details can be found at pnw.edu/anti-racism.
