Maumee Valley's Afro-Am student organization will host its signature event on Monday, Feb. 28, and it will feature a speaker panel focused on black perseverance, offer food from black-owned businesses, and highlight the African American experience in our country. 

Co-Presidents Ny'Asia Mathis '22 and Antonia Villa '22 have been working hard along with the 13 members of Afro-Am to plan the event. 

Mathis said she's been attending the annual dinner since she was in middle school and is excited to host her group's largest event. 

The panel of speakers features a cross-section of professions and different experiences within the black community, she said. 

"My personal hope is to introduce other students to people who can be a part of our community," Mathis said, who has been a member of Afro-Am for four years. 

While the event is at the end of Black History Month, Afro-Am members asked Black History trivia questions to MV students throughout the month. The questions highlighted lesser-known facts and figures who had integral contributions to the black community. Those who got all of the questions correct were eligible for free admission to the dinner. 

Villa said her personal experience with Afro-Am at Maumee Valley has been a positive one. 

"I didn't really have a lot of black influence growing up, so it gave me a space to express my feelings and experience about my race that maybe other people in my family didn't experience," she said. 

The Afro-Am dinner will be from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Millhon Theater. Please use the door 5 entrance. The cost is $5 at the door and Cash App, Venmo, PayPal and Apple Pay also are accepted. Masking and physically distancing will be in effect unless people are eating.