CBC Celebrates Black History Month

Front row, from left to right, Velma Elizalde, Vice President of Student and Administrative Services at CBC; Lois Virata, Paraprofessional at St. Mary’s Academy Charter School; Dr. Denise Hutchinson-Bell, Director of Adult Basic Education at CBC; Dr. Beatriz T. Espinoza, CBC President; and Idotha Battle, CBC Vocational Nursing Instructor; back row, from left to right, Eric Tarver, Reverend at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church; Darryl Martin, Clinical Director of Coastal Bend Spine and Sport and a CBC Foundation Board Member; and Ronald Givens, Assistant Warden at The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Garza East Unit, unite to celebrate Black History Month at Coastal Bend College in Beeville.

Over 250 Coastal Bend College students, staff, and community members attended the Black History Month: CBC United 2013 celebration held on the Beeville campus on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.

The event was planned by the CBC Student Services Department and the Student Government Association (SGA), and was sponsored in part by the Coastal Bend College Foundation. Keynote speaker, Reverend Eric Tarver of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Beeville, delivered an inspiring message of hope, perseverance and unity to all those in attendance.

“We wanted this event to be focused on unity, and I feel like that message was prominent throughout the event. Our speakers had powerful messages that touched the hearts of so many CBC faculty, staff, and students, as well as community members. We all came together and created such a well-orchestrated program. I look forward to helping coordinate this event again in 2014,” said Lindsey Hagen, Career Development Advisor for CBC and one of the event organizers.

Attendees were also able to listen to a panel featuring six area community leaders talking about the challenges and obstacles they had to overcome to be where they are today. A common theme in each of their stories was that education and support, such as the type found at a small college like CBC, was pivotal in them attaining success in their lives and careers.

CBC would like to thank the panelists for sharing their stories with the CBC community: Darryl Martin, Clinical Director of Coastal Bend Spine and Sport and a CBC Foundation Board Member; Ronald Givens, Assistant Warden at The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Garza East Unit; Lois Virata, Paraprofessional at St. Mary’s Academy Charter School; Reverend Eric Tarver, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church; Dr. Denise Hutchinson-Bell, Director of Adult Basic Education at CBC; and Idotha Battle, Vocational Nursing Instructor at CBC.

CBC would also like to thank Martha Stovall, President of the Lott-Canada Alumni Association, for her beautiful rendition of America the Beautiful, and the Beeville Men’s Choir for singing at the event.

To view pictures and video from the event, please visit www.coastalbend.edu/blackhistory, and for more information about upcoming community events at CBC, please call (361) 354-2266.

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