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Two Upcoming USF University Lecture Series Speakers Announced
Free Community Forum On LGBTQ Youth
AMARA LA NEGRA ...To lecture September 25th
VH1 star Amara La Negra and Black Panther actor Winston Duke open the fall lineup
The University of South Florida will welcome Afro- Latina recording artist and actor Amara La Negra and Tobagonian-American actor Winston Duke as its first two speakers of the 2018- 2019 University Lecture Se- ries, a student-run program.
La Negra will appear on Tuesday, Sept. 25 and Duke will lecture on Thursday, Oct. 25. Both lectures will be at 8 p. m. (doors open at 7:30 p. m.) in the Marshall Student Center Oval Theater.
La Negra, a Dominican- American native of Miami, was selected to appear in cel- ebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is recognized nationally and at USF from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Al- though best known as the breakout star of this season’s Love and Hip Hop: Miami, La Negra’s lecture is ex- pected to focus on the chal- lenges of navigating the entertainment industry —in- cluding sexism, classism, col- orism and racism — as an Afro-Latina.
Her industry experience runs deep given the 27-year- old started her career as a young child with appearances on Univision’s Sábado Gi- gante. Her music, like the
WINSTON DUKE ...Scheduled to lecture October 25th
reggae-tinged current hit “What a Bam Bam,” draws from a multitude of musical genres, particularly rhythms from the Caribbean, and in- spiration from music legends Celia Cruz and Beyoncé.
Duke recently made his feature film debut in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther, in which he played the fan-fa- vorite character M’Baku, leader of the Jabari Tribe. Duke reprises the character in the current Avengers: In- finity War.
Born in Tobago, Duke emigrated to the U. S. at the age of nine. He got his start in theater with the Portland Stage Company before going on to the Yale Repertory The- atre and graduating from the Yale School of Drama. Prior to landing his Marvel comic character role, Duke ap- peared in recurring roles on television in “Person of Inter- est,” “Major Crimes” and “The Messengers.”
He is expected to lecture about his life experiences and the influence of films like Black Panther on Black cul- ture.
Both lectures are free and open to the public on a lim- ited first-come, first-served basis following priority seat- ing for USF Tampa students.
For more information about the lecture series, in- cluding the audience policy, visit www.usf.edu/uls.
Tampa teens, their par- ents and other interested in- dividuals are invited to a FREE educational and inter- active forum on LGBTQ youth and the unique chal- lenges they may face, an issue which directly impacts the youth of Tampa Bay.
The event is to be held on Wednesday, September 12 from6p.m.to8p.m.at Barksdale Adult Activity Center, 1801 North Lincoln Avenue in Macfarlane Park.
The forum is sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Lead-
ership Council, a program of the City of Tampa that allows local teens to develop their leadership skills and apply them through various service projects and workshops.
Panelists will speak about various matters facing LGBTQ youth, from medical, legislative, and personal viewpoints. These panelists include Dr. Diane Straub, Representative Janet Cruz, Ms. Elle Ashworth and Mr. Cole Foust.
Audience members will have the opportunity to ask
each of the panelists ques- tions directly in a panel dis- cussion. Additionally, community members will have the chance to browse community partner tables, which are organizations ac- tively supporting the LGBTQ community of Tampa Bay.
While the event is free, reservations are encouraged by September 10, 2018 and may be made by contacting Molly Biebel, Youth Devel- opment Coordinator, at 813- 274-5909, or via email at molly.biebel@tampagov.net.
Mayor’s Youth Leadership Corps (2017-2018)
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