MLK Event: Strength in Community, Community Gathering
2026-01-20 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Champlain Room, Center for Communication & Creative Media (CCM), 375 Maple Street, Burlington, VT, 05401, United States
Celebrate community, creativity, and connection.
Join us for a vibrant gathering in the Champlain Room. Come together to share food and fellowship as we celebrate Dr. King’s vision of beloved community.
This is a space to break bread together and build relationships. Enjoy delicious offerings from local BIPOC food vendors while connecting with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Dr. King believed that true community is built through genuine connection and shared experience. This gathering is our opportunity to live that vision, to meet community members, make friends, and strengthen the bonds that hold us together.
Come as you are. Stay as long as you like. Leave inspired.

MLK Event: Selma (2014) Movie Screening
2026-01-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Alumni Auditorium, Center for Communication & Creative Media (CCM), 375 Maple Street, Burlington, VT, 05401, United States
Experience the march that changed America.
Join us for a screening of Selma, Ava DuVernay’s powerful film about the 1965 voting rights campaign that led to the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.
Witness Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and fellow activists as they organize against violent opposition, from the tragedy of “Bloody Sunday” on the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. This film reveals the strategy, sacrifice, and extraordinary courage required to secure a fundamental right.

Cultivating Identity
2026-01-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Fireside Lounge, IDX Student Life Center, 262 S Willard St, Burlington, 05401
A reflective space for people to think about their values, strengths, cultures, or beliefs. Decorate a pot with the identities you want to cultivate in 2026, discuss it with your peers, and take a plant home. As you water your plant, you will have a constant reminder of the qualities you want to grow in the new year!

Olympics Opening Ceremony Watch Party
2026-02-06 14:00 - 17:00 | Fireside Lounge, IDX Student Life Center, 262 S Willard St, Burlington, 05401
All Champlain community members are welcome to join the Office of International Student Services in celebrating the Olympics and our international students by screening the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Fireside Lounge. We will be serving snacks from the countries represented by our international students along with discussing some history and fun facts about the Olympics.

Black History Bingo
2026-02-12 18:30 - 19:45 | Fireside Lounge, IDX Student Life Center, 262 S Willard St, Burlington, 05401
The ODI is hosting Black History Bingo! Join us to learn about important historical figures and explore black culture, while enjoying snacks and prizes! All are welcome!

More Than Gumbo: Mardi Gras Cooking Demo
2026-02-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Champlain Room, Center for Communication & Creative Media (CCM), 375 Maple Street, Burlington, VT, 05401, United States
When you think about New Orleans cuisine, what do you think about? Cajun food and gumbo are incredible, but there is so much more to New Orleans food. Join New Orleans School of Cooking instructor Chef Maria Vieages for a live cooking demo featuring some classics, as well as dishes you may have never heard of. All are welcome, and samples are included!

Chef Maria's Mardi Gras Pop-Up Dinner
2026-02-17 17:00 - 19:00 | Dining Hall, IDX Student Life Center, 262 S Willard St, Burlington, VT, 05401, United States
Come celebrate Mardi Gras and enjoy a taste of New Orleans in our very own IDX Dining Hall. Enjoy as much gumbo as your heart desires. All students, staff, and faculty eat for free!

Honoring Resilience: Black History in Vermont
2026-02-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Alumni Auditorium, Center for Communication & Creative Media (CCM), 375 Maple Street, Burlington, VT, 05401, United States
The evening program will feature the Green Mountain Gospel Choir performing “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” and “Glory,” presentations on notable Black Vermonters, spoken-word performances, and local musical guests. Open to all, attendees will experience a powerful blend of music, history, and reflection that celebrates Vermont’s role in the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. The event will conclude with remarks from campus leadership, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to honoring and preserving this vital history.
More information and a brief history:
This February marks an extraordinary convergence of American history: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution and the 100th anniversary of Black History Month observances. Vermont holds a unique place in both of these milestones. As the first state to abolish slavery in its 1777 constitution, Vermont established itself as a leader in the fight for freedom and equality. This Black History Month celebration on Champlain’s campus honors that legacy while exploring the often-overlooked contributions of Black Vermonters who have shaped the state’s history and culture.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who founded what would become Black History Month in 1926, understood that commemorating Black history was essential to transforming how communities view themselves and their place in the world. His vision was captured by scholar Arthur A. Schomburg’s powerful statement: “The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future.” A century later, as we face contemporary challenges to inclusive education and historical accuracy, Vermont’s early commitment to abolition and equality reminds us why these commemorations matter—not simply as contributions to mainstream narratives, but for their profound resonance in the lives of Black people and the broader community.

More Than The Color of My Skin
2026-02-25 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 205, Joyce Hall, 387 Maple St, Burlington, VT, 05401, United States
Join us for a workshop on Colorism, which will include a history, activity, and discussion. All Champlain community members welcome!
