Let's Go Pitt! - Promoting Staging Migrations During Homecoming Weekend

 On October 23, 2014, I boarded an Amtrak train in New York City, heading back to Pittsburgh for additional book appearances for Staging Migrations toward an American West. An impatient person might find an all day trip by train to be grueling, but it does give you  time to clear your head and see the landscape.

 

Returning to my alma mater the University of Pittsburgh was special. I arrived just in time to see the fireworks in Oakland on Friday night. Once the smoke cleared and the sun rose on Saturday morning, I had a clear picture of the Cathedral of Learning, the Pitt Panther and the Student Union's Jazz exhibit. 

 

Saturday, October 25th involved a short stop by the Pitt Book Center. The book display remained and on this second trip, I am still humbled by it. The display, in part, looks so great because of the cover illustration "Ascent" by Rosalind Nzinga Nichol http://www.teaandwings.com/ and the UPC cover design by Daniel Pratt.

 I have the support of people like Tiffany Ellis-Butts and her mother Marlene Ellis, who are brilliant when it comes to finding and arranging additional outlets for me and my book during my Pittsburgh trip. For example, the Ellis ladies arranged for me to sell and sign copies of the book at the world premiere of the musical Queens of the Blues, at New Horizon Theater, Inc in East Liberty. Many thanks to New Horizon's Board Member and Producer Dr. Joyce Meggerson-Moore for this opportunity. 

 

(Top photo) Marta with a Pittsburgh legend Jean Bryant, who is a brilliant newspaper woman and founder of the local Miss Teenage Pageant.

Sunday, October 26th. This return to Pittsburgh was largely built around my presentation during the African American Alumni Council's (AAAC) Sankofa Homecoming Brunch. http://www.alumni.pitt.edu/alumni/groups/african-american-alumni-council/. I can't believe that I have been away from the University of Pittsburgh for over twenty years. I am reminded of this fact when I meet brilliant young people like these ladies from the Bradford campus of Pitt (top photo) and one of the luncheon's Rising Leaders Honorees Marita Garrett (A&S '07) (bottom photo). Other honorees included Letrenda Jones (SHRS '09) and Jessica Robinson (GSPIA '05)http://www.consciouscourageliving.com/about-jessica/.

Sharing excerpts of the book during my presentation....

The leadership in the AAAC includes trailblazers like Valerie Njie, Linda Wharton Boyd, Tony Fountain, and Steve Jones. It was clear to me that their efforts extend well beyond Homecoming events.

I appreciated the support offered by the Sankofa Brunch attendees. Signing copies of Staging Migrations after my presentation. 

Look for clips from my lecture at the CUNY Graduate Center in an upcoming post!