MONACA, Pa. — The annual soul food dinner at Penn State Beaver has become a Black History Month tradition over the past six years, but this year the event is expanding to include local artists.
 
The dinner, which is sponsored by the Black Student Union, will be held Feb. 21 in the Student Union Building Lodge and will feature comfort foods including fried chicken, barbecue ribs, macaroni and cheese, mixed greens and banana pudding. 

“From a student perspective, the soul food dinner is important for numerous reasons. For those who are a part of the African American community it can allow them to feel connected to their roots and celebrate their cultural identity,” Aaliyah Booker, president of the Black Student Union, said. “For students as a whole, soul food is often associated with comfort, so it allows them to take a break from the stresses in life while also broadening their perspective on the African American culture.”

The year there also will be an art display that is focused on Black excellence. Three local artists who work with the Genesis Collective  — Jessica Jeffries, Marlon Gist and Trinity Anderson — will be sharing their work with the campus.

“We’ve had the soul food dinner for at least six years now, and this year we wanted to elevate the event to incorporate the arts and community in a way that celebrates Black excellence and all of the accomplishments and contributions of Black artists in our local community,” Romina Vidal Martinez, coordinator of residence life and student affairs, said.
 
This year’s dinner will include a vocal performance by Rocky Peters.

“With the theme of the soul food dinner being Black excellence, it (the art) helps to add to that factor. The goal is to show students that you do not have to be someone famous, in Hollywood, or in the headlines to be excellent. You can show excellence by just being good at what you love to do,” Booker said.