UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Alumni Association is sponsoring this year’s Black History Month programming on WPSU, a PBS and NPR member station licensed to the Penn State Board of Trustees.
The support is an expression of the Penn State Alumni Association’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive membership, one where all identities, experiences, and backgrounds come together to create a strong and welcoming alumni community representative of the Penn Staters it proudly serves, said Paul Clifford, chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association.
“We are very pleased to recognize, support and celebrate the experiences, perspectives, and achievements of people of color," said Clifford, "and to partner with WPSU to share them with the greater University community and beyond."
WPSU-TV serves one of the largest geographic coverage areas in the nation, reaching 515,000 households in 24 counties of central Pennsylvania. WPSU-FM serves more than 450,000 listeners in 13 central counties. Those within WPSU’s broadcast coverage area can watch or listen on WPSU’s live stream at https://live.wpsu.org/ for television and https://live.wpsu.org/#radio for radio.
“Sponsoring WPSU’s Black History Month broadcasting is another way for us to help make sure these important stories reach as many people as possible,” Clifford said. “It also is a reflection of the Alumni Association’s dedication to promoting diversity, and to ensuring that our organization embodies who ‘We Are’ and what ‘We Are’ means.”
Black History Month programs sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association on WPSU-TV include:
- Feb. 11, 9:30 p.m. — Ken Burns’ "Jazz," episode 6: "Swing: The Velocity of Celebration" (1937-1939)
- Feb. 12, 9 p.m. — "American Masters: Maya Angelou"
- Feb. 16, 9 p.m. — "The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song" (part 1)
- Feb. 18, 9:30 p.m. — Ken Burns’ "Jazz," episode 7: "Dedicated to Chaos" (1940-1945)
- Feb. 19, 9 p.m. — "Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America"
- Feb. 22, 9 p.m. — "Marching Forward"
- Feb. 22, 10 p.m. — "Independent Lens: Mr. Soul!"
- Feb. 23, 9 p.m. — "The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song" (part 2)
- Feb. 25, 9:30 p.m. — "Risk" (1945-1955)
Penn State units and student organizations at campuses across the commonwealth will be holding events in honor of Black History Month throughout February.
The Penn State Alumni Association connects alumni to the University and to each other; provides valuable benefits to members; and supports the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. More information about the alumni association is available at alumni.psu.edu.
In a primarily rural service area, WPSU maintains an over-the-air, cable, satellite, and digital delivery to ensure free and broad access for Pennsylvanians. WPSU-TV and WPSU-FM reach 24 and 13 counties, respectively. Visit WPSU.org for more information on central Pennsylvania’s public media station.