College and Community Connections

Overview

College and Community Connections celebrates the diverse people, cultures, and experiences that have shaped—and continue to shape—the United States. The Center serves as a campus and community hub for learning, reflection, and dialogue on identity, equity, and inclusion across American history.

Our Goal

To educate, inspire, and connect individuals through an honest exploration of America’s complex past and present. We promote understanding, empathy, and civic responsibility by highlighting the stories of historically underrepresented communities and the ongoing pursuit of the American Dream.

Our Vision

A campus and community that recognizes and values the shared and diverse experiences that define us—creating space for every individual to learn, belong, and thrive.

What We Do

The Center brings history to life through events, exhibits, and collaborations that deepen awareness of the American experience.

Educational programming — lectures, film screenings, interactive workshops.
Community partnerships — collaborations with local organizations and historians.
Cultural exhibits & collections — honoring contributions of underrepresented groups.
Student engagement — service, research, and storytelling opportunities.

Upcoming Events FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (unless otherwise noted). Maps and directions to all Sinclair locations To receive email notifications about upcoming events supported by the Building Community on Campus Office, email: Patty Peters
May 2026 Traveling Exhibit On loan from the Kentucky Derby Museum Black Heritage in Racing This companion piece to the museum’s permanent exhibit consists of 11 freestanding panels that share rich history, from enslaved Africans laying the foundation for American horse racing to initiatives to increase African American participation in the industry today. The Kentucky Derby and horse racing itself would not be what it is today without the Black jockeys and horsemen who dominated the sport in its early days and shaped the future of Thoroughbred racing. Registration not required.	Dates: May 1 to May 31, 2026 Time: Open Daily, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Bldg. 11-322, Lobby
Unhushed: Let's Talk About Sky Full of Elephants, by Cebo Campbell Join Sinclair English Professor, Furaha Henry Jones, to chat, reflect, and write about the novel. To build common ground for our conversation, read or listen to the novel before the session. During our time together, we will share in small groups and as a large group to explore readers' reflections. We will end with an optional 30-minute freewriting/ creativity time. If you like, bring your journal, drawing pad, notebook, or other tools for creativity. Complimentary copies of the book available for participants. THIS BOOK READ WILL BE REPEATED AS A VIRTUAL EVENT ON 05/21/2026. The UNHUSHED SERIES brings together people who believe creative self-expression can bring positive change to the world. REGISTER for the Book Read	Date: May 14, 2026 - In person May 21, 2026 - ZOOM only Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324 or Zoom
Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Month: The Women Who Transformed American Society Women's History Virtual 101 Talk with Emily Krichbaum, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Strategic Programs and Education at the National Women's History Museum. Explore the remarkable and largely untold stories of Asian American and Pacific Islander women who shaped American public life. From pioneering physicians and award-winning journalists to labor organizers, politicians, and artists, AAPI women have been leading, innovating, and transforming their communities for centuries--often without receiving historical recognition. Learn how AAPI women claimed space in American institutions and redefined what leadership looks like. REGISTER	Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location: Zoom
Video & Discussion: "Gutting the Voting Rights Act Isn't Just a Black Rights Issue" VIRTUAL EVENT ONLY! Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones explains why the Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act is not just a blow to Black representation. It’s a blow to democracy itself. "The Black rights struggle has been a struggle to democratize America for everyone," she says, “and the loss of this impacts democracy for everyone." Join Michael Carter for the discussion to follow. Please watch the Video Before the Discussion: HERE REGISTER	Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Time: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: Zoom
Film Screening: Plague at the Golden Gate Bring your lunch! Snacks Provided! Plague at the Golden Gate is a 2022 PBS American Experience documentary that tells the story of the first bubonic plague outbreak ever to reach North America, which struck San Francisco's Chinatown in 1900. Because the first case was discovered in Chinatown, authorities wrongly concluded the plague only affected Chinese people, leading to harsh quarantines and the burning of homes and businesses that fell almost exclusively on the Chinese community. The film has drawn comparisons to the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of scapegoating a community during a public health crisis and the importance of science-based solutions over fear and prejudice. REGISTER	Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324
Film Screening: The Last Days Bring your lunch! Snacks Provided! The Last Days is a 1998 documentary directed by James Moll and executive produced by Steven Spielberg that tells the stories of five Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust, focusing on the final year of World War II when Nazi Germany occupied Hungary and began mass deportations to concentration camps, primarily Auschwitz. The film highlights a particularly chilling aspect of that period — that even as Hitler faced certain defeat with resources running out, he diverted men and supplies to accelerate the extermination of Hungary's Jews rather than strengthen the war effort. Above all, the film is a testament to personal strength and the resilience of the human spirit, and it went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. REGISTER	Date: Friday, May 29, 2026 Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324
New Summer 2026! Sinclair @ The Neon Join friends and colleagues for an afternoon at The Neon Movies. We have purchased 20 tickets to each of the film screenings below. If you would like to attend, REGISTER now, first-come, first-served. Pick up your ticket and a voucher for popcorn and a drink in the Our American Journey office by Thursday, May 26th at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. *Seeds, Winner of the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance - with special guest Brittany Shyne - a graduate of WSU's Motion Picture department. "SEEDS is a portrait of centennial farmers in the geographical south. Using lyrical black and white imagery, this meditative film examines the decline of generational black farmers and the significance of owning land." REGISTER* Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It - an encore screening. "Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance." REGISTER	Date and Time: Saturday, May 30, 2026 (Seeds) at 12:00 p.m. or Sunday, May 31, 2026 (That's the Way) at 3:00 p.m. Location: The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton, OH 45402
Have A Gay Day: Annual PRIDE Dinner Sponsored by Have A Gay Day, all are welcome to the annual PRIDE Dinner. This is a family-friendly event. Free Parking. Complimentary Dinner Great Conversation Entertainment Door Prizes! REGISTER	Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 12, Great Hall Directions
Film Screening: Stonewall Uprising Snacks and Drinks Provided! June is PRIDE Month - Discover why - Join us for this film screening and discussion. This 2010 documentary, directed by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner, examines the events surrounding the Stonewall riots, which began in the early hours of June 28, 1969. The film traces how America at the time treated homosexuality as a mental illness and how gay people lived almost entirely in the closet, with Greenwich Village serving as a rare exception where they could gather openly. Using rarely seen archival footage, photographs, and eyewitness interviews — including one of the officers who took part in the initial raid and a Village Voice reporter who was barricaded inside the bar with police — the film pieces together the night the Stonewall Inn's patrons finally fought back. It concludes by looking at the aftermath of the uprising, including the galvanizing of the gay community as a political force and the founding of Christopher Street Liberation Day, which became the genesis of gay pride parades across the United States. REGISTER	Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324
2026 Juneteenth Celebration College & Community - ALL ARE WELCOME! On behalf of the Senior Advisor to the President, Michael Carter, you are invited to join colleagues, family and community members, for a free lunch and program celebrating Juneteenth, the day known as the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. 11:00 a.m. - Doors open! A variety of vendors will be in attendance to showcase their products. 11:30 a.m. - Program begins, featuring Furaha Henry Jones and G. Scott Jones 12:15 p.m. - Free lunch, vendors open, enjoy! Please register to help us plan for lunch - thank you. REGISTER	Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026 Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324
Juneteenth Celebration(s) in Troy, Ohio Juneteenth Festival at McKaig-Race Park in Troy, Ohio. Celebrating History, Community, and Summer! Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Music & Games Vendors Food and more Juneteenth History Exhibit: "Rhythm of Change: The Transformative Power of Black Art 1619 to Present" Friday, June 12, 2026, through Sunday, August 9, 2026 Location: Troy Hayner Cultural Center History of Funk: Free Concert with the Deron Bell Band Friday, June 19, 2026 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. (Concert begins at 7:00 p.m.) Location: Troy Hayner Cultural Center More Information	Date: Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, 2026 Time: Varies by event Location: McKaig-Race Park, Troy, OH, and Troy-Hayner Cultural Center, 301 W. Main St. Troy, OH 45373
Juneteenth Celebration in Springboro, Ohio Did you know Springboro was a significant stop on the Underground Railroad? With 26 documented safe houses, more than any other city in Ohio, the founding Quaker families played a major role as a safe harbor for enslaved people and paved the way for freedom for Black Americans. Visit the Springboro, Ohio, Museum to learn more. Live Music & Entertainment Food Trucks Artisan Craft Vendors Family Friendly Underground Railroad Tours More Information	Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Location: Springboro, Ohio, East North St. 45066
Book Read: The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity, by Kaila Adia Story HYBRID EVENT - Join in-person or via ZOOM Join Lajmar Anderson, Sinclair's Archives & Reference Librarian-Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Liaison for a conversation on Dr. Kaila Adia Story’s thought provoking book, The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf: On The Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity. In this timely piece, Dr. Story asks us to examine the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, along with the myth of community unification and homogeneity. Copies of the book are available in the Ohio Digital Library or may be requested via OhioLink (Sinclair affiliates). Please note, this is a participatory discussion (not a presentation) and you will need to have read at least some of the book in order to actively engage. Paper copies of the book will be available beginning June 1, 2026. Contact Patty Peters to reserve your copy: patricia.peters9828@sinclair.edu REGISTER	Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 Time: 2:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324 or ZOOM
Celebrating PRIDE Month: The Lavender Menace and the Second Wave of Feminism Women's History Virtual 101 Talk with Emily Krichbaum, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Strategic Programs and Education at the National Women's History Museum. Termed the “lavender menace,” lesbian feminists fought for inclusion within a liberation movement that dismissed them as a liability. Through protest, manifesto, and collective action, this talk explores how lesbian activists refused to be pushed to the margins, turned an insult into a rallying cry, and established a distinct political movement in the process. REGISTER	Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026 Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location: ZOOM

Upcoming Events

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (unless otherwise noted).
Maps and directions to all Sinclair locations

To receive email notifications about upcoming events supported by the Building Community on Campus Office, email: Patty Peters

May 2026 Traveling Exhibit

On loan from the Kentucky Derby Museum

Black Heritage in Racing

This companion piece to the museum’s permanent exhibit consists of 11 freestanding panels that share rich history, from enslaved Africans laying the foundation for American horse racing to initiatives to increase African American participation in the industry today.

The Kentucky Derby and horse racing itself would not be what it is today without the Black jockeys and horsemen who dominated the sport in its early days and shaped the future of Thoroughbred racing.

Registration not required.

Dates:
May 1 to May 31, 2026

Time: Open Daily, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Bldg. 11-322, Lobby

Unhushed: Let's Talk About Sky Full of Elephants, by Cebo Campbell

Join Sinclair English Professor, Furaha Henry Jones, to chat, reflect, and write about the novel.

To build common ground for our conversation, read or listen to the novel before the session. During our time together, we will share in small groups and as a large group to explore readers' reflections. We will end with an optional 30-minute freewriting/ creativity time. If you like, bring your journal, drawing pad, notebook, or other tools for creativity. Complimentary copies of the book available for participants. THIS BOOK READ WILL BE REPEATED AS A VIRTUAL EVENT ON 05/21/2026. The UNHUSHED SERIES brings together people who believe creative self-expression can bring positive change to the world.

REGISTER for the Book Read

Date:
May 14, 2026 - In person

May 21, 2026 - ZOOM only

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location: Sinclair Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324 or Zoom

Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Month: The Women Who Transformed American Society

Women's History Virtual 101 Talk with Emily Krichbaum, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Strategic Programs and Education at the National Women's History Museum. Explore the remarkable and largely untold stories of Asian American and Pacific Islander women who shaped American public life. From pioneering physicians and award-winning journalists to labor organizers, politicians, and artists, AAPI women have been leading, innovating, and transforming their communities for centuries--often without receiving historical recognition. Learn how AAPI women claimed space in American institutions and redefined what leadership looks like.

REGISTER

Date:
Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Video & Discussion: "Gutting the Voting Rights Act Isn't Just a Black Rights Issue"

VIRTUAL EVENT ONLY!

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones explains why the Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act is not just a blow to Black representation. It’s a blow to democracy itself. "The Black rights struggle has been a struggle to democratize America for everyone," she says, “and the loss of this impacts democracy for everyone." Join Michael Carter for the discussion to follow.

Please watch the Video Before the Discussion: HERE

REGISTER

Date:
Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Time: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Film Screening: Plague at the Golden Gate

Bring your lunch! Snacks Provided!

Plague at the Golden Gate is a 2022 PBS American Experience documentary that tells the story of the first bubonic plague outbreak ever to reach North America, which struck San Francisco's Chinatown in 1900. Because the first case was discovered in Chinatown, authorities wrongly concluded the plague only affected Chinese people, leading to harsh quarantines and the burning of homes and businesses that fell almost exclusively on the Chinese community. The film has drawn comparisons to the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of scapegoating a community during a public health crisis and the importance of science-based solutions over fear and prejudice.

REGISTER

Date:
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324

Film Screening: The Last Days

Bring your lunch! Snacks Provided!

The Last Days is a 1998 documentary directed by James Moll and executive produced by Steven Spielberg that tells the stories of five Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust, focusing on the final year of World War II when Nazi Germany occupied Hungary and began mass deportations to concentration camps, primarily Auschwitz. The film highlights a particularly chilling aspect of that period — that even as Hitler faced certain defeat with resources running out, he diverted men and supplies to accelerate the extermination of Hungary's Jews rather than strengthen the war effort. Above all, the film is a testament to personal strength and the resilience of the human spirit, and it went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

REGISTER

Date:
Friday, May 29, 2026

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324

New Summer 2026! Sinclair @ The Neon

Join friends and colleagues for an afternoon at The Neon Movies. We have purchased 20 tickets to each of the film screenings below. If you would like to attend, REGISTER now, first-come, first-served. Pick up your ticket and a voucher for popcorn and a drink in the Our American Journey office by Thursday, May 26th at 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

Seeds, Winner of the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance - with special guest Brittany Shyne - a graduate of WSU's Motion Picture department. "SEEDS is a portrait of centennial farmers in the geographical south. Using lyrical black and white imagery, this meditative film examines the decline of generational black farmers and the significance of owning land."

REGISTER

Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It - an encore screening. "Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance."

REGISTER

Date and Time:
Saturday, May 30, 2026 (Seeds) at 12:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 31, 2026 (That's the Way) at 3:00 p.m.

Location: The Neon, 130 E. 5th St., Dayton, OH 45402

Have A Gay Day: Annual PRIDE Dinner

Sponsored by Have A Gay Day, all are welcome to the annual PRIDE Dinner. This is a family-friendly event. Free Parking.

Complimentary Dinner
Great Conversation
Entertainment
Door Prizes!

REGISTER

Date:
Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 12, Great Hall

Directions

Film Screening: Stonewall Uprising

Snacks and Drinks Provided!

June is PRIDE Month - Discover why - Join us for this film screening and discussion. This 2010 documentary, directed by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner, examines the events surrounding the Stonewall riots, which began in the early hours of June 28, 1969. The film traces how America at the time treated homosexuality as a mental illness and how gay people lived almost entirely in the closet, with Greenwich Village serving as a rare exception where they could gather openly. Using rarely seen archival footage, photographs, and eyewitness interviews — including one of the officers who took part in the initial raid and a Village Voice reporter who was barricaded inside the bar with police — the film pieces together the night the Stonewall Inn's patrons finally fought back. It concludes by looking at the aftermath of the uprising, including the galvanizing of the gay community as a political force and the founding of Christopher Street Liberation Day, which became the genesis of gay pride parades across the United States.

REGISTER

Date:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324

2026 Juneteenth Celebration

College & Community - ALL ARE WELCOME!

On behalf of the Senior Advisor to the President, Michael Carter, you are invited to join colleagues, family and community members, for a free lunch and program celebrating Juneteenth, the day known as the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

11:00 a.m. - Doors open! A variety of vendors will be in attendance to showcase their products.
11:30 a.m. - Program begins, featuring Furaha Henry Jones and G. Scott Jones
12:15 p.m. - Free lunch, vendors open, enjoy!

Please register to help us plan for lunch - thank you.

REGISTER

Date:
Thursday, June 18, 2026

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324

Juneteenth Celebration(s) in Troy, Ohio

Juneteenth Festival at McKaig-Race Park in Troy, Ohio. Celebrating History, Community, and Summer!

Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Music & Games
Vendors
Food and more

Juneteenth History Exhibit: "Rhythm of Change: The Transformative Power of Black Art 1619 to Present"

Friday, June 12, 2026, through Sunday, August 9, 2026
Location: Troy Hayner Cultural Center

History of Funk: Free Concert with the Deron Bell Band

Friday, June 19, 2026
6:30 to 9:00 p.m. (Concert begins at 7:00 p.m.)
Location: Troy Hayner Cultural Center

More Information

Date:
Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, 2026

Time: Varies by event

Location: McKaig-Race Park, Troy, OH, and Troy-Hayner Cultural Center, 301 W. Main St. Troy, OH 45373

Juneteenth Celebration in Springboro, Ohio

Did you know Springboro was a significant stop on the Underground Railroad? With 26 documented safe houses, more than any other city in Ohio, the founding Quaker families played a major role as a safe harbor for enslaved people and paved the way for freedom for Black Americans. Visit the Springboro, Ohio, Museum to learn more.

Live Music & Entertainment
Food Trucks
Artisan Craft Vendors
Family Friendly
Underground Railroad Tours

More Information

Date:
Saturday, June 20, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location: Springboro, Ohio, East North St. 45066

Book Read: The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity, by Kaila Adia Story

HYBRID EVENT - Join in-person or via ZOOM

Join Lajmar Anderson, Sinclair's Archives & Reference Librarian-Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Liaison for a conversation on Dr. Kaila Adia Story’s thought provoking book, The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf: On The Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity. In this timely piece, Dr. Story asks us to examine the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, along with the myth of community unification and homogeneity. Copies of the book are available in the Ohio Digital Library or may be requested via OhioLink (Sinclair affiliates). Please note, this is a participatory discussion (not a presentation) and you will need to have read at least some of the book in order to actively engage.

Paper copies of the book will be available beginning June 1, 2026. Contact Patty Peters to reserve your copy: patricia.peters9828@sinclair.edu

REGISTER

Date:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Time: 2:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324 or ZOOM

Celebrating PRIDE Month: The Lavender Menace and the Second Wave of Feminism

Women's History Virtual 101 Talk with Emily Krichbaum, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Strategic Programs and Education at the National Women's History Museum. Termed the “lavender menace,” lesbian feminists fought for inclusion within a liberation movement that dismissed them as a liability. Through protest, manifesto, and collective action, this talk explores how lesbian activists refused to be pushed to the margins, turned an insult into a rallying cry, and established a distinct political movement in the process.

REGISTER

Date:
Thursday, June 25, 2026

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Location: ZOOM