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.
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.
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.
The Center brings history to life through events, exhibits, and collaborations that deepen awareness of the American experience.
Upcoming EventsFREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (unless otherwise noted). |
|
|---|---|
Interfaith Film Screening Event - InterstellarSponsored by the Interfaith Forum of Greater Dayton, The University of Dayton, and Sinclair College's Office of Interfaith Ministry.
Open to students, ages 18 to 25, this interfaith event explores themes of humanity, faith, and the cosmos. Representatives from IFGD, the University of Dayton, and Paul Strozier, Sinclair's Interfaith Chaplain will lead the discussion. Food and drinks provided! FREE Parking in Lot C, located under Building 12. |
Date: Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair Conference Center, 444 W. 4th St. Dayton, OH 45402 |
BOOK READ: Right Thing, Right Now: Good Values, Good Character, Good Deeds, by Ryan HolidayBack by popular demand, a virtual opportunity to discuss this powerful guide to taking principled action in a complicated world. This book offers practical wisdom and timely inspiration, making it a valuable journey to share with others. Michael Carter facilitates this 3-session Book Read and discussion. Complimentary copy of the book provided. Please commit to attending all sessions. If you missed a session(s) of the in-person book read, please register and make up the session you missed! |
Dates: Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Location: Zoom Only |
30-Minutes Highlighting History: Moving ForwardJoin Michael Carter for a 30-minute tour in Our American Journey: Moving Forward," which explores everyday life in the United States for people of color in the years following WWII, highlighting how families, workers, veterans, and community leaders navigated opportunity and exclusion - laying the groundwork for the modern Civil Rights Movement. This is a 30-minute walking tour in the Our American Journey exhibit. |
Date: Time: Location: |
Films on Fridays: Ruthless (Rescheduled)Join us for a screening of Ruthless: Monopoly’s Secret History, which explores how the popular board game Monopoly originated as a radical critique of economic inequality before being appropriated, rebranded, and commercialized by corporate power. The documentary highlights the erased contributions of Elizabeth Magie and other innovators, revealing how capitalism, patent law, and aggressive business tactics reshaped both the game and its legacy. Bring your lunch! |
Dates: Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324 |
Darnell and Michael Carter's Annual Jackie Robinson/Negro Leagues Baseball GameWilberforce University Bulldogs v. Oakwood University AmbassadorsFree and Open to the Public! Spend an afternoon at the ballpark for a special college baseball game honoring the legacy of the Negro Leagues and the athletes who shaped the game during an era of segregation. In tribute, players will take the field wearing authentic replica jerseys representing historic Negro League teams, celebrating their talent, resilience, and impact on American baseball. The event offers fans a chance to experience the spirit of the game while recognizing a powerful chapter in baseball and American history. |
Dates: Time: 11:00 a.m. gates open, game starts at 1:00 p.m. Location: Cincinnati Reds Urban Youth Baseball Academy 2026 E. Seymour Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45237 |
African American History Tourist Sites - Close to Home!Zoom EventJoin Sinclair’s Chief Diversity Officer, Michael Carter, for a discussion about all the amazing African American historical tour sites that are within a short driving distance from Dayton, Ohio. This will be given to you so you can mark off the places you've already visited and prepare for future visits. |
Dates: Time: 12:00 p.m. Location: Zoom Only |
Safe Space: When Everything is Falling Apart - for Sinclair Faculty & StaffThis is not a workshop to help you cope. This is not a workshop to make you feel better. This is not a workshop for answers. Rather, it is a workshop that is meant to name what is happening, acknowledge the shared experience, and explore how we might contribute to building a better world. *Register for this event on the Center for Teaching & Learning webpage. |
Date: Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324 |
Film Screening: The LibrariansWhen lawmakers seek to review a list of books, librarians find themselves on the frontlines of a national battle. Across the U.S., librarians face the impact of uniting against library collection standards that include restrictions on race-related and LGBTQIA+ content. Drawing on historical context, The Librarians explores the broader implications for education and public life. Following the film, Lajmar Anderson, Sinclair College Archives & Reference Librarian-Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Liaison, will lead a discussion and Q&A. Review: |
Dates: Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 12, Room 116 |
For Students: Ask Your Advocate - Meet Your Campus Ombuddy, Amy HartmanConnect with Sinclair's campus ombuds office and learn how to navigate challenges, resolve conflicts, and advocate for yourself. Through open conversation, students will gain practical tools to confidently address concerns and access support across campus. Registration is not required for this event. |
Dates: Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 12, Room 116 |
Video & Discussion: Unpack Trevor NoahHYBRID Event - In-person or ZoomTrevor Noah and Jon Stewart: The Myth of Meritocracy - Why Are They Terrified of Equality? In this conversation, Trevor Noah joins Jon Stewart to unpack the idea of meritocracy and why many people fiercely defend it. Noah argues that the “myth of meritocracy” persists because it allows those who benefit from systemic advantages to attribute their success solely to hard work, while ignoring historical and structural inequities tied to race, class, and access. They discuss how equality is often framed as a threat rather than a goal, with fear rooted in the belief that expanding opportunity will mean losing status or power. Ultimately, the conversation challenges viewers to reconsider what fairness truly looks like and to confront how narratives about merit can obscure deeper inequalities. |
Dates: Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair College, Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324 OR Zoom |
Films on Fridays: The Perfect CrimeJoin us for a discussion and screening of The Perfect Crime. A shocking story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two wealthy college students who murdered a 14-year-old boy in 1924 to prove they were smart enough to get away with it. When Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two well-educated college students from a wealthy suburb of Chicago, confessed to the brutal murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks, the story made headlines across the country. The unlikely killers not only admitted their guilt, but also bragged that they had committed the crime simply for the thrill of it. What first seemed like a simple matter of evil would gradually give way to a complex assessment of the murderers' minds and a searing indictment of the forces that had shaped them, and set off a national debate about morality and capital punishment. Bring your lunch! |
Date: Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location: Sinclair Dayton Campus, Building 11, Room 324 In-person Only |
Unhushed: Let's Talk About Sky Full of Elephants, by Cebo CampbellJoin 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. |
Date: 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
|
May 2026 Traveling ExhibitOn loan from the Kentucky Derby MuseumThe Heart of the Turf: Racing's Black PioneersThis 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: 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 |