The Center for Teaching and Learning at American River College is organizing a celebratory presentation on the life and legacy of Rosa Parks in celebration of African American history month and Rosa Parks Day.

The celebration will take place Feb. 11 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Raef Hall 160.

This event will be facilitated by professors Camille Leonhardt and Abigail Feely, both from the ARC History Department, where they will showcase Rosa Parks’ role and influence in the Civil Rights Movement.

Leonhardt said that the celebration will shed light on the dedication that ultimately impacted a nation.

“We want to emphasize the importance of her commitment to equality and (her) courageous actions,” said Leonhardt. “Specifically her activism and background about the mobilization of the Civil Rights Movement.”

Leonhardt added that the event was still growing and could add more features in the upcoming days.

“Professor Feely and I are hoping to be joined by other presenters but do not have confirmation just yet on their participation,” Leonhardt said.

The hope for the presentation is that it will be an informative way to strengthen and enhance students’ knowledge of the history behind Rosa Parks’ contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.

“We hope that ARC students will turn out to learn more about the woman whose actions ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a seminal event of the modern civil rights movement,” Feely said. “We also hope that attendees will come away with a larger perspective on Parks’ lifelong dedication to activism and service to others.”

Both professors are still in the process of developing their presentations.

This is a free event, and is one of the many events the Center for Teaching and Learning  sponsors every Thursday during college hour.  

“The CTL is committed to strengthening and enhancing the learning and teaching experience of all staff, faculty and students,” said Amanda Corcoran, CTL director.

Staff Resource Center Assistant, Christina Wagner, said she hopes that the program has a good, and far-reaching influence here at ARC.

“Maybe it’s a topic that’ll give people something interesting to talk about with their friends and family at dinner,” Wagner said. “Or maybe it’ll be something that’ll set someone on a career path.

“Either way, college hour is a great way for people to spend lunch each Thursday, learning about something they might not have had the chance to learn about otherwise,” Wagner said.