This year's theme is "The Challenge of Change—A Look at the Course of Black History." The month-long program begins with a reception (Friday, February 6) featuring SEIU Executive Vice-President Gerry Hudson speaking on the challenge of change.

Friday, February 13, we've scheduled a fun version of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" with Washington, DC area schoolchildren and a Black History Month flavor.

Our finale celebration (Wednesday, February 18) will feature author and Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson.

Speaker bios

Gerry Hudson—Recently honored by Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations for his extraordinary leadership, Gerald "Gerry" Hudson has had a wide-ranging impact on the fight to improve the lives of working families and their communities.

Since June 2004, Hudson has served as Executive Vice President of SEIU. He leads the work of the union's Long Term Care Division, which represents nearly 500,000 nursing home and home care workers nationwide. Through new strategies, alliances, and campaigns, SEIU long term care workers are building a powerful voice in the workplace and the political arena for both themselves and for seniors and the disabled communities they serve.

Michael Eric Dyson—Named by Ebony magazine as one of 100 most-influential African-Americans, Dr. Dyson is not only the author of more than a dozen books, but is also a professor at the District of Columbia's Georgetown University, and a frequent guest on nationally broadcast television and radio programs.

He is also a leading scholar on hip-hop music and the culture that surrounds it, its roots in African and African-American cultures, and influence on American popular culture. His most recent books Know What I Mean? and April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King's Death and How It Changed America, were published in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at SEIU Local 1199

In one of the last speeches Dr. King gave before his assassination in 1968, he spoke to SEIU members and supporters about the Vietnam War, and the continuing fight for social and economic justice.

Black History Month Desktop Wallpapers

SEIU Communications—Creative Services staff have designed these special edition computer backgrounds for use on your Mac or PC.

	Artist: Sara Callahan Download: 1024x768 or 1920x1080
	Artist: Joy Childs Download: 1024x768 or 1920x1080
	Artist: Mackie Marquez-Lopez Download: 1024x768 or 1920x1080
	Artist: Kristopher Price Download: 1024x768 or 1920x1080