Inaugural Colloquium
The Initiative officially began its activities on 4 October 2000 with a reception and inaugural lecture delivered by Dr. Leslie James of DePauw University entitled "African American Religion and Culture in the Diaspora: The Road Trodden and Untrodden."
The event was attended by some fifty members of the Notre Dame and larger Michiana communities. In addition to marking the opening of the Institute, the event provided an occasion to celebrate the growth of the African and African-American Studies (AFAM) Program (1997-2005). The contributions of its founder (Dr. Joseph Scott) and several of its recent directors (Dr. Frederick Wright, Dr. Kim Flint-Hamilton, and Dr. Patrick Mason) were noted and those in attendance left the event challenged by Leslie James' inspiring vision of Notre Dame as the ideal locus for the study of religion and culture in Africa and the Diaspora. His message will do much to inspire those affiliated with ISRCAD to carry forward the work of those pioneering individuals that laid the foundation for the AFAM program at the University.
Photos from the Event
Rev. Hugh Page Jr., Director of the African-American Studies Program.
Leslie James, Assistant Professor of Religion at Depauw, the keynote speaker.
Catherine Forshey, Nicholas Creary, Fellows
Theodore Burgh, George Lopez, and Lynn Todman
Bruno Wambi, Don Crafton, a local South Bend minister
Barbara Walvoord and Donald Sniegowski
Rev. Paulinus Odozor, Rev. Mike Driscoll and Jennifer Herdt
Hugh Page, Paul Johnson and Mike Driscoll
James Riley, John Saillant, Al Tillery, and Davarian Baldwin.