Black History Month at University of the Pacific offered students, and the community at large, high-profile speakers and a diverse lineup of events centered on mental health and finding joy in challenging times.

From joining conversations with signature speakers, including poet and podcast host Lisa Lovett and Emmy-nominated actor Giancarlo Esposito, to attending hands-on events such as the Community Health Fair or a concert led by guest conductor Michael Alexander with Assistant Professor Brittany Trotter on flute, attendees engaged in a multifaceted Black History Month lineup.

“The African American experience is an intersectional experience. That's one reason why we worked hard to offer a well-curated program and bring together thought leaders, artists, mental health advocates, healing types, musicians and people who are telling stories in different modalities,” said Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi.

Lovett, an acclaimed poet, online wellness community guru and host of the “Seasoned Dialogue” podcast led an inspirational discussion and asked participants to explore the topic, “Where Do We Go from Here?”  The interactive conversation engaged and empowered audience members, said student Molly Mobley ’24.

“As a young black woman who is not only interested in mental health care but is also deeply spiritual, Lisa Lovett's voice, her message and her energy immediately connected with me,” Mobley said. “Mental health care is important for all, but in my view, it is particularly crucial for Black Americans who have experienced some of our nation's greatest traumas, yet many of us never had the opportunity or resources to heal from generational cycles of trauma, let alone the trauma experienced within our own lifetime.”

Similarly, keynote speaker Giancarlo Esposito spoke about the importance of finding community through challenging times.

“When we face challenges in our lives, in this modern world, are those challenges great enough, and they are mounting, but they are great enough for us to be able to come together and really find peace within and know that we will survive,” Esposito said.

Esposito joined Executive Director for Student Success and Retention Donte Miller March 3 for a moderated discussion at the Alex G. Spanos Center, garnering 1,100 attendees from the university and local community. The actor, whose career has spanned nearly five decades, told the audience he experienced a shift in his career to pursue roles he knew could make a difference.

“I felt like I needed to start playing characters that have evolved and are looked at with respect, characters who are respected as intelligent human beings who could change the world.

“I wanted to be someone who allowed the depth of character to move you, to think on a deeper level about the world we live in. I had to change the characters that I that l played. I had to really think deeply about how that could affect people,” Esposito said.

The Breaking Bad star went on to motivate students through personal stories and words of encouragement and signed a few autographs before wrapping up, marking the final event of Black History Month at Pacific.

“The institution of planning Black History Month has become an institution itself at Pacific. There's something distinct about the way that Pacific, for over 25 years, has had Black History programming. Its consistency tells you something special about this university,” Lomax-Ghirarduzzi said.

Taking the stage to close out the event, she left the audience with a final thought:

“As we close this year's program, remember that Black history is American history, and as we begin Women's History Month, let's remember that empowered women empower the world.”