Outreach

In an effort to assist educators and communities interested in expanding knowledge about Africa throughout Pittsburgh and neighboring communities in Western Pennsylvania, the African Studies Program coordinates a range of outreach services to schools, civic groups, businesses and the wider community. The goal is to increase public knowledge about Africa and also to enhance the understanding of African culture by providing information from and about Africa.

 

African Studies works closely with K-12 teachers and administrators to promote the teaching of Africa in their school curriculum. Our central focus over the years has been curricula development through the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program funded, by the U.S. Department of Education. Teachers and administrators from various school districts in Western Pennsylvania have had the opportunity to travel to Africa for the purpose of enhancing their professional competence in the African area and the generation of specific, grade level instructional resources for classroom infusion. Teachers who have traveled to Africa have returned to Pittsburgh and have continued to be active in the annual “Teach Africa” workshops organized by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburghand co-sponsored by the African Studies Program.

 

African Studies coordinates at least one teachers’ workshop or conference each summer. Focus is on teaching Africa through literature, environmental sciences, social studies, language and visual arts. Information about these programs are posted on our events calendar but if you wish to receive advance information, please send us an email with your name and e-mail address:macrina@pitt.edu.African Studies also organizes guest speakers and local experts to participate in round table discussions.

 

African Studies encourages its faculty and students to make themselves available for speaking engagements on African topics. Individual Africanists are available for consultation on programs, curricula, or issues concerning Africa. We will continually assist in identifying experts on the topic at hand and to link the requester with the relevant expert. We also arrange school presentations by African graduate students during the academic year.