12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Enslaved people were instrumental in maintaining and developing the culinary traditions of 18th-century Virginia, particularly as trained cooks and dining attendants. Food historian Leni Sorensen, Ph.D, will give a talk in the Special Collections and Archives Reading Room, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, 509 N. 12th St., about meals and the people who cooked them. Sponsored by VCU Libraries, this event is free and open to all. Registration is requested at the following URL.

For more information, contact Thelma Mack at mackta@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0017 or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2019-20/meal-costs.html.

2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Health Promotion and Well-being Center offers a 20 minute mindfulness meditation session at its Resilience Lab, 815 S. Cathedral Place. The session is suitable for all levels of practice. Available space is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact Mia Liadis at liadisa@vcu.edu or visit http://thewell.vcu.edu.

3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

As part of the Focused on Focused Inquiry Workshop series, the Department of Focused Inquiry will host public speaking expert Professor Courtney Sviatko for "Build Your Public Speaking Confidence." The talk will be held in Room 5116, Focused Inquiry Learning Lounge, Grace E. Harris Hall, 1015 Floyd Ave. Snacks will be provided.

For more information, contact Hannah Franz at askinh@vcu.edu or visit https://focusedinquiry.vcu.edu/the-fi-learning-lounge-fill/.

3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Highland Support Project at VCU will present Ben Blevins for the first talk of the group's speaker series. He will discuss his 25 years of work with indigenous communities in the Americas and will speak about the importance of not fostering dependency or having harmful impacts through service-learning experiences. The talk will be in Room 1030J, VCU Globe, West Grace Street Student Housing – North, 830 W. Grace St.

For more information, contact Madeline Doane at doanemh@vcu.edu or (703) 489-4565 or visit https://www.facebook.com/events/212396449926564/.

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Alex Hutchinson, Outside magazine’s “Sweat Science” columnist, will speak at a Health and Physical Activity Lecture hosted by VCU Dept. of Kinesiology. Hutchinson's ability to break down the latest findings from exercise physiology journals for a general audience and explore the training techniques of the world's best athletes prompted FiveThirtyEight to name him one of their "favorite running science geeks." The talk will be in the Grace E. Harris Hall Auditorium, 1015 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact R. Lee Franco at francorl@vcu.edu.

7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

VCU Association of Students with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions will hold a general body meeting in Room 1030 C/CA, West Grace Street Student Housing – North, 830 W. Grace St.

For more information, contact ASDCC at asdccorg@gmail.com.

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m.

Is speaking to God a sign of insanity or is God really paying attention? The Catholic Graduate Student Organization will host a luncheon to explore the importance of becoming spiritually connected. Mario Dance, DVM, a clinical veterinarian on campus and faculty advisor for the group, will share insights. The session will be held in Room 7-102, James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 1201 E. Marshall St. Pizza and drinks will be provided. RSVP at the following email address. Dance also teaches an adult bible study class at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 3300 R St.

For more information, contact Mario Dance at medance@vcu.edu or (804) 828-9838.

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Retro Rams will host a "SchlarshipAThon" to assist students to apply for VCU-based scholarships. The session will be in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Participants should bring a laptop. Volunteers will assist with applications and networking. Snacks and a student freebie table will be available. Questions, Christina Davis at daviscl7@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Glynis Boyd Hughes at gmboyd2@vcu.edu or (804) 803-6878.

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

DPHS, a nonprofit clinic that provides free medical, mental, and dental care, will meet in Room 1004A, West Grace Street Student Housing – South, 835 W. Grace St. The meeting will focus on volunteering, fundraising and support for the Richmond community. Snacks will be provided.

For more information, contact Carmen Khalil at khalilc@vcu.edu.

Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The office of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity will host a presentation on the experiences of a disabled student who studied abroad. Students with disabilities can have problems while studying abroad that their able-bodied and neurotypical peers may not face. Macy Pressley, a junior at VCU who studied abroad in New Zealand, will discuss her experiences studying abroad with a disability and offer tips to any students interested in doing the same. The presentation will be in Room 018, lower level, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Rachel Jacobs at saeo@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2253 or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTzQEJU1d-hQTXyBqScElThP9Zy3w-T-U0aIqi9qw4ydqf9Q/viewform?usp=sf_link.

Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional development fraternity, will host a mock career fair in Rooms 3187 and 3189, Snead Hall, School of Business, 301 W. Main St. The event is in advance of the upcoming business and engineering career fair and will feature suggestions for crafting an elevator pitch and nailing an interview. Bring an updated résumé. Dress is business casual. Light food and beverages will be provided.

For more information, contact Noel Gibson at gibsonbn@mymail.vcu.edu.

Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Esports at VCU will hold its first general body meeting of the semester in Room 2108, Grace E. Harris Hall, 1015 Floyd Ave. Those who attend will be entered for a chance to win a mousepad. Feel free to bring setups. A special interest meeting about recruitment of the collegiate Overwatch team will be held.

For more information, contact Timothy Smith at smithte6@vcu.edu.

Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at 8 p.m.

VCU Department of Music presents Jazz 4 Justice in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Colette McEachin will serve as guest conductor. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Student tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Ticket price includes admission to the concert, hors d’oeuvres and the first drink (for those 21 and older). Tickets are available from the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation at the following URL.

For more information, contact Michael Potts at pottsmj@vcu.edu or visit https://www.grbf.org/j4jtickets2020/.

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 from 10 a.m. to noon

The ICA will host a marketing workshop for artists. The event, at the the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St.. will focus implementing effective strategies to create more awareness with business cards, a website and branding.

For more information, contact Meredith Carrington at mtcarrington@vcu.edu or visit http://icavcu.org.

Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

HealthHacks2020 is hosting an interest meeting for students and faculty who want to be part of the planning committee. The meeting will be in Room 2220, College of Engineering East Hall, 401 W. Main St. This year's medical designathon event is currently slated for Nov. 7 and 8 in East Hall.

For more information, contact Laura Osborne at healthhacks@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0349 or visit https://healthhacks.vcu.edu/.

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Whether you're using Google Forms for the first time or just want to see what new, innovative functionality Google has added, join Collaboration Services for a hands-on workshop. The session will be held in Room 108, Technology Administration Building, 701 W. Broad St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Dr. Gee at drgee@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/gogoogle.

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join Kerri-Anne Mitchell, Dr.PH., Postdoctoral fellow, Cancer Prevention and Control, Department of Health Behavior and Policy, for a joint seminar, "Exploring Racial and Ethnic Differences in Patient-Centered Cancer Care," and Elizabeth L. Adams, Ph.D., Postdoctoral fellow, Cancer Prevention and Control, Department of Pediatrics, "Sleepy Baby! A Step Toward Uncovering the Links Between Sleep and Feeding During Infancy Using Actigraphy." The seminar, hosted by VCU Department of Health Behavior and Policy, will be held in Room 644, sixth floor, One Capitol Square, 830 E. Main St. A light lunch will be provided. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mary Johnson at johnsonme6@vcu.edu or (804) 628-3443 or visit https://hbp.vcu.edu/research-seminar/.

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The da Vinci Center will host a panel discussion as part of its IDEATE (Increasing Diversity in Entrepreneurial and Tech Ecosystems) series. Panelists Melody Joy Short (entrepreneur and co-founder of Richmond Night Market and the ARTisan Cafe), Charles P. Ajemian (president, Social Enterprise Alliance Virginia) and Enjoli Moon (founder and creative director, Afrikana Film Festival and ICA assistant curator of film) will share their roles and journeys in the social enterprise/nonprofit sector, lessons learned, missed opportunities, what makes their work and commitments different from other areas of entrepreneurship or service and what they wish they had known early in their careers. The event will be at the center, 807 S. Cathedral Place. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kendra Cabler, Ph.D., at cablerka@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/ideate_socialimpact.

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 at 7 p.m.

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity, Inc. will host a social event to paint a mug and keep it. The event will be held in Room 1030J, West Grace Street Student Housing – North, 830 W. Grace St.

For more information, contact Karina Armenta at armentaka@vcu.edu or (703) 687-2605.

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The ICA will host a special Valentine screening of poet and artist Tracie Morris’s "Eyes Wide Shut: A Not-Neo Benshi Read" (2016), a recontextualization of Stanley Kubrick film "Eyes Wide Shut." Combining poetry with research conducted at Kubrick’s London archives, Morris dubs over the entirety of Kubrick’s film to present a commentary on race, sexuality and gender. The film, to be screened at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St., contains adult content that may be inappropriate for some audiences.

For more information, contact Meredith Carrington at mtcarrington@vcu.edu or visit http://icavcu.org.

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Project Sunshine at VCU will hold a Sending Sunshine event at which students will create craft kits to send to children’s hospitals across the nation. The event will be in Room 1030J, West Grace Street Student Housing – North, 830 W. Grace St. All are welcome.

For more information, contact Katherine Le at lett35@vcu.edu or visit https://projectsunshine.org/.

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

VCU Parking and Transportation will host a one-hour GRTC travel training session for students, faculty and staff in Room 1105, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave. The session will include how to use the GRTC bus system, navigate Pulse/Route 5 routes across campus and commute from areas in Richmond to VCU's Monroe Park and/or MCV campuses. Maximum attendance is 15. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kendra Norrell at commute@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/grtc.

The annual call for nominations for the Distinguished Faculty Awards Program has been made. Since 1982, VCU has paid formal tribute at Convocation to members of the faculty. The categories include Distinguished Teaching Award ($3,500 and nonmonetary gift), Distinguished Scholarship Award ($3,500 and nonmonetary gift), Distinguished Service Award ($3,500 and nonmonetary gift), Outstanding Early Career Faculty Award ($3,500 and nonmonetary gift), Outstanding Term Faculty Award ($3,500 and nonmonetary gift) and University Award of Excellence ($5,000 and non-monetary gift. Criteria, timeline and nomination instructions may be found at the following URL. Nominations should be submitted by Feb. 24.

For more information, contact Marella Briggs at mbriggs@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0885 or visit https://president.vcu.edu/media/president/assets/pdfs/awards-and-nominations/2020DFANominationInstructions_Revised_Final.pdf.

VCU Office of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity will be offering "Go Red" stickers on Feb. 7 in support of American Heart Month. The goal is to draw attention to the eradication of heart disease and stroke. Wear red or pick up a sticker at the SAEO office, Room 018, Division of Student Affairs, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Kristian Carden at kcarden@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1422 or visit https://saeo.vcu.edu/.

Apply for the Cary Street Crux at the following URL by Feb. 8. The outdoor climbing event, hosted by VCU Recreational Sports' Outdoor Adventure Program, will be held Feb. 8 and will also feature such additional activities as dyno competition, log rolling and slacklining. All skill levels are welcome. Raffle prizes and awards will be presented.

For more information, contact Christina Spohn at spohncl@vcu.edu or visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=b2ab43e0-6195-444d-b278-4017ec0c7a6d&semesterId=2747cef5-50b3-4321-bf68-a95f2d1b3ea5.