The State Historical Society of Missouri will host free virtual events exploring Black Health and Wellness-the Black History Month theme announced by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) for 2022.

A news release says at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 17, Wilma Calvert, University of Missouri-St. Louis associate professor of nursing, and AJ Medlock, SHSMO senior archivist, will moderate a panel discussion on “The Role of Black Nurse Activists in Improving the Health of St. Louis.” Presented in partnership with the Black Nurses Association of Greater St. Louis, panelists include Shuron Jones and Brittany Ferrell.

Jones is a history instructor at UMSL and a PhD candidate at St. Louis University. Jones will discuss the 1970s work of nurse Zenobia Thompson in opposing the closure of Homer G. Phillips Hospital by the City of St. Louis. Ferrell is a registered nurse, activist, and UMSL College of Nursing graduate. Guided by her participation in the 2014 Ferguson protests and her time as a labor and delivery nurse, Ferrell will discuss her current work to improve outcomes of Black maternal and infant health.

At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22, Joan Stack, SHSMO art curator, will present “Exploring Black Health and Wellness Through a Collection of Historical Images.” Offered in partnership with MU Libraries, Stack will examine artworks and photographs and detail how these works highlight the experiences of Black Americans related to healthcare and wellness throughout the 20th century. This presentation includes an accompanying exhibition that is on display in the colonnade cases of Ellis Library on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus from February 7 to May 23, 2022.

Both events are free to the public and will be held virtually using Zoom. Registration is available on the Society’s website at shsmo.org/events.