On the third Thursday of every month, Crossroads Community Center hosts its Global Café lunch sessions in the Crossroads Lounge at the Ferguson Center from 12 to 1 p.m.
During this hour, students are invited to eat their lunch and relax while they enjoy various cultural performances that Crossroads presents. These shows usually include poetry, dancing, singing and musical performances by students.
“The Global Café series is important for students because there are so many talented students at the University that go unrecognized,” said Oniska Blevins, a sophomore who helps coordinate the monthly event. “This event gives them a platform to express themselves through their talents.”
The program, now in its third semester, celebrates the months that recognize different backgrounds and holds performances that coincide with each of these months’ featured heritage. Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month in September featured salsa music and dance, and for Black Heritage Month in February there was a presentation of neo-soul music that was centered on the cultural aspect of being.
The idea for the Global Café was brought to Crossroads by its assistant director, Brice Miller, and has since received much recognition on campus as well as in the community.
“I enjoyed some of the performances they have done for things in the past, like Hispanic Heritage Month, and I always try to stop by the Ferg when I know there is a Global Café session,” said Ashley Priess, a junior majoring in Spanish. “I think it’s a great opportunity for students to be exposed to all kinds of cultures and to see the talented side of their peers that they might not get to experience otherwise.”
Global Café is free for all to enjoy and is one of many events that Crossroads presents every month. The third Thursday of every month also features a Community Conversations session from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Crossroads Lounge. This is an opportunity for students to engage in “fun, educational and entertaining dialogue about interesting topics by interesting people,” according to the Crossroads website.
Other events students can attend throughout the month include First Wednesdays, an international meet-and-greet that takes place the first Wednesday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and REAL Talk, which features discussions on important issues. They can also tune in to Turn on the AC, or Alabama Culture, a live radio broadcast by the Crossroads staff that airs every Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. on 90.7 The Capstone.
More information about all events and the Crossroads community is available online at crossroads.ua.edu. Students interested in performing at Global Café should contact Crossroads directly.
