FSU Panama City welcomes Bay District students for Black History Month celebration

Florida State University Panama City will host a Black History Month celebration featuring music, reading, a debate demonstration and guest speaker Darrick D. McGhee Sr., CEO of Strategic Inflection Point LLC. Students from Bay District schools will participate.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 10-11:15 a.m. in the Holley Academic Center’s St. Joe Community Lecture Hall, 4750 Collegiate Drive.

“Having this annual event at FSU Panama City demonstrates our commitment to honor the resilience and achievements of the Black community within our service area,” said Associate Dean Irvin Clark.

Following opening remarks from Clark, the event will welcome Bay County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Alfred McCambry. Next, the Oscar Patterson Academy Ignite Debate Team will take the stage under the leadership of literacy coach Ashley Henderson. FSU Panama City student Sidnie Parks will then present a selected reading, and Clark will introduce McGhee. Following McGhee’s address, violinist Samantha Crawford will perform. After closing remarks, school groups will be provided with lunches and tours of the campus.

McGhee is a writer, podcaster, pastor and government consultant currently serving as Chief Operating Officer for Johnson & Blanton LLC. He has nearly 25 years of experience in state government and politics. Prior to his current role, he was the director of Legislative Affairs for the Executive Office of former Florida Gov. Rick Scott.