VCU news

The Virginia Commonwealth University Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Afrikana Film Festival and The Cheats Movement have joined forces to present the Richmond premiere of “The Cycle,” a short film produced by MTV personality and SiriusXM Radio host Sway Calloway. Part of the Afrikana’s Noir Cinema Series, the film will be screened on March 24 from 7–9 p.m. in the University Student Commons Commonwealth Ballroom, followed by a post-screening Q&A withSway and the film’s lead actor, Ade Otukoya.

 The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs is sponsoring the film screening as a tool to help break the cycle of violence through productive dialogue and to instigate genuine conversation around the issue of fear and how it contributes to violence in communities. The screening is intended to provide local community members with a place to have their voices heard and discuss how communities and police react to violent situations. It is free and open to the public.

For more information about this event, please contact Reginald Stroble at 804-827-4457 or mrlstroble@vcu.edu or by visitingwww.omsa.vcu.edu, or Enjoli Moon at 804-433- 2331 or enjoli@afrikanafilmfestival.org or by visiting www.afrikanafilmfestival.org.

About Afrikana Independent Film Festival
The Afrikana Independent Film Festival is a festival dedicated to showcasing the cinematic works of emerging and established filmmakers throughout the African diaspora. The platform is designed to celebrate global black culture through the medium of independent film. More information can be found at www.afrikanafilmfestival.org.

About I Heart Diversity Week
I Heart Diversity Week is hosted by VCU Residential Life and Housing and the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, March 21–25. The week will educate VCU students on the importance of diversity and inclusion on personal, community, and global levels. #OneRam will trend throughout the week to get students engaged on how their separate identities can be appreciated by sharing Ram Pride. The week will culminate with a half-day Social Justice Student Conference on March 25.

About The Cheats Movement
The Cheats Movement is a media platform that celebrates the Richmond region as a hub for art, music, culture and diversity. Founded in 2011, it is consistently voted one of the best independent blogs in Richmond. In 2015, the Cheats Movement launched a hip-hop podcast that highlights independent artists and addresses community issues in a modern and meaningful way. For more information visit www.thecheatsmovement.com.

About VCU and VCU Health
Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students in 225 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Seventy-nine of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU’s 13 schools and one college. The only academic medical center and Level I trauma center in the region, VCU Health comprises five health sciences schools (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy), VCU Medical Center, Community Memorial Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, VCU Massey Cancer Center and Virginia Premier. For more, please visit www.vcu.edu and vcuhealth.org.