Charlottesville Public Official, Wes Bellamy, to speak at Carlow

In honor of Black History Month, Carlow University will host Dr. Wes Bellamy, former vice-mayor and a councilman in Charlottesville, Va., who will discuss his memoir, “Monumental: It Was Never About a Statue” on Thursday, February 27.

Marketing and Communications For Immediate Release
Drew Wilson, Director, Media Relations February 17, 2020
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Dr. Wes Bellamy will discuss the White Supremacists’ attacks in his city

Pittsburgh, Pa. – In honor of Black History Month, Carlow University will host Wes Bellamy, PhD, former vice-mayor and a councilman in Charlottesville, Virginia, who will discuss his memoir: “Monumental: It Was Never About a Statue,” on Thursday, February 27, 2020, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Gailliot Center, located on the fifth floor of University Commons at the center of Carlow’s campus.  This lecture is free and open to the public.

Dr. Bellamy, who in addition to being a councilman in Charlottesville is also a professor of political science at Virginia State University, will discuss the White Supremacists’ attacks in his city and how a movement to awaken the nation was born. (Editor’s Note:  A more complete bio follows this news release.)

“The events of Charlottesville have ramifications that have been felt across the world,” said Ryan Scott, director of the Social Justice Institutes at Carlow.  “Dr. Bellamy helps us view what happened there through his eyes and  helps us to view race, equity, and justice as something more than simply removing a few statues.”

This event is sponsored by Carlow University’s Social Justice Institutes, The Office of Equity and Inclusion, and the Atkins Center for Ethics.

### Editor’s Note:  The news media is welcome to cover Dr. Bellamy’s lecture.  Please contact Drew Wilson to arrange free, convenient parking.

About Carlow University

Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s “Eds, Meds, and Tech” district. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow’s graduates, curricula, and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice; ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership; and service to the community that has a meaningful impact. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in four colleges: Health and Wellness, Leadership and Social Change, Learning and Innovation, and Professional Studies. Carlow graduates are in demand for their professional expertise, in fields ranging from nursing, the sciences, and perfusion technology to counseling, education, and forensic accounting; their entrepreneurial spirit and creative mindset; and their ability to manage change.  Carlow’s 13 athletic teams are known as the Celtics, a reflection of the university’s Irish heritage and roots.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Wes Bellamy is a City Councilman in Charlottesville, Virginia and a Political Science Professor at Virginia State University. He is the youngest individual ever elected to the post. He came into the national spotlight after leading the effort to remove statues of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson from city parks. He developed a comprehensive plan, the “Equity Package,” which included nearly $4 million in aid for marginalized communities, and pushed it through city council.

Dr. Bellamy’s primary focus is on improving the lives of those who lack resources and positive role models in their lives. He is a non-profit founder and executive, local activist, organizer, and civic leader. While looking to connect African American Millennials throughout the country, Dr. Bellamy spearheaded the inaugural Black Millennial Political Convention in Washington D.C. An event that featured over 200 Black Millennials from across the country, with different political backgrounds and expertise, different upbringings, and different philosophies, but shared one common goal: Empowering and Connecting African American Millennials.

Dr. Bellamy currently serves as the President of the award winning mentoring organization 100 Black Men of Central Virginia, is the Founder and Executive Director of “We Code, Too” a computer programming and coding non-profit focused on building a pipeline for Black and Latinx youth in the tech industry, serves on the Charlottesville Housing and Redevelopment Board, serves as Co-Chair of the Gang Reduction through Active Community Engagement (GRACE) task force, and serves on the Charlottesville/Albemarle Jail Authority Board. He received his Doctoral Degree at Virginia State University in 2017.

He has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Huffington Post, and has made appearances on CNN, MSNBC, PBS News Hour, NPR and On One with Angela Rye.

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