Annual events for Black History Month began Wednesday afternoon for Springfield Technical Community College. This year the college specially dedicates all events to the people of Haiti. The opening ceremonies also included Anne Mistivar-Payen, a professor of nursing at STCC

Mistivar-Payen had family and friends fall victim to the devastating, 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti on January 12. For a while, even her own mother was unaccounted for.

"For 2 weeks I hadn't heard, and I tried all the different channels to get a hold of her.” recalled Mistivar-Payen. “Finally she was able to get in touch with me and let me know that she was okay."

Mistivar-Payen learned from a friend in Haiti that her mother was doing okay, having access to water and shelter. She finally heard her voice this weekend for the first time after the quake, but knows many others in Haiti are still suffering.

"It's easy for me to stay here in America and cry and be sad.” said Mistivar-Payen. “But the real people who are suffering are the Haitian people in Haiti."

Every February, Springfield Technical Community College celebrates Black History Month. This year's program "Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Celebration of Black Life, History, and Heritage” features photographer Edward Cohen. His exhibit "25 Years of the African-American Experience in Springfield" displays photos taken since 1979, and will be at the Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery.

"Community members were seeing themselves in these photographs, many of which were taken a long time ago.” said Francie Riddle, coordinator of the Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery. “It was a very inspirational group of photos. You look around the room and it is Springfield."

The photographs will be on display through February 26. The Black-American Heritage Flag will also be waiving in front of Garvey Hall this month.