NRCC 2026 Black History Month Event
Venue: Edwards Hall (New River Community College), Dublin
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Event Types: Music, Miscellaneous, Speaking Engagements
Cost: Free
Description:
In celebration of Black History Month, New River Community College (NRCC) and the college's Black History Committee will sponsor a guest speaker and other entertainment on Sunday, February 22, 2026 in 117 Edwards Hall on the Dublin, VA campus.

Alethea "AJ" Robinson from Bluefield will serve as this year’s special guest. This year’s topic is "Standing Tall and Proud" and will feature a panel discussion with Robinson, Susie Green and Ellen Elmes. The program will include musical performances from Drumbeat, The Glorylanders, Radford Church of God in Christ Children's Choir and William Peen and Drew Dowdy.

AJ Robinson is an accomplished public affairs and communications executive, currently serving as the Director of Communications and Tourism for Tazewell County. In this leadership role, she directs comprehensive strategies spanning public relations, destination marketing, community development, outdoor recreation, and media relations—each focused on driving economic growth and elevating the region’s profile across the Commonwealth and beyond. Her background includes extensive experience in the United States Senate, where she served under Senator John Warner and Senator George Allen. Robinson also served as Director of Special Projects for Second Chance Rocks the Two Virginias, the region’s largest concert event benefiting more than 100 nonprofit organizations.

Her dedication to public service and education is reflected in her extensive board and leadership involvement across the Commonwealth. She is a past member of Radford University’s Board of Visitors and currently serves on the Virginia State Board for Community Colleges where she chairs the Board’s Strategic Partnerships Committee. She is also a member of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education Board and serves as Chair of the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of the Virginia Community Colleges.

Admission is free and all are welcome.

Light refreshments will be served following the program.

Edwards Hall, on New River Community College's Dublin, VA campus, is located at 5251 College Drive in Dublin, VA.

To view the event flyer, visit: https://i.postimg.cc/3xG64DsP/image.png.

For more information, visit: https://www.nr.edu/news/more.php?id=1824 or https://www.facebook.com/nrccfb/ or https://www.instagram.com/nrccedu/ or contact Elaine Powell-Hawkins at (540) 674-3600, ext. 4478