SUNY Potsdam Class Hosts 'Health Mind, Body and Soul' Gospel Convention

Students in SUNY Potsdam 'Rhetoric of the Black Church' Class Host Gospel Convention on Dec. 7

POTSDAM, NY (11/29/2017) (readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam students will host the College's first-ever Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Gospel Convention next week, featuring worship songs and hymns.

Students in the "Rhetoric of the Black Church" class, which is taught by Associate Professor of English and Communication Dr. John Youngblood, will lead the event on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Knowles Hall Multi-Purpose Room.

Throughout the fall semester, students in Dr. Youngblood's course have led weekly church services filled with traditional gospel songs, including call and response songs. For weeks, the students have been learning traditional hymns, as well as traditional and contemporary gospel songs, which they will perform during the convention.

Attendees will be invited to learn and sing along during the convention. Among the works to be performed are "Hold Up the Light," "The Angels in Heaven," "You Don't Know What the Lord Told Me" and "Glory, Glory."

To see videos of the students practicing the songs, visit the "Rhetoric of the Black Church" YouTube channel, at www.youtube.com/channel/UCvYMqFKG9QPJFJVfgt3ZOmA.

All are welcome to attend this event. There is a $3 admission charge, and guests are also invited to bring donations of non-perishable goods.

All cash proceeds will benefit the Potsdam Central School Snack Pack Program, which provides non-perishable snacks for weekends and holidays to eligible K-12 students in the district, to ensure that no children go hungry when school isn't in session.

All canned and boxed food items will be contributed to the SUNY Potsdam food pantry, which is run by the Department of Community Health, and is open for students and those in the campus community dealing with food insecurity.

The SUNY Potsdam Department of English and Communication challenges students to explore the varied ways that people speak, write and read. The department offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as SUNY's only Bachelor of Fine Arts program in creative writing. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/Engl.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

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