The annual African American Read-In at Penn State Altoona will take place Monday, Feb. 23, in the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. This year’s theme is Black Female Celebrity.

“Monday Marathon,” an open mic event held in the Titelman Study of the Misciagna Center, will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Readings and lectures will take place celebrating African American female celebrity. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to drop in throughout the day to participate and/or listen. Participants are asked to sign up for a time slot and may bring something of their own choosing or select from a variety of books that will be available at the event. Readers will also receive a free T-shirt with the 2026 Read-In logo on it while supplies last.

From 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Jeanine Staples-Dixon will offer the keynote presentation.

Staples-Dixon is a professor of literacy and language, African American studies and women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Penn State. She focuses on dismantling supremacist patriarchies through research, teaching and coaching. Her work exposes impetuses for various personal and social ills such as racism, sexism and ableism.

All events are free and open to the public and sponsored by the African American Read-In at Penn State Altoona.

Huntingdon

Juniata guest lecturer to speak on rural futures

Juniata College will welcome Malloy Guest Lecturer Tony Pipa, who will present “The Power of Stories and Narrative in Revitalizing Rural Places,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, in the living room of Statton Learning Commons. Hosted by the Office of the Provost, this event is free and open to the public.

The host of the award-winning Reimagine Rural podcast, Pipa shares stories of how people in rural towns are developing innovative solutions to strengthen resilience, economic security and future prospects.

He is a senior fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution, where he launched and leads the Reimagining Rural Policy Initiative. The initiative provides analysis and recommendations to improve the effectiveness of federal policy in supporting rural communities in the 21st century.

Pipa serves as vice chair of StriveTogether, chair of the Reimagining Rural Assistance Network (RRAN), treasurer of Lead for America and a member of several advisory councils focused on economic mobility and rural investment, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Rural Investment Collaborative. A native of rural Elysburg, he attended Stanford University, earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University and holds a master of public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

The Edwin A. and Susan R. Malloy Lectureship was established in 1985 to enhance the quality of life at Juniata College and in the Huntingdon community. The endowment supports programs that include nationally and internationally known speakers, artists, writers and musical groups.

Bedford Arts Coop presents drag show

The 14th New BROADway Divine Drag Show presents “Love Bites” on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Bedford Arts Cooperative, 110 W. Pitt St., Suite 2, downtown Bedford.

Eleven performers will appear. Doors open at 8 p.m. for cocktail hour with the drag show starting at 9 p.m. Cover is $10. The event is for guests 21 and over with proper ID; a cash bar will be available. Proceeds benefit the Bedford Arts Cooperative and the performers. For more information, call/text 814-310-1987 or email bedfordartscooperative@gmail.com.