By Mackenzie Davis
On Thursday, March 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Grand Rapids Community College’s Woodrick Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs is hosting their third guest speaker in the Diversity Lecture Series this semester.
Taking place in the Calkins Science Center Auditorium in room 348, guest speaker Mandice McAllister–Inclusion and retention manager for Warner Norcross and Judd LLP–will be speaking on the feelings of not belonging in different aspects of life and how to find the resilience and community to explore identity and use it as a tool everyday.
Associate Director of the Woodrick Center, Alyssa Gamez, shared their hopes for what students will take away from this event.
“Our hope is that attendees will walk away feeling hopeful and included as they are able to recognize that they are not alone in feeling excluded or unseen in any area of life,” Gamez said. “The goal of these conversations are also examples of real life experiences and testimonies that aid attendance with knowledge and tools on how to cultivate community among spaces they also inspire to or navigate currently.”
With McAllister’s specialty in diversity and inclusion, Gamez shared why it’s important now more than ever to have her come and share her experiences at the college.
“Feeling like you belong in school and professional settings is an important experience that everyone should have the right to. Highlighting the importance of individuality, freedom of expression, inclusion and belonging is important to the well-being and the overall success of all students on campus,” Gamez said. “This event is important because it reminds us to embrace our own unique identities and leverage our experiences to reach our goals regardless of things happening outside of ourselves that may feel out of our control.”
The Woodrick Center encourages all students from every background to come and attend the event as it has themes that almost every student can relate to.
“Navigating belongingness and addressing feelings of exclusion impacts each and every one of us at some point in our lives, and so everyone can learn something from this event. Additionally, it is another opportunity to be among people that may have different or the same identities as you and share a common experience,” Gamez said.
For more information, students can go to the Woodrick Center diversity lecture page.
