May 6, 2009 | Events

Programs Set for Community Building and Social Justice

Northwestern will present a series of programs focusing on leadership, community building and social justice May 7 to May 9.

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University will present a series of programs focusing on leadership, community building and social justice May 7 to May 9 on the University's Evanston campus.

Featured speaker Jamie Washington, president and founder of the Washington Consulting Group, has served as an educator and administrator in higher education for more than 25 years. Washington will start the series of programs with a speech titled "We Are the Change: Empowering Our Communities Through Inclusive Excellence" at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 7, in McCormick Tribune Center Forum, 1870 Campus Drive. This event is free and open to the public.

The conference titled "Beyond Boundaries: A Global Approach to Leadership and Inclusive Excellence at NU" will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. Saturday, May 9, in Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive. Washington will deliver a keynote titled "It's Not Just Black and White Anymore: Inclusive Excellence and Social Justice On Campus" at 10:30 a.m. The lunchtime speaker for this conference will be William J. Banis, vice president for Student Affairs, while the closing speaker will be Michael Blake, a Medill 2004 alumnus and deputy associate director for Intergovernmental Relations at the White House. This event is free and open to the public.

Washington is leading two closed workshops on Friday, May 8. The morning workshop is a staff development session for the Division of Student Affairs. The afternoon workshop is a training session for student leaders including community assistants and peer advisors.

The series of programs is sponsored by Multicultural Student Affairs, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Norris University Center and University Residential Life.

(For more information, contact Tedd Vanadilok at 847-467-7583 or tedd-v@northwestern.edu)

(Lauren Hock, a senior in the School of Education and Social Policy, contributed to this story. Contact Lauren Hock at 847-491-5001 or laurenhock2007@u.northwestern.edu)