Sent on behalf of La Jerne Terry Cornish, President:
I am pleased to invite you to “Students as Advocates and Change Agents,” the third event in the IC Day of Learning Series. This series, which kicked off in February with our “Grappling with Antisemitism” discussion and continued on August 21 with a visit from Dr. Michael Benitez, is designed to provide an opportunity for all to learn and discuss the ideas and issues of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in our community.
Next Wednesday, September 28, three celebrated activists for equity will visit campus to share their perspectives and insights on their work in a panel discussion that I am honored to moderate.
Luvaghn Brown began his active involvement in the Civil Rights Movement at the age of 16, when he was arrested for sitting at a “whites-only” Woolworth’s Department Store lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi. This experience cemented a lifelong dedication to organizing initiatives designed to counter segregation, racism, and inequality. Luvaghn is featured prominently in the 2017 documentary “The Uncomfortable Truth,” excerpts from which will be shared during the panel discussion.
The documentary’s director, Loki Mulholland, attended Ithaca College to study cinema and photography in the 1990s. He is an Emmy Award-winning director and author whose works explore issues of race, inequality, and social justice. Loki’s passion was imparted at an early age from his mother, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, who grew up during a time of intense segregation in the South. As a white student at Duke University, Joan joined the cause by boarding a bus with other Freedom Riders to participate in sit-ins. The experience sparked Joan to dedicate her life to advocating for social justice.
Their work is as relevant today as it was in the 1960s, and we are fortunate that Luvaghn, Joan, and Loki will join us on campus to share their insights on how students — and all global citizens — can activate their capacity to be agents of change in their communities.
IC Day of Learning Series: Students as Advocates and Change Agents
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Ford Hall, James J. Whalen Center for Music
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
One of our Ithaca Forever strategic plan goals is to serve as a national model for colleges committed to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. To realize this, it is critical that we create spaces that allow for vulnerability and spark meaningful, and sometimes difficult, conversations around these topics. The IC Day of Learning Series is an extension of this goal, and it is my hope that the series empowers us to learn from each other as we work toward an equitable community.
I look forward to seeing you next week, and to hosting future events that engage, and challenge, our community.