Autumn makes me think of red/brown leaves, apple cider, and scarves.

Unfortunately, and fortunately, I am out here in sunny San Francisco where it’s 84 degrees even though it’s almost late October. So naturally, I am excited about my New England trip out to Williamstown to visit Williams College.

In addition to jumping into piles of dry leaves, I will be joining in on the celebration of the rededication of Williams’ multicultural center. The center will be renamed The Davis Center in honor of pioneering scholars and activists, W. Allison Davis ‘24 and John A. Davis ‘33.

I especially love what the center tries to do for its students, because we all know that not all universities are intentional about inclusion: 

Diversity is a distinct and intentional feature of campus life at Williams College. It is also a potent resource. The Center serves as a nexus, linking communities, galvanizing individuals. It provides a context for incisive, mobilizing, transformative interactions—planned and impromptu—that contribute to the advancement of diverse social identities, particularly those defined by race, ethnicity, class, gender, religion, ability and sexual orientation. Through  programming, mentoring, and course offerings, the Center supports critical thinking, facilitates meaningful dialogue and precipitates multilateral exchange. The result is empowerment—fundamental to leadership and essential to social change.

Come see me on Saturday, October 20th at 2:30 pm. I’ll be speaking on a panel about Modes of Activism, talking about Thick Dumpling Skin and probably touching on Hyphen magazine. I’ll be joined by Bilal Ansari, founder of Muslim Chaplain Association, and Spectra, an award-winning Nigerian writer and activist, and I am excited about meeting them both. 

Saturday, October 20th, 2012
2:30 pm
Bernhard Music Center, Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall

See the full program here.  

See you soon!

- Lisa

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