Women's Commission

Fireside Chat

The Women's Commission Mission is to advocate for all women on campus by acting on their issues and by promoting equity and social justice, ever conscious of the intersection of race, class, gender, and orientation.

In light of this mission, the Women's Commission is hosting "Fireside Chats" this academic year to promote the oneness of women from all cultures. The goal of the Fireside Chats is to provide a safe environment for diverse women from across campus to better understand each other in an attempt to foster new and meaningful relationships. The Fireside Chats are modeled after Greg Tanaka's concept of storytelling, where women come together to share and learn. According to Greg Tanaka, "Storytelling is the best way to get people to learn and share across differences."

The Fireside Chats are not only promoting the Women's Commission mission, but also the mission/vision of Grand Valley State University. Thank you for taking the time to help promote this program and in so doing, promoting diversity at GVSU.

WHEN AND WHERE DO THE FIRESIDE CHATS TAKE PLACE?

All meetings are:  Wednesdays, 12pm, 1201 Kirkhof Center, Women’s Center, Allendale Campus

TOPICS:

October 19                 

Integrating the Inner and Outer: A Holistic Vision

Maureen Wolverton, Professor of Liberal Studies

Susan Mendoza, Director of Undergraduate Research and Integrative Learning

November 30             

Privilege:  What It Is, How It Manifests, and How to Use It to Create Change

Colette Seguin Beighley, LGBT Center, Director

Carrie Christian, LGBT Center, Program Coordinator

February 29   

Beyond Privilege: How to Articulate the Costs of Inequality to the ‘advantaged’

Jennifer Stewart, Associate Professor of Sociology and Creator & Mentor, Act on Racism                   

March 28                   

Gender: Privilege, Power, and Oppression

Ayana Weekley, Assistant Professor of Women and Gender Studies

Kyrié Kirkland, Graduate Assistant, Women’s Center

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Please e-mail the Women’s Center at womenctr@gvsu.edu and let us know if you are interested. Simply include FIRESIDE CHATS in the subject line.