Student Achievements
Social Innovation Student Publishes Article on Community Activism
August 02, 2021
Naomi Silas is a first-generation college graduate. In April 2021,
she became a member of the first graduating class to earn a
Professional Master of Arts in Social Innovation from the Brooks
College of Interdisciplinary Studies at GVSU.
Her background is in art and design, and she worked in that field
for a few years until she realized her passion for community and
social justice was growing quickly. She started volunteering at
different organizations that focus on equity and inclusion and found
the work so fulfilling she wanted to do it for her job. That is how
she ended up earning a Master's Degree from GVSU.
During her time as a Laker, she was a Graduate Assistant for the
Social Innovation program and worked to develop community partnerships
for Community Based Learning opportunities for graduate and
undergraduate students.
She also served as the Community and Connection Director at AIGA
West Michigan, a local chapter of the Professional Association of
Design that aims to "create a place where design can be
discovered, discussed, understood, and appreciated." Naomi has
over five years of dedication to being involved with AIGA West Michigan.
Naomi wrote an article, "Community
Activism in Response to Dehumanization & Policing
Methods," based on research conducted in a Fall 2019 Social
Innovation course. The article, which was published on Medium,
includes a narrative of Silas' personal experience with race and racism.
To finish the program, all students are required to complete an
internship. Before becoming a grad student, Naomi already established
a relationship with Urban Core Collective, a Grand Rapids nonprofit
with a mission of " Uplifting historically marginalized
communities to a place of greater self-sufficiency by unifying
communities of color in order to reduce the effects of systemic
racism,” since she previously completed UCC's Transformational
Leadership Program. The intern experience with UCC, having the space
to directly apply what she learned inside the classroom, had a
significant impact on Naomi.
Naomi spoke with WGVU’s
Shelley Irwin to discuss her educational journey and her plans after
graduation.