Kalamazoo College Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership

Happy June!!! Check out our two events we are having this month.

Nothing To See Here
Thursday, June 11 at 5:00 pm
Experience the film making project that united resident, rival gangs, and artists came together to reclaim the narrative of LA’s Watts neighborhood.

RSVP using this link below for Nothing To See Here.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHfg1NPcpjaPPxc1bZJine6MKaEoBYVtU0l1-nYyHhIqeTgw/viewform

Tangled Roots
Juneteenth Friday, June 19 at 7:00 pm
Witness a play based on the Slave Narrative of Federal Writers’ Project, 1936-1938

RSVP here for Tangled Roots play.
forms.gle/W4JYcTBpiFCjBRUm6

We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the African Studies Department () to bring you a vibrant lineup of programming for Africa Month!
Come immerse yourself in incredible music, delicious food, and deeply engaging discussions. Come to the center to connect, learn, and celebrate together. We cannot wait to see you there!

This Thursday and Friday, we had the pleasure of Stephanie Hicks coming to Arcus to share with us on how the intergroup dialogue framework works. Through that perspective, our groups discussed how to think critically about our identities and systems of oppression that impact our ability to create community. Through these discussions, our group was able to think and talk about these topics in a safe environment, hoping that it can help others learn how to go out and create change in our communities.
Thank you to Stephanie Hicks for coming and sharing this understanding with our community, and we hope that you continue to have success.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵: 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸! View the full conference schedule here: africanstudies.kzoo.edu/news-events/ You're welcome to join as your schedule allows.

All meals will be included. We're having Nigerian fusion from Clarks Special Kitchen LLC, an East African meal made by Shukurani, and Chez Olga for the Haitian Flag Day celebration on Saturday.

RSVP here: forms.gle/YGXAZukJCYZjFmke8

Next week, Stephanie Hicks will help us build solidarity across difference. Tap in!

𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬: 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 & 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝
Thursday, May 7
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Friday, May 8
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/9SQGHAVJuwpmoAMh9

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Black Box Diaries screening. We’re especially grateful to Ms Shiori Ito for courageously sharing her story and inspiring us to continue the fight to speak out against sexual assault. It’s never too late to speak out and we must never give up until every voice is heard.

Sandra Barnhill's keynote will be tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, at 4:15 pm in Dewing 103 on Kalamazoo College's campus. You can learn more about Sandra's activism work here: https://shorturl.at/blmuC

We hope you'll join us! RSVP here: https://forms.gle/VeM3HAE74JKD3TV28


Kalamazoo College Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement
Kalamazoo College

What does it really mean to find your voice, and your role, in a world that feels uncertain, divided, and constantly changing?

Sandra Barnhill will discuss this and more in a special keynote on 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟯 𝗮𝘁 𝟰:𝟭𝟱 𝗽𝗺. In this keynote, Sandra Barnhill will share stories and lessons from a lifetime of work in justice, leadership, and community. Drawing from her book Tough Mind, Tender Heart, Sandra will explore what it takes to stay grounded, thoughtful, and human while navigating difficult conversations, big questions, and the pressure to “figure it all out.”

This is not a lecture - it’s an invitation. Together, we’ll explore:

● How leadership actually develops (hint: it doesn’t start with having all the answers)
● Why listening is one of the most powerful skills you can build right now
● What it means to care deeply about people—even when you disagree
● How to stay engaged in the world without burning out or shutting down

You don’t have to be an activist to belong in this conversation.
You just have to be willing to reflect and consider what kind of leader you want to become. This talk will meet you where you are and challenge you to think about what comes next.

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/cUt91y5hBQjERHAk9

***The keynote will be at Dewing 103, 1219 Academy St, Kalamazoo, MI***


Kalamazoo College Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement
Kalamazoo College

How her German middle school's first Black Santa led to a lifetime of reshaping activism Sandra Barnhill, founder of the Georgia-based nonprofit Foreverfamily, serving children with incarcerated parents, is coming to Kalamazoo College.