A Seat at the Table: Women of Color in Public Service
Date & time
Location
Free and open to the public. Hors D’oeuvres served.
In honor of Women’s Herstory Month, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy’s Students of Color in Public Policy, Women and Gender in Public Policy and Out in Public graduate student organizations present the second annual "A Seat at the Table: Women of Color in Public Service" panel and networking reception.
This year’s theme is “Sister Outsider” - borrowed from Audre Lorde’s 1984 collection of poems and essays highlighting the complexities of intersectional identities and societal injustices, and the need to leverage perceived differences as a means of empowerment and catalytic change. We understand that we are at a pivotal moment, where women of color should be more than just a seat at the table, but rather setting the table, the agenda, and its roster of invitees as well. Our hope is to center the abundant lessons and knowledge of women of color leaders - some of whom are Ford School alumni - to facilitate a meaningful dialogue that will inspire our attendees to expand their understanding of policymaking, and to begin strategizing for and building towards a more inclusive and equitable future for all of us. The event will conclude with a networking reception, where heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.
Confirmed Panelists:
Ashley Tuomi: Member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in Oregon and Executive Director, American Indian Health & Family Services of Southeastern Michigan, Inc.;
Desiree Cooper: Pulitzer-Prize nominated journalist and reproductive rights advocate;
Lilianna Reyes (MPA'11): Trans Latina woman state and national civil rights advocate, currently Program Services Director at Affirmations;
Mahima Mahadevan (MPP'11): New American Leaders Michigan Program Coordinator;
Sandra O’Brien: Chair of the Wayne State University Board of Governors, and the first person of Latino heritage to serve in that capacity;
Juliana Pino (MPP/MS'15): Afro-Colombiana queer woman environmental activist and policymaker at Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (moderator).
This event is co-sponsored by: Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, The Spectrum Center, Department of Afro-American and African Studies, Women’s Studies Department, Rackham Student Government, Undergraduate Student Council
Follow the conversation on Twitter with @SCPP_FordSchool using #ASATT2018