African American male leaders from the West Michigan community will participate in a panel discussion during the “Black Lives Matter: Dialogue and Action” series, hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The event, in conjunction with Black History Month and co-sponsored by the Black Male Scholars Initiative, will take place Wednesday, February 4, from 4-6 p.m. in the Pere Marquette Room of the Kirkhof Center.
Dwight Hamilton, associate vice president for Affirmative Action and Title IX officer, will serve as the moderator. Panelists include:
• Stephen R. Drew, attorney, Drew, Cooper and Anding
• Cle Jackson, president, NAACP Chapter of Grand Rapids
• Joe Jones, president, Grand Rapids Urban League
• Andre Perry, founding dean, College of Urban Education, Davenport University
• Chris Sain, educator and author, Grand Rapids Community College
• Robert L. Stevenson, Jr., pastor and adjunct professor, Grand Valley State University
Connie Dang, director of OMA, said the “Black Lives Matter” series of events and discussions was created to give a space for students, faculty and staff members to express their perspectives and feelings around recent incidents in the United States. #BlackLivesMatter is a national movement that was created after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in 2012.
The series goes through April 2 and continues on February 10 with the Women’s Center’s Talk Back Tuesday event at noon, and on February 11 with the panel discussion, “Events in Ferguson Did Not Occur in a Vacuum,” from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center. For a complete schedule, visit www.gvsu.edu/oma.
