Grand Valley State University encourages the campus to embrace a social justice and intersectional identity approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Get connected through each center's programming.
The Social Justice Centers collaborates with partners across the university and beyond to cultivate a campus community in which historically oppressed communities can succeed and thrive at GVSU. We work to ensure that students, faculty, and staff can find a deep sense of belonging on our campus. In our work, we center those who are oppressed including Indigenous people. We are committed to unlearning settler colonial frameworks and learning wise practices that center Indigenous knowledge and culture. We are committed to allocating resources, both financial and staff / student positions, for Indigenous programming, furthering Indigenous student support, fostering community partnerships, and developing intersectional events that cultivate Indigenous allyship.
Today, we would like to recognize the People of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodawademi peoples on whose land we are gathered on today. The Three Fires People are Indigenous to this land which means that this is their ancestral territory. Every university in this country was built on Indigenous land. We conduct land acknowledgments as a reminder of the histories, teachings, traditions, and the first people who originated here and who tend to Mshkiikii (land/earth) always.
We conduct these acknowledgments to be good visitors, as these were always done before colonial contact. To continue to be good visitors, we have the responsibility to learn about the history of settler colonialism and its impact on Indigenous people.
Visit the Land Acknowledge page at the Office of Multicultural Affair's website for more information and resources.
March 27, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
The Incredible True Story Of Jaques LaFargue, The 18th Century Transgender Jewish Ancestor You’ve Never Heard Of! Written and Performed by S. Bear Bergman The First Jew in Canada: A Trans...
March 27, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Discover new perspectives, share your thoughts, and dive deep into captivating reads. Join our book club and let the conversation begin. The book we will be doing this semester Rest Is Resistance:...
March 28, 2025 7:30 PM
An annual, student-led formal extravaganza, join us for Trans Week of Visibility 2025's Pride Prom! The LGBT Resource Center and student supporters are prepared to bring you a night of music, food,...
March 31, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for our Trans Day of Visibility Celebration in partnership with the Grand Rapids Pride Center and Grand Rapids Trans Foundation! We will be joined by our special guest, Kayden Coleman, along...
April 2, 2025 3:15 PM - 5:00 PM
Cascade Engineering’s Executive Vice President, Kenyatta Brame, will discuss his efforts to break down barriers for formerly incarcerated people to employment. He will also talk about his...
The annual event was hosted by the Asian Student Union and sponsored by the Asian Student Achievement Program and had a variety of elements celebrating numerous Asian cultures.
Mar 24, 2025
Inspired by Campus Life Night, the event allowed community members to interact with culturally focused student organizations and departments.
Mar 20, 2025
Lakers gathered to hear from a local advocate for optimizing the working world for all on March 18 as part of GVSU’s Women’s History Month celebration.
Mar 18, 2025
The summit served as a kickoff to Women's History Month events on campus.
Feb 28, 2025
The theme for this year’s Black History Month celebrations is “Continuing to Create”, intended to celebrate the Grand Valley students who are creating Black history every day.
Feb 7, 2025
