Jan. 31, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Jazz McKinney, the executive director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center, will deliver a keynote address as part of the Grand Rapids Community College Black History Month celebration.
GRCC’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion worked with campus partners to create a month of events.
“Black History Month is a time for us as a campus and community to come together and remember, reflect and celebrate,” said David Selmon, GRCC’s dean of Strategic Outreach and interim director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “The team has created a slate of events that are fun and informative, and might challenge people to see things differently.”
McKinney is planned to speak at 4 p.m. on Feb. 9 in GRCC’s Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center Auditorium, 151 Fountain Street NE.
McKinney is a Black, Indigenous Two-Spirit individual who has been involved in the mental health field for more than 10 years and with racial justice work as well as advocacy/activism in the 2-SLGBTQ+ community for more than 18 years, committing themselves to highlighting the importance of education, awareness, and involvement to create change.
McKinney is co-owner and lead trainer of Paradigm Shifts Consulting in addition to being executive director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center.
The Detroit native is passionate about working to decolonize gender roles and identities as well as discussing the impact harmful gender binaries can cause within communities.
The keynote is part of ODEI's Diversity Lecture Series, which is co-sponsored by Steelcase.
Other events include:
- Black History Month Trivia, with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The event is planned for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 2 in Student Center, 122 Lyon Street, NE room 234.
- “A Black Woman’s Survival Kit,” a virtual event hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion set for 4-6 p.m. on Feb. 14.
- Silent Disco, presented by the Campus Activity Board with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The event is planned for 4-6 p.m. on Feb. 16 in the Raider Grill in the Student Center.
- “The Black Male Narrative,” a virtual event hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, planned for 4-5:30 on Feb. 21.
- “Real Talk Student Round Table,” planned for 4-5:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 in room 234 of the Student Center and offered virtually as well.
Registration for all of the events is available here.