A DJS Journey

Today, universities across the nation work to increase diversity across their campuses and are often missing the opportunity to prioritize developing campus cultures and leadership that support new students of color. When I began my studies at PLU, I was blessed to arrive with a cadre of six high school friends, who knew my life story, and would complete their educations alongside me. Thanks to James Mamerto, Act Six Cadres 1+2+3+4, and my mentors in Lakewood, WA I was able to maintain a connection to a community that looked like and valued me. My community was a blessing and outlet for my feelings of otherness that can commonly arise during the first year in a predominantly white institution. I have also come to believe there is a need for the boards, faculties, staffs and students of universities much like PLU to bring intention and energy to campus cultures and spaces that respect, celebrate and breathe in the differences among the communities they’ve worked hard to buil...

One of the Diversity Center's newest projects are D Talks . The idea of D Talks is similar to Ted Talks however specifically targeted to engage in topics that allow for conversation on social justice, discrimination, diversity, privilege, and experiences of individuals that want to share their culture and lives with others. D talks are something that bring the individual together with the community. Stories tell a perspective, they give insight into a person's life. It allows individuals to be real, engage with others, and to share something that they feel is significant. For myself personally, hearing other's speak and listening and absorbing are crucial to understanding an individual. Ben Okri a prominent Nigerian poet noted "Stories can conquer fear, you know. They make the heart bigger." Stories are a beautiful, powerful, and thought-provoking experience. I challenge individuals to speak out in whatever way is best for them whether that be words, music, blog...

Amy making some chocolate art. What is the Chocolate Trail? A trail of chocolate, right? Yes and no, the important factor is where the chocolate trail takes you. The Chocolate Trail is an open house invitation to all Pacific Lutheran University students, staff, and faculty to be a part of a new and different space, not normally in the average PLU person's schedule. As in, if you did not know about the space you obviously wouldn't be in the space. I am being a bit vague about space, but I am referring to a physical room/space. As I said earlier, the Chocolate Trail will lead you to the Diversity Center and Scandinavian Center located in the lower AUC building, the Women's Center across the street from Stuen Hall, and the Wang Center on PLU's upper-campus. I like to refer to these spaces as hidden gems and treasures, waiting to be found. So what better way to find these gems than to have a chocolate trail? As you make your way through the Chocolate Trail, you are gr...