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Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability Through My Eyes

     My name is Marae Tidwell (she/they) I am a Sociology Major with a minor in Communications. I hold many titles at PLU, my leading ones being Black Student Union President, the Access, Leadership, and Inclusion Student Engage Ambassador, and ASPLU ‘21 Senator. The obstacles I’d experienced at PLU compelled me to take on leadership positions but the struggles did not stop there. My story explains where I am now in my DJS -and leadership journey.







Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability Through My Eyes

    Diversity - the opposite of homogeneity or sameness. To represent a variety of identities, experiences, opinions, and perspectives

    Justice - the balance and practice of equity and equality 

    Sustainability -  meeting the needs of the present in an equitable, efficient, fair, and lasting fashion 



    We have this idea that DJS work is all positive but it can be hard, it can be messy, it can be ugly, it can show true colors and true intentions. Even in a community as accepting and inclusivity-centered as PLU is, it still requires students that seek change to be brave, persistent, and resilient. 


    Work has and will continue to be done year after year. It is essential to take a break to look at how far we’ve come but we cannot be stuck there. We cannot afford to stay silent about any oppression. We cannot be afraid of calling out wrongful doings despite even the best intentions. 


    To prioritize DJS is to be a multifaceted leader which requires the ability to balance. To balance not only all of the components of diversity, justice, and sustainability but also to balance within one’s self. 


    How to balance one’s very valid emotions with being truly heard, understood, and sympathized with. Balance of following rules but breaking them when necessary. How to be transparent without worrying followers away from taking action. How to be both leader and follower. 


    For black history month, we watched a series of movies Black is King, Hidden Figures, King in the Wilderness, and One Night in Miami. I noticed a commonality. The leaders all praised a higher power. They gave their struggles to the higher power, their gratitude, their worry, and their fear. Though I am not religious, I do believe in a guiding force. I have been too blessed to ignore there has been a force bigger than me and my momma with their hand in things. 


    In my leadership journey, I desire to connect with this higher power to gain the strength I see in so many black leaders. These leaders have the strength to stare into hate’s eyes with sympathy, the strength to not fear death, the strength to be one’s authentic self, and the strength to take care of one’s self and still have the will to carry everyone else at the same time.


    In the documentary King in the Wilderness, it was stated Martin Luther King Jr. felt he wasn’t doing enough. That is to say, we may do all that we can in the time we have, and that is enough. 

    We may die feeling like we didn’t do enough too but we will die trying to change the world. So, get conversations started, and don’t be afraid to rattle a cage.


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