Date: Nov. 12, 2010
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

PNC Brownbag Series Presents Vanessa Allen

WESTVILLE – Purdue University North Central will present Vanessa Allen, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, as the featured speaker at its Dec. 1 Brownbag Series presentation from noon to 1 p.m. in the PNC Library-Student-Faculty Building Room 170A, located just off the PNC cafeteria. The presentation is free and open to the public. Guests are welcome to bring a lunch or purchase food and drink in the PNC cafeteria. Varying opinions are welcome.

The Brownbag Series centers on the topic of “diversity,” presenting topics and issues that can contribute to the development of a tolerant, inclusive campus and community cultural practices. The Brownbag Series is coordinated by Bob Mellin, continuing lecturer of English.

Allen will speak about the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, which promotes services in the areas of education, economic empowerment, health & wellness, civic leadership and civil rights and social justice for all people. It serves Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties.

Upcoming presentations include:

Feb. 2 - Dominic Micer, assistant professor of English, will discuss the ways students have used multi-modal discourse to overcome their struggles with prejudice against Mexicans while reading Modernist Mexican authors. Multiple layers of difficulty create a critical awareness of self.

March 2 - Carla A. Pfeffer, assistant professor of Sociology, and Janusz Duzinkiewicz, associate professor of History, will present "Creating Safe Spaces and Building Community for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Students at PNC." This open discussion will consider factors that lead to the creation of safe spaces and community building for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities.

April 6 - Laura Odom, PNC assistant director of EEO and Training, will lead “Understanding and Valuing Diversity,” an interactive session designed to build diversity awareness and foster a culture of respect. After this session, participants will better define diversity, identify personal attitudes and behaviors toward differences and enrich a diversity perspective by understanding the stages of intercultural learning and cultural responsiveness.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Mellin at 785-5200, ext. 5215. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations should contact ext. 5215.

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