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2023 Events

National Day of Racial Healing | January 17

Coinciding with WSU’s MLK celebrations is National Day of Racial Healing (NDoRH), which WSU is celebrating for the first time on Jan. 17, 2023. NDoRH is intended to help the university community develop critical thinking that directly supports practices that are culturally and racially compassionate and ethical.

As part of the activities, individuals are encouraged to take a pledge to build a future of racial and social justice. Learn more about the Day of Racial Healing in the WSU Insider or visit the WSU NDoRH website.

Keynote Speakers

Each presentation will be followed by a Q&A. Livestream links are available for all Keynote events.

  • Crystal Fleming: How To Be Less Stupid About Race | February 7


    Bringing critical race theory from the Ivory Tower to the masses, Crystal explains how systemic racism exposes us all to racial ignorance and provides a road map for transforming our knowledge into anti-racist change. Racial stupidity–in the form of misconceptions, misrepresentations, and denial—is clearly an epidemic. And this is not a coincidence or a mistake: living in a racist society means that we absorb harmful ideas, stereotypes, and biases. When left unchallenged, racial stupidity fuels discriminatory behavior devalues the lives of black and brown people, and reproduces the white supremacist status quo from one generation to the next. This wide-ranging talk unveils the historical roots of racial stupidity and explores how racial nonsense manifests in pop culture, (mis)education, media, politics, and personal relationships today. But recognizing racial stupidity is not enough—we have to actually do something about it. Crystal seeks to inspire and empower those of us committed to building a more just society by showing how to leverage our racial literacy for anti-racist activism.

  • Michelle Coles: Past is Prologue: Uncovering Our Past Holds the Key to a Better, More Inclusive Tomorrow | March 1


    Communities across America are grappling with big questions about racial inequality. How do we effect lasting change? In this insightful, hopeful talk, civil rights attorney and author Michelle Coles unpacks how social justice and systemic change must stem from a thorough understanding of our past. The policies that were created during slavery continue to harm Black people today. But the Black statesmen and their allies who fought for racial equality after the Civil War left a profound legacy that positively impacts us right now. She draws on her deep knowledge of the criminal justice system and American history to help us solve the social ills that stem from our countries’ past failures so that we can build the world we want to see. 

  • Tekita Bankhead: Race-Related Trauma & Coping Culturally-Specific Mental Health Concerns & Strategies | March 28

Service Projects

Cougs are encouraged to get involved in service projects in their communities on Monday, Jan. 16. Visit WSU GivePulse to find ways to serve.

  • MLK Day Food Drive (Pullman) | January 16

    The Center for Civic Engagement will also host a food drive from 12-6 p.m. on the Pullman campus to benefit the Cougar Food Pantry and Community Action Center.

    Visit WSU GivePulse to find ways to serve.

  • Caring Cougar Cards | January 20 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (PT)

    “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. ”― Martin Luther King Jr.

    MLK day is the only national holiday meant to be observed by giving back to your community. Join WSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as we come together (in-person at each campus and on Zoom) to create cards for community partners across the nation—community partners such as local hospitals, teen shelters, assisted living homes, etc. Below are the campus locations:

    • Everett – Room 102 (Benefitting Providence Everett)
    • Global – Zoom (Benefitting various partners)
    • Pullman –  Butch’s Den (Benefitting Bishop Place Senior Living)
    • Spokane – Student Diversity Center, SAC 105 (Benefitting Girls on the Run)
    • Tri-Cities – MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion and ASWSUTC, in SUB Lounge (My Friend's Place- A local shelter for teens)
    • Vancouver – VDEN 129 and 130 (Benefitting The Perch)

  • All WSU Service Project | Book Drive

    Books and magazines will be collected on every WSU campus Jan. 17-Feb. 1. to be distributed to local women’s shelters, homeless shelters, and prisons. Materials can be dropped off at designated locations on each campus.

    • Tri-Cities will have a box outside the MOSAIC Center (Floyd 140) and will donate Benton County Jail 
    • Vancouver will have a box outside of the CILA office (Firstenburg Student Commons 104) and at the Cougar Center (Student Services Building Second floor) and will donate to Vancouver Neighborhood Library Program 
    • Everett will have a donation box setup on the 1st floor of the WSU Everett building near the cafe. And will donate to the Volunteers of America Western Washington
    • WSU Spokane will have box setup in the Student Diversity Center (SAC 105) and will donate to UGM Crisis Shelter For Women & Children
    • WSU Pullman will have a drop box on the 4th floor of the CUB and the student affairs office in Lighty 360. We will donate our books to Alternatives to Violence on the Palouse