Black and Brown Joy and Lavender Graduation will celebrate graduating students from all schools, both graduate and undergraduate, at Salem and Portland campuses in May. These events will take place on the following dates:
- PNCA Black and Brown Joy: Thursday, May 5, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Atrium, Portland Campus.
- PNCA Lavender Graduation: Friday, May 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Atrium, Portland Campus.
- Lavender Graduation: Monday, May 9 at 11 a.m. in the Montag Den, Salem Campus.
- Black and Brown Joy: Friday, May 13 at 4 p.m. in the Cat Cavern, Salem Campus.
Returning students, staff, faculty, alumni, friends and family are welcome to attend. Both graduating students and event attendees need to RSVP on the event form. Honorary cords will be distributed to graduates at the events. RSVP deadline is Friday, April 22.
Lavender Graduation is held at many universities across the nation and began when a queer woman, Ronni Sanlo, was prohibited from attending her children’s graduations because of her sexual orientation. Lavender Graduation celebrations offer a space for students to celebrate their accomplishments in a supportive space that acknowledges their identities and the identities of their loved ones. With the support of the Gender Resource & Advocacy Center, Willamette hosted its first Lavender Graduation just four years ago.
Black and Brown Joy had humble beginnings six years ago when students of color gathered to celebrate their accomplishments in community with their friends and family. Reflecting similar practices at other universities where such celebrations were part of traditional commencement activities, the Office of Multicultural Affairs began planning this event as a regular part of commencement.
We are excited to offer these special events to our graduates at PNCA for the first time this spring.
Events are coordinated by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Gender Resource & Advocacy Center, and the Office of Student Life at PNCA.
Contact: Gordy Toyama, Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs gtoyama@willamette.edu, Andrea Doyle Hugmeyer, Director of the Gender Resource & Advocacy Center ahugmeyer@willamette.edu, and Jackson Seemayer, Associate Director of Student Life jseemayer@willamette.edu.