NC State’s Diversity Education Week to Feature Three Speakers, Many Events

Diversity Education Week 2018

Diversity Education Week promises interesting speakers and workshops this year on the theme of “Who Are We?: Defining the Wolfpack.” Events will examine the topics of social identity development and expression, social positionality, and policies and practices for improving experiences for those with historically underrepresented and marginalized identities.

Now in its ninth year, Diversity Education Week is a week-long series of programs that reinforces NC State’s institutional commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity by highlighting the importance of our diversity and the role it plays in our daily lives, creating opportunities for campus members to become more aware of the impact of diversity at NC State and exploring more equitable and socially just practices and policies that improve success outcomes.

Events will take place from October 15-19, 2018 throughout NC State.

How to Participate

We encourage every NC State community member to participate in at least one Diversity Education Week program this year.

Keynote Speaker Faisal Alam

Faisal AlamFaisal Alam is a queer-identified Muslim activist of Pakistani descent who organized the first-ever gathering of LGBT Muslims at age 19 while trying to reconcile his sexuality with his faith. The gathering led to the founding of Al-Fatiha, an international organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning (LGBTIQ) Muslims, and their allies, which he led from its inception in 1997 to 2003 as volunteer director.

As an activist advocating for the LGBT Muslim community, Alam has traveled across the country and around the world to meet with LGBTIQ Muslims to build a global queer Muslim movement for justice and equality.  He has been featured in LGBT and mainstream media and press including the New York Times, BBC World News, Al-Hayat, and the Washington Post.

Diversity Dialogues with Alicia T. Crosby

Alicia T. CrosbyAlicia Crosby is a Chicago-based justice educator and activist whose work addresses the spiritual, systemic and interpersonal harm people experience. Crosby helps individuals, communities and institutions explore and unpack topics related to identity, inclusivity, journey and intersectional equity. A native New Yorker, she channels her creativity and passions for justice, spiritually engaged activism and community engagement through her work with her nonprofit Center for Inclusivity and through her teaching, writing, speaking and space curation.

Cass Bliss Workshop

Cass BlissCass Bliss is a nonbinary trans educator with a passion for the creative. A storyteller at heart, Bliss uses art, music, writing and comics to raise awareness for unique issues facing the trans and nonbinary community, from trans-exclusive sex education and gendered periods to medical transitioning and transphobia. After publishing the first-ever period coloring book called “The Adventures of Toni the Tampon” and launching a viral campaign called #BleedingWhileTrans, Bliss earned the moniker “The Period Prince” and established themselves as one of the leading experts in trans-inclusive period activism.