Ceremony featured first-ever youth component; Annual Scholastic Achievement Luncheon Planned for May 25th
Hundreds attended the Urban League of Northwest Indiana’s 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Symposium Tuesday, May 17, at Valparaiso University, Harre Union. The Symposium featured interactive sessions that included high school students from throughout the region for the first time ever. Youth participated in discussions alongside adults that involved a variety of topics including “Critical Race Theory,” poverty, inequity and anti-voting rights bills.
Participating schools included the following:
West Side Leadership Academy
Highland High School
Calumet New Tech High School
Steel City Academy
Lighthouse Academies
East Chicago Central
Merrillville High School
New Vista High School
Andrean High School
Hanover High School
Chesterton High School
Valparaiso High School
Hobart High School
Morton High School
“The turnout and enthusiasm about the symposium confirms that the Urban League is addressing the right issues,” said Urban League of NWI President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud. “Not only did our attendees add great value to the discussions, but they have been charged to carry the messages back to their respective communities and implement solutions.”
Allen-McCloud went on to emphasize that there is more work to be done and that the Urban League will continue to lead conversations in diversity, equity and inclusion. Meanwhile, the Urban League’s Annual Scholastic Achievement Luncheon will take place Wednesday, May 25th at 11:30 a.m. at the Chateau in Merrillville. Students representing Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties will be awarded scholarships in various amounts, and the ceremony will be broadcast live via the Urban League’s Facebook page.
The Urban League of NWI will host its annual Diversity & Inclusion Awards October 19, 2022. Nomination applications are due August 19th. For more information about the symposium, scholarship luncheon and D & I awards ceremony, visit www.ulofnwi.org.
