This symposium will be centered around strategies to transform political activism in our role as students, with the goal of protecting, engaging, and further advancing the interests and ideas of communities of color. As aspiring scholars, administrators, political leaders, and professionals, what can we do to prepare for, survive, and thrive under unfavorable political climates? More specifically, how can we continue to build community and coalitions that promotes diversity, inclusion, and equity for all marginalized communities?

The symposium will serve as a positive professional and scholarly space where students will be able to gain knowledge on the ways in which scholars have historically engaged social justice and the fight for diversity, inclusion, and equity. The event will feature multiple workshops and panels exploring strategies to navigate institutional barriers to ignite social change. Moreover, this symposium will also provide students with an opportunity to share their research ideas and agenda, and explore pathways for successfully achieving their career aspirations through scholar-activism.