Manchester speaker to raise awareness about cultural ‘blind spots’ and how to celebrate diversity

Jada Monica Drew will offer ways to connect people for social justice in an interactive and engaging way at Manchester University.

Drew will present “Cultural T.A.C. – Tolerance, Acceptance, Celebration” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in Stauffer-Wolf Arena of the Physical Education and Recreation Center on the North Manchester campus. The event is free and open to the public. 

A former college athlete, Drew will challenge participants to conceptualize how diversity is perceived and what diversity really is.

Participants will learn the differences between tolerating, accepting and celebrating diverse cultures in a global context. 

Her firm, Social Designs, brings awareness about cultural “blind spots” and promotes awareness of diversity by engaging in effective communication. 

Drew holds a master’s degree in global and international education with a peace education focus from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in African-American studies and education from Guilford College.

The North Carolina native is a co-leader of the Youth Action Project, White Privilege Conference. Multiculturalism, global education and curriculum design are her main points of focus.

Connecting people and linking their commonalities has been her goal since Drew was young. Her interest in multiculturalism and diversity during undergraduate school started her quest to connect people with the purposes of healing and celebrating differences.

She has worked closely with homeless shelters and school systems to design new ways to connect people for social justice. 

Drew helped start the Africana CHANGE program, Senegal Global Youth Exchange Project and the Change Institute initiatives. Drew works in hope that the world will soon get a little closer to equality and the celebration of all people.

The Feb. 18 program is sponsored by Multicultural Affairs and Athletics programs at the University. It is part of the Values, Ideas and the Arts series, which offers cultural exposure and intellectual enrichment for students.

Manchester University, with campuses in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers more than 60 areas of academic study to 1,500 students in undergraduate programs, a Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics, a Master of Athletic Training and a four-year professional Doctor of Pharmacy.  Learn more about the private, northern Indiana school at www.manchester.edu.

Feb. 2, 2016

Prepared with assistance by Tiana Maclin, MU marketing/media relations assistant.