Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Events

Upcoming Events

March

Viterbo Céilí: Irish Heritage through Trivia

Monday, March 17 | 9:30-11 AM | The Inclusion Center, NRC 447

Stop by between 9:30-11 AM for a lively social gathering where you can enjoy Irish baked goods and test your knowledge of Irish trivia for a chance to win great prizes!


Sr. Thea Bowman Lecture Series presents: Lysne Tait

Lysne Tait is a nationally recognized leader in the fight against period poverty. In 2015, she co-founded Helping Women Period, a Michigan-based nonprofit that has since provided over six million menstrual products to those in need across the state. Under her leadership as Executive Director, the organization addresses period poverty through partnerships, advocacy, donations, and education. Her first book, Instigator! Creating Change without Being the Loudest Voice in the Room (2024), explores how ordinary people can drive meaningful change through small yet powerful actions, proving that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. 

Thursday, March 20 | 2-3:30 PM | The Inclusion Center, NRC 447 

Coffee and Conversation. Chat with Lysne Tait about her work with Helping Women Period, nonprofit leadership, and advocacy. Everyone is welcome!

Thursday, March 20 | 4-5:30 PM | Nursing Center 101

Keynote: Instigator! Featuring Sr. Thea Bowman Lysne Tait will explore Sr. Thea Bowman's profound impact as a social justice leader through the framework of Instigators!, highlighting how her advocacy exemplifies the power of small yet transformative actions in creating lasting social change. 


Sr. Thea Bowman Lecture Series presents: Dana Maya

Poet, essayist, and educator Dana Maya descends from a line of single Mexican mothers and was educated with an orientation in Chicanx, Queer, and Race Studies. She has taught literature and writing at UT-Austin, Madison College, public schools, and community organizations. She collaborates with artists on projects for social change and facilitates ekphrastic poetry through poema [] pintura. Her poems and essays appear in Feminist Formations, the Volta, and numerous collections including Basta: 100+Latinas Against Gender Violence, Listen to Your Mother, and Migrations and Home: Elements of Place. She is at work on a memoir in poems called lineage.  

Tuesday, March 25 | 3-4 PM | The Inclusion Center, NRC 447 

Coffee and Conversation. Chat with Dana Maya about storytelling, poetry, and the power of language.

Tuesday, March 25 | 6 PM | The Inclusion Center, NRC 447

Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop featuring Sr. Thea Bowman. Join poet Dana Maya for an interactive Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop, where she will guide participants through the process of creating poetry inspired by visual art. Using Sr. Thea Bowman as a source of inspiration, attendees will have the opportunity to explore her legacy and craft their own poetic responses.

 

 

Past Events

Celebrating Black History Month

Annual Black History Month Lecture:

Professor Emeritus Keith Knutson

Slavery in Maryland: What Keith Knutson Didn't Know When Teaching U.S. History 111

February 12 | 6:30 PM | NRC 196

This engaging and education lecture will explore how enslaved families helped to build the Catholic Church in Maryland, from the colony's founding in 1634.

Co-sponsored by DEI, the Sister Thea Bowman Center, and BSO (Black Student Organization)


Coffee and Conversation: Allyship

February 12 | 3:30-4:30 PM | The Inclusion Center, NRC 447

Join Professor Emeritus Keith Knutson and leaders from Viterbo's Black Student Organization for a dynamic discussion about what allyship means in our modern world. Part of the Black History Month Lecture event. 


"Just Mercy" film screening

February 15 | 7 PM | NRC 196

"Just Mercy" (2019) is the powerful true story that follows lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) as he fights to overturn the wrongful conviction of Walter McMillian (Jaime Foxx), a man sentenced to death despite evidence proving his innocence. Based on Bryan Stevenson's 2014 memoir, "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption."

Co-sponsored by DEI, Sister Thea Bowman Center, WAVU, and BSO


Viterbo's Black History Month Community, Networking, and Trivia Celebration

February 26 | 4 PM | NRC Lobby 

This free event is the perfect opportunity to connect with friends, enjoy great food, and test your knowledge of Black history for a chance to win prizes! Gather a team or come solo—everyone is welcome to celebrate, learn, and have fun together. 

4-4:45 pm: Social Hour and Soul Food
4:45 pm: Welcome, Sponsor Recognition, and Raffle
5-6:30 pm: Trivia and Prizes

Co-sponsored by DEI, the Sister Thea Bowman Center, and BSO (Black Student Organization)