Kansas State University

KSUnite — Our Lens, Our Focus, Our K-State

Submitted by KSUnite Marketing and Promotions Team

On Tuesday, Oct. 12, K-State students, faculty and staff will gather in a hybrid format for the annual KSUnite event. This year's event will feature presentations from Minnijean Brown-Trickey, a key figure in the civil rights movement, and Caleb Stephens, a connector of communities through vulnerability and mental wellness.

In 1957, as a member of the Little Rock Nine, Brown-Trickey changed history and altered the course of education in America when she marched past armed guards and an angry mob through the front doors of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, to help set America on the path toward desegregation in public schools. Brown-Trickey is the recipient of the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and Spingarn Medal, among other notable citations. Hopeful but realistic, her talks help today's students understand both how far we have come and how far we still have to go in the battle for freedom and equality. Brown-Trickey's presentation, "Return to Little Rock: A Seminal Moment in American Civil Rights and Education," will be offered virtually from noon to 12:45 p.m.

Stephens is a licensed master social worker and licensed master addictions counselor. He is an activist for social justice and specializes in intrapersonal conflict, identity and the different intersectionality of race, substance abuse, coping and hope, which he implements through his company called IdentiFight. Stephens will present ways we can utilize vulnerability and courage within our communities to solidify and even fortify hope, trust and connection. Stephens' presentation, "Community Building, Vulnerability, and Mental Health," will be offered virtually from 1-1:45 p.m.

Links to sessions will be set up by K-State's Division of Communications and Marketing and will be added to the KSUnite website. Below is a schedule of the day's events:

Tuesday, Oct. 12

Due to the hybrid nature of this event and face-to-face class time already strained by the pandemic, classes will not be canceled this year for KSUnite. Offices and units are still encouraged to allow time for faculty, staff and students to attend.

The KSUnite webpage will serve as your connection to the event. The site continues to be updated with full details, information and links to speaker bios and topics.