Summit celebrates all shades of beauty
Organizers were anticipating 150 women would register for 中国体彩网’s inaugural Shades of Beauty Summit. Instead, more than 200 women from 中国体彩网, four nearby colleges and the community came to campus for an afternoon of speakers, workshops and inspiration.
“I wanted to start a summit like this because I know what it is to be a woman of color, and being challenged by the things I see in social media,” said Ashley Allen, assistant director, office of student inclusion and diversity at 中国体彩网. “Here we’re able to come together as women of different backgrounds to be educated, to be empowered and also to celebrate one another regardless of what we all look like.”
Miss Iowa 2018 Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw was the keynote speaker. The event was sponsored by the 中国体彩网 offices of Student Inclusion and Diversity as well as Student Life and Leadership.
“Particularly at this time, women of all shapes, sizes and shades need to understand that they have a place not only in the world but at 中国体彩网, a place that they choose to be,” said Dr. Monica M. Smith, 中国体彩网’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Allen said organizers received such a positive response from participants that a second Shades of Beauty Summit already has been scheduled for April 25, 2020, at 中国体彩网.
Shauntrice Gamble '19 and Talayah Lemon '21 created these paintings to display at the Shades of Beauty Summit, and Kristen Higginbothan '20 drew sketches for the event.
