Diversity &
Inclusion Week
[Updates coming soon!]
Diversity & Inclusion Week (DIW) is both a celebration and an illumination of diversity and inclusion. The weeklong series of events has been a staple of EWU’s culture since 2012. Our 2025 theme is “Together We Can Do Great Things.” The theme and logo were designed by student, Denise Quiroga Arteaga.
For Questions or Accommodations, please contact Kim Davis at kdavis2@ewu.edu or (509) 359-6874.
There are opportunities to get involved, and we especially encourage student groups to participate.
PHOTO CONTEST!
Are you an aspiring photographer, or just talented at getting great shots? We are hoping to get lots of great photos from each event during Diversity & Inclusion Week. Please get that camera or phone ready, and send us your photo entries! Winners will receive campus swag and a spotlight feature in our monthly newsletter! Give us your BEST SHOT! Submit your photo entries HERE.
D&I Week 2025
Calendar of Events
Monday, April 21
Keynote Address: “Say my Name: Why Representation and Inclusion Matters” Presented by Lisa Gardner
Monday, April 21, 2025
Noon – 1 PM at PUB NCR
The keynote will touch on the power of representation, inclusion, and the real work of DEI–amplyfing every voice.
Webinar Zoom Link: https://ewu.zoom.us/j/83989865577
Malisea “Lisa” Gardner, a native of Spokane, was born and raised in the city’s East Central neighborhood and is a proud “Eastsider.” Growing up attending NAACP meetings and City Council sessions with her grandmother, Lisa was groomed into leadership at an early age.
Lisa attended Eastern Washington University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Communications. Lisa was active in Eastern’s graduate chapter of Zeta, Pi Xi Zeta, under the tutelage of her sorority sister and friend, Angela Jones. Lisa worked at Eastern’s KEWU-FM radio station as an on-air talent, where she developed a love for public relations and publicity; afterward, Lisa moved to Maryland, where she lived in Baltimore City for 15 years and earned her Master’s in Public Relations from the University of Maryland.
Upon returning to Spokane, Lisa assumed the Director of Communications and Community Engagement role for the Spokane City Council, the same council for which her grandmother once ran for office over 35 years ago. Lisa has demonstrated her commitment to her community by actively participating in several nonprofit organizations focused on empowerment, such as Take Up the Cause, TakeAll Foundation, and the Spokane chapter of The Links. She also serves on the Inland Northwest Ronald McDonald House’s marketing and communications board and is a Spokane Miss Juneteenth committee member.
In January 2021, Lisa joined the NAACP as a member at large, and in January 2024, she was appointed President of the Spokane Branch.
More details to come.
Join us for a conversation with LaRae Wiley and Christopher Parkin of the Salish School of Spokane. Hear about projects they are currently working on and opportunities for collaboration with EWU, volunteerism, and possible internships for students.
Presentation about the Salish School of Spokane with LaRae Wiley and Christopher Parkin
Monday, April 21, 2025
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Spokane Catalyst, Room 302
Free Parking is available in Lot C in front of the Catalyst Building for attendees of this event.
Please park in the section marked, Salish School Presentation.
Webinar Zoom Link: https://ewu.zoom.us/j/83353872428
Presenters Bios:
LaRae Wiley (Sinixt) is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, and she is the co-founder and Executive Director of Salish School of Spokane (SSOS). LaRae earned her BAs in History and Education from Eastern Washington University in 1988 and 1990 and is a certified teacher. From 2003 through 2021, LaRae learned n̓səl̓xčin̓ (Colville-Okanagan Salish) as an apprentice to the late master speaker Sʕamtíc̓aʔ (Sarah) Peterson of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band. The n̓səl̓xčin̓ language was moribund (no children raised in the language) for 90 years in LaRae’s family until, when she was in her late 30s, she made the commitment to bring the language back to her family and community. LaRae’s passion for learning and teaching her highly endangered Indigenous language culminated in the foundation of SSOS in 2009. SSOS is a non-profit organization that operates Salish immersion childcare, preschool center, and K-8 schooling programs while training new fluent adult speakers of n̓səl̓xčin̓. LaRae’s was the recipient of the 2023 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship, and also in 2023 was named a Woman of the Year by the Spokesman Review in Spokane.
Christopher Parkin is the Principal and Business Manager at Salish School of Spokane. Chris holds undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Social Studies Education from Eastern Washington University, and he is an advanced speaker of N̓səl̓xčin̓ (Colville Salish). Chris is a leading expert in Salish language revitalization and curriculum development and is the co-designer and co-author of the materials that make up the Indigenous Language Fluency Transfer System (ILFTS) that has been developed for n̓səl̓xčin̓ and its sister language, n̓sélišcn̓ (Spokane-Kalispel Salish). He acts as a consultant for other indigenous communities who are working to revitalize their languages. Chris speaks n̓səl̓xčin̓ with his two children and five grandchildren. He lives in Spokane, Washington with his wife of 40 years, LaRae Wiley (Sinixt), a Colville tribal member and the co-founder and Executive Director of Salish School of Spokane.
More details to come.
Tuesday, April 22
The College of Professional Programs is hosting its second Community Engagement Speaker Series event on workforce skills Tuesday April 22nd from 10:00 to 11:30 am in Showalter Hall Auditorium- 2nd floor (Cheney campus)!
As the region’s Polytechnic, we are committed to ensuring that our students are prepared for the workforce and that we collaborate with our industry and government partners intentionally. We would like our students and faculty to learn from industry and government leaders as well as from our university leadership about the demands of the workforce and what each of us (higher education, industry, government, non-profits) need to do to ensure that our students are workforce ready.
Panelists include:
Dr. Shari McMahan, President, Eastern Washington University @ewupresidentmcmahan
Ezra Eckhardt, CEO, Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU)
Alex Jackson, CEO, MultiCare Health System
John Hohman, City Manager, City of Spokane Valley
Moderator: Paul Read, Publisher, Spokane Journal of Business
Doors open at 9:30 am. Open to the public. Classes welcome. Please join us afterwards for a networking reception in the Showalter Rotunda from 11:45 am to 12:30 pm. Light refreshments served.
All information can be found HERE!
Celebrate Earth Day with a FREE thrifting experience! Stop by the PUB NCR for an eco-chic clothing swap promoting sustainable fashion and mindful consumption.
📅 Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 🕛 12–4 PM | 📍 Pence Union Building (PUB) NCR
To promote sustainability, a double-decker bus – which will offer Cheney-Spokane routes this fall – will be parked in front of the PUB. Mayor Grover and President McMahan will take part in a first ride, and free tours will be available.
Join Eagle Entertainment and celebrate Earth Day by getting a FREE succulent!
You will be joining the current cohort of EWU’s Inclusive Leadership for a special preview of our annual program. Our guest speaker this month is April Eberhardt.
April Rivers Eberhardt is the interim editor for The Black Lens News, the chair of the Spokane NAACP’s Education Committee, and a revered career counselor at Shadle Park High School. Her exceptional work in the community has recently led to her being named an Inland Northwest Woman of the Year.
Please R.S.V.P. to Kim Davis at kdavis2@ewu.edu to receive the Zoom link.
Wednesday, April 23
Stop by to enjoy hands-on cultural crafts and connect with students proudly representing heritages from around the world.
Located in the PUB NCR on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
— OWN YOUR POWER, 1,000 MILE CIVIL RIGHTS TOUR, STORY CIRCLES —
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. | PUB NCR
Join the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Phi Kappa Phi, and Africana Studies for a keynote address by Dr. Parry Gerber, entitled “Own Your Power.” This event encourages students to pursue their dreams and see perceived limitations—whether related to race, gender, neurodiversity, physical ability or other aspects of identity—as sources of personal power. In addition, hear from students who participated in the life-changing 1,000 Mile Civil Rights Tour! Light refreshments will be provided.
Webinar Zoom Link: https://ewu.zoom.us/j/89980315072
—
GUEST LECTURE —
“Critical Communications within Organizations”
6- 7 p.m. | Spokane Catalyst, Room 302
Join an active EWU Organization Theory & Behavior course for an engaging guest lecture from Kim Davis, Senior Director for Diversity & Inclusion, about communication strategies within organizations. This class is open to all.
Thursday, April 24
Diversity & Inclusion Festival and Resource Fair
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | PUB NCR, PUB Skirts, and Campus Mall
Free Food and International Candies • Free Swag
Earn Free D&I Week T-Shirts
Live Performances • EWU Departments, Clubs & Orgs • Pop-up Shops • Community Partners
Sponsored by the Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Movie and Make Your Own Button
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Eagle Pride Center, PUB 336
Come and watch Everything Everywhere All at Once while you make your own custom button! Movie snacks included!
Friday, April 25
On Eagle Pride Friday, wear your favorite Diversity & Inclusion Week t-shirt from any year! We would love to see a variety of shirts from the last 14 years. Upload your photos or selfies wearing your D&I Week t-shirt HERE, and you might see yourself on our website, social media, or future marketing!
— MESA STUDENTS CAREER EXPO —
11 a.m.- 1 p.m. | PUB NCR
Learn more about EWU Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) at https://inside.ewu.edu/mesa/
Ut dictum felis ipsum, id fringilla est porta at. Vivamus vulputate aliquet leo, sed venenatis arcu semper efficitur. Suspendisse lacinia sed ipsum non suscipit. Praesent sagittis purus ut lobortis maximus. Quisque sit amet est sodales, pellentesque libero commodo, tristique turpis. Sed nunc ante, rhoncus non faucibus a, feugiat quis urna. Integer consequat sapien eu vehicula mattis. Mauris suscipit lobortis ante, sit amet cursus tellus cursus ut. Pellentesque tincidunt sodales blandit. Donec ipsum tortor, suscipit et nisi vitae, eleifend suscipit magna. Sed mauris quam, accumsan ac orci ornare, consequat semper sapien. Maecenas dapibus orci eu arcu cursus placerat. Suspendisse et placerat magna, sit amet pharetra odio. Vestibulum diam ligula, convallis at nisl vel, tincidunt ultricies sapien. Maecenas auctor enim turpis, eu dictum nisi viverra quis. Proin maximus enim quis est molestie, ut tempus dolor tristique.
- List Item One
- List Item Two
- List Item Three
Diversity & Inclusion Week Theme and Logo
We are thrilled to announce the winner of the Diversity & Inclusion Week Theme and Logo Contest, student, Denise Quiroga Arteaga. Denise is a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Art. Denise was inspired by the words of Mother Theresa, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; Together we can do great things.“
This year’s t-shirt will be white, and as always, on the softest, comfiest t-shirt material. The logo will be used on marketing materials for this year’s events taking place Monday, April 21, 2025 through Friday, April 25, 2025.
For questions about D&I Week or accommodations, please contact Kim Davis at kdavis2@ewu.edu
