Humanities Washington speakers Eric Davis and Eva Abram visit WVC at Omak

Media Contact: Livia Millard, Omak campus multicultural affairs coordinator, 509.422.7814, or Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509.682.6436 (Mon. – Thurs.)

March 23, 2015

Eva Abram and Eric Davis, Humanities Washington speakers.

 

Wenatchee Valley College at Omak and Humanities Washington invite the community to conversations with Eric Davis and Eva Abram, both members of the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau.

Davis speaks on Wednesday, April 22, at 5 p.m. Abram will speak on Wednesday, April 29, at 5 p.m. Both events are free to the public and will be held in the Hazel Allen Burnett Hall on the Omak campus.

Eric Davis will present Rap 101: The Message Behind the Music. Using music as a catalyst for discussion, Rap 101 explores contemporary popular culture, diversity issues and social justice through the lyrics of popular rap music. Sometimes called modern day poetry, rap is an integral part of modern culture. Davis facilitates a conversation with audiences about the dominant ideology found in mainstream news media and the status quo to explore what we can do individually and societally to stimulate social change.

Davis has been facilitating Rap 101 sessions for over 20 years. He is a sociology faculty member at Bellevue College, and he is a member of the University of Washington Consulting Alliance, where he facilitates workshops, provides coaching and teaches professional and organizational development courses. He has a bachelor's degree from UCLA and a master's in education from Seattle University.

Abrams will present Defeating Racism Today: What Does It Take? She discusses the history of racism and how it affects specific groups in our society. She will explore how the painful experiences of Jim Crow laws and slavery may ultimately support the pride and achievements of contemporary generations of African Americans. She also discusses how the invisible divide of racism—fed by both knowledge and ignorance—continues to exist despite progress made to eradicate it in recent decades. Abrams makes suggestions about how to achieve the goal of inspiring progress and action through conversation and cooperation.

Abrams is an actor and speaker, and she writes and performs stories about people and events that have shaped the state and nation. Using the crafts of acting and storytelling, she creates dramatic presentations that explore race and race relations. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and currently lives in Seattle.

Humanities Washington sparks conversation and critical thinking using story as a catalyst, nurturing thoughtful and engaged communities across the state. For more about Humanities Washington, visit www.humanities.org.

These events are sponsored by WVC at Omak student government.