January 18, 2018

Media Contact:
Erin Tofte-Nordvik, director of diversity, equity and inclusion, 509-682-6868
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509-682-6436 (Mon.-Thurs.)

Speaker Erin Jones will lead a presentation and Q&A in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 in the Van Tassel Lounge. This event is presented by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It is free and open to the public.

Jones will begin her presentation at 2 p.m., followed by a student meet and greet with light refreshments at 3 p.m.

Jones will speak about her experience as a black woman in Washington State and her thoughts on how to continue Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and work. Jones has been involved in education for 25 years, as a volunteer in a public school in North Philly; a substitute and private school teacher in South Bend, Indiana; an ELL, English and French Immersion teacher in Tacoma, Wash.; an instructional coach and AVID teacher in Spokane, Wash.; Assistant State Superintendent and a school district director. She has worked in white communities, black communities and some of the most diverse communities in the nation. She ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the 2016 cycle, because she said she believed we need someone with long and effective experience in public education to be a voice for both students and educators. She was the first black woman in Washington to run for statewide office. She lost that race by 1 percent of the vote.

# # #

Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, www.wvc.edu