The Diversity Council is hosting its annual celebration on Thursday, August 10, at the Rochester Art Center with free admission. The event will recognize individuals and present Champion of Diversity Awards to those who have made a significant contribution to creating a welcoming and inclusive community. A dessert reception sponsored by the Canadian Honker will be at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. Enjoy live musical performances from Zhen Ren on the erhu (Chinese violin) (photo attached) and Kiya Ruggenberg on the piano.

 

This year's theme is “The Value of Human Connection” with esteemed feature keynote speaker Duchess Harris, author of Hidden Human Computers: The Black Women of NASA, who has also authored books on the Black Lives Matter movement and black feminist politics. Some remarkable background: Dr. Harris’s grandmother was one of the first 11 black women recruited to perform mathematical calculations for America’s maiden voyage to the moon.

Yousra Elkhalifa Paintings
Courtesy of the Diversity Council
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Dr. Harris An art display by Yousra Elkhalifa. Yousra was born in Abu Dhabi to Sudanese parents and emigrated to the U.S. as a child. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2016 with a degree in Studio Art. Her portraits of women of color are inspired by the lack of representation of black and brown women in fine arts. Her goal is to paint her subjects to look powerful and in control.

Please register by Monday, August 7 at: www.diversitycouncil.org. Donations will be accepted.

 

 

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