Written by: Rebecca Straits (rjs006@marietta.edu)
What does it mean to be a leader in the modern world? Does it mean being unapologetically yourself, or does it mean being open to discussions? What about utilizing both?
Last Wednesday, March 18th, in celebration of Women’s History Month, Christian F. Nunes, a renowned speaker, feminist, and the second African American president of the National Organization for Women, came to speak at Maretta College to answer the question of how to be a leader in a divided world.
Nunes shared with her audience of students, faculty, and community members her experience growing up black in a predominantly white school, learning to love and be courageously herself, her experiences being president of the National Organization for Women, her time working as a social worker, and overall how to lead with open arms.
The goal of the seminar was to teach audience members how to foster open communication without compromising their values, how to set boundaries, and how to be an authentic leader while navigating an increasingly polarized world.
After her speech, the floor was open to discussions and included questions about Nune’s achievements, words of wisdom, and the heated topic of the SAVE Act.
The SAVE Act or the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act is a bill that requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Furthermore, this bill introduces a photo ID requirement to cast a ballot whether in person or as a mail in. Another restriction that many in Congress disagree with is the in-person verification system for online and mail in registrations.
It’s important to have seminars like this that focus on teaching people how to have difficult conversations without compromising their values or burning bridges, especially now, with how divided it feels in the United States learning opportunities like these are critical for community development and individual growth.
The event was open to the public and started at 7:00 p.m., lasted till 9:30 p.m., and was held at The Gathering Place. For more information about future events at Marietta College, check out the event calendar: www.marietta.edu/events
Edited by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
