By: Jordyn Bradley, W*SS Social Media Communications Intern
Our annual Women*s Initiative for Leadership Development (WILD) Conference is this weekend. It will take place on Sunday, November 12th at the MSU Union. This is my second year attending and planning the WILD conference, and I am thrilled. I am looking forward to our amazing keynote speaker and student keynote speaker as well the empowering workshops. But most of all, I can’t wait to meet new wonderful people and vlog it all on our Instagram!! For those who are attending or potentially interested, I want to share what to expect at our WILD conference; a Sunday filled with leadership, empowerment, and community!
Before I delve into the details of WILD, our office recognizes that the MSU Union may hold painful memories for some, and not everyone feels comfortable there. WILD has traditionally been held in the MSU Union, and we aim to reclaim it as a safe and collaborative space for everyone. With WILD, we hope to create an inclusive environment for all. Every year, we have a theme, and this year our theme acknowledges our recent tragedy: "We are not alone: Validate, Rejuvenate, and Liberate." Our goal is to remind ourselves and others that we are part of a larger community and that we can turn to each other for comfort and support.
First and foremost, our WILD conference is a student leadership conference organized by students in collaboration with our office, Women*s Student Services, and the Women*s Council at Michigan State University. The vision of this conference is to “connect, engage, and prepare individuals and groups at MSU and beyond to be agents of social change on campus, in the community, and for broader society.” Needless to say, this conference is orchestrated by students for students.
Our amazing keynote speaker is Autumn Brown. Autumn is "a mother, artist, and movement facilitator. A student of Black feminism, freedom movements, and the solidarity economy, she is a worker-owner of AORTA, the Anti-Oppression Resource & Training Alliance, and co-host of the podcast How to Survive the End of the World." (Read more about Autumn here). Autumn is an incredibly talented individual who will hopefully inspire everyone at the conference with her keynote address and workshop.
Speaking of workshops, we have 15 different ones for students to attend. Check out our instagram (here) for workshop details. We are posting one a day! Here is a brief list of all the workshops:
1. The Power Within: What is it Like to be a Woman in Emergency Medicine?
2. Not Just Book-Learning: Bringing non-academic work experience to academia
3. Intro to StartSmart Salary Negotiation for Students
4. Supporting Survivors
5. Reclaiming Self-Care: An Act of Self-Preservation
6. Casual Sexism and Its Contribution to the Patriarchy
7. Ending Salary Inequality for Social Workers
8. Supporting the First-Generation Students of Today
9. It's More Than Horses
10. Gender and Clothing: Style, Costuming, and Drag
11. Access for All: Emergency contraception in East Lansing
12. Fortified and Fugitive: A Multiracial Movement for the Win
13. The Power of We
14. Building Healthy Relationships
15. Women Leadership vs Leadership
If that's not enough to convince you or get you excited, let me share all the amazing things we have planned for attendees. When you check in at 11 AM, expect a tote bag filled with a shirt, buttons, the conference program, and other freebies. There will also be other campus organizations tabling with even more free stuff. To make everyone feel more official, we also have name tags and lanyards. In addition to the super cool swag, we are serving everyone a three-course lunch catered from the Kellogg Center, and there will be snacks and cookies from the MSU Bakers!
Lastly, I will share a tentative schedule for those who would like a breakdown of the day. Trust me; you will not be bored!
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Check-in
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Welcome and Served Lunch
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM | Opening
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM | Student Keynote Address
12:50 PM - 1:35 PM | Breakout Workshop Session Block #1
1:40 PM - 2:25 PM | Breakout Workshop Session Block #2
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM | Breakout Workshop Session Block #3
3:20 PM - 4:05 PM | Keynote Address with Coffee & Cookies
4:05 PM - 4:20 PM | Q&A with Keynote Speaker Autumn Brown
4:20 PM - 4:30 PM | Closing
For anyone not registered, you can register here! The deadline to register is WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH. WILD is going to be an amazing opportunity for all. I hope to see you there!
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