Diversity Forum-WPLC

Last week, Diversity Forum held our kickoff meeting for the semester with a packed room! Following a quick introduction, cadets broke off to meet other cadets, returning and new members alike. Each POC discussed their efforts for that year and held sign-ups for cadets to join. Even though we already had the kickoff meeting, cadets are welcome to join at any point in the year!

Last week, our Diversity Forum firsties partook in the ring weekend ceremony where they took time to reflect upon past graduates and prepare for their road ahead as Officers in the United States Army. We are so proud of them and we cannot wait to see what they accomplish this year and beyond!

It was an honor to be the Diversity Forum OIC for the West Point Leadership Center of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership from 2020-2022 with my Cadet in Charge (CIC) 2LT Anessa Ridley. I was blessed to be able to mentor and coach cadets, officers, and junior civilian faculty within this space. I was also mentored by each and every one of them, as I learned something new during every discussion and IPR. I was stretched in this position to look deeper at myself, my institution, and the enterprise I have been blessed to be a part of since I was 18.
I am thankful for the alumni and organizations who sought to support and shape us into the wonderful value added cadet focused program we became over the last two years. I am also appreciative of the challenges we faced because it helped us become more focused on executing our vision. So, I have no doubt in my mind that Diversity Forum will continue to soar with MAJ Mitch McDonald at the helm and Dr. Olivia Holloway as his A/OIC.
I’m also looking forward to seeing the new CIC, CDT Matthew Beason and A/CIC, CDT Teryon Lowery help take this program to new heights.
My last act as the OIC was to deliver the “Memorialized Voices” journal to the archives. I appreciate Chris Barth for his willingness to accept the voices of the few, but to also be excited about receiving this living history. I hope you all will go by and read the words of these brilliant, caring, and diverse leaders as this will be an annual event to capture the thoughts of our Firsties and OICs.
Thank you for your leadership and heart ._mitch, LTC Peters signing off.

We are proud of you 2022!!! Congratulations 2LTs!!

We are extremely proud of , CDT Anessa Ridley for her dedication to the Diversity Forum over the last two years. Her vision, hard work, and consistency ensured the creation and sustainment of Diversity Forum. .usma, BG Shane Reeves, took the time out of his busy schedule to recognize her with a Dean’s coin. Her servant leadership will echo through our Rockbound Highland Home for years.

Help stop the stigma. You are not alone.

A few weeks ago the Diversity Forum was honored to travel to Broadway and watch the Lion King. This play was everything! Those in attendance were able to talk about the roots of the play that are planted in apartheid, but blossomed in a new era of A free South Africa. We discussed the intersections with Hamlet and the story of Moses from the Bible. Additionally, the discussion leaned into knowing oneself, remembering our roots, and deciding to love ourselves even in the mist of struggle. This very same week, we were blessed for an invite to the Charles Rangel Workforce Initiative celebration where we rubbed elbows with NYC’s political, academic, and social impact leaders. This event allowed us to shake hands with one of Harlem’s trailblazers who is a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient along with being a career politician who co-founded the National Black Caucus, walked with Dr. King, and was the first Black man to Chair the House Ways and Means Committee. What wonderful events for all who attended!

Wonderful Building Giants event with James I. O’Neill High School’s Black Student Association and JROTC. Building Giants seeks to expose. Educate, and inspire HS students to be the best version of themselves through self reflection, exposure, and goal setting. We are extremely proud of these students and to close out our 2nd year of outreach with O’Neill. AY23 will be epic!

The P.E.R.M. Party was executed this Sunday from 0800-1100 and what an amazing event. We had officers, cadets, alumni, and civilians with us. The discussions ranged from etiquette tips from our very own cadet Hostess (Mrs. Amoroso), alumni perspectives from Ms. Kafi Joseph to how do we give and receive mentorship. We also had our outbound Officer POC- LTC Andrea Peters , inbound Officer POC CPT Gabrielle Perez, and two wonderful officer mentors LTC Lo**ta Burrell and MAJ Kelli Pryor. Such a great time of fellowship and growth! Thank you CDTs Stevie Gary and Olivia Johnson for the help in planning this event. Thank you to LTC Tia Terry for shipping your donation items to us and for supporting us through your Facebook post.

Diversity Forum and supporters (staff, faculty, alumni) you are invited! Please RSVP as the seats are limited. We hope to see you there.

Building Giants at James I. O’Neill High School doing what they love: mentoring, inspiring, and leading.

Recently, Diversity Forum, in collaboration with the Domestic Affairs Forum, hosted Dr. Worthy. She spoke on her experience of being a former Mayor, and how she incorporated diversity and tenacity to reinvigorate a community.

Happy Women’s History Month! We hope you enjoyed the talk from Dr. Worthy today and wanted to continue the celebration with another powerful woman. , the 2nd female and 1st Jewish female Supreme Court Judge.

The amazing and talented Dr. Tiffani Worthy will be with us on the 23rd. and DF are excited to host her. Make sure you sign up and come out!

Diversity Forum is always making moves and positively impacting our community. The Vanguard Leadership Project (VLP) is no different. Rocky and Hannah did an amazing job shaping this event and facilitating it at the prep school! our next event is coming up next week and we will definitely share that good news story early April! Let’s keep sharing positive vibes and commuting to servant leadership.

Let us introduce you to the 2023 Class President, Melic Belong! He is an amazing person and he is sure to be an amazing officer. Thanks for sharing your words Melic🗣

Cadet borrowed from alumni . Such great words of wisdom and great reminder of Black giants of the history.

Happy Black History Month Diversity Forum! Be on the look out for a few events like a Rosa Parks discussion on leadership and local minority political leader series that will start this month.

In case you missed it! Diversity Forum just held its kickoff event for the spring semester. Members and newcomers alike had an opportunity to meet each other and reconnect after a much needed winter break, as well as learn about all of our initiatives that our POCs presented. We had the amazing opportunity to say farewell to a long time contributor Dr. Young. We are forever grateful for her efforts and wish her well in future endeavors.

An amazing feature from the class president of 2024! .knight_, we are very proud of you and cannot wait to see you continue to develop and lead others.

Diversity Forum is back! We have plenty of enticing and enriching events planned for this semester and we are excited to continue our efforts in exposing, educating, and empowering the corps of cadets. We cannot wait to see what you achieve this semester! Be on the lookout for our January kickoff event.

Merry Christmas from Diversity Forum to you and yours!

Diversity Forum hosted Mrs. Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder and CEO of Acumen, she spoke to cadets about the wealthy gap both CONUS and Abroad. She discussed methods of creating effective and sustainable change in diverse cultures. Her insight of the leadership challenges inherent in roles centered around breaking the status quo were both enlightening and engaging. Coupled with great food, cadets, faculty, and staff were able to take meaning from her words.  Mrs. Novogratz's parents also visited us and her dad, '59 grad and football hall of famer, spoke with the football team and also left a lasting impact. It was a blessing to have such an amazing family with us and Diversity Forum looks forward to continuing our relationship with Mrs. Novogratz and Acumen.

Congratulations to , our Building Giants Cadet lead, for a fight well fought and for the entire team for Beating Navy!

Congratulations to our amazing Cadet in Charge, (Anessa), on her branching Quarter Master! We are so proud of you and inspired by you. Congratulations to the rest of our DF Firsties as well! We love you guys❤️. Please share your good news and pictures here.

On 14 November, from 0900 to 1500, CDT Seth Bolden (BDE S2) led a group of fourteen other cadets from ODIA, Diversity Forum, and OCF to work with the Fuller Center on Operation Servant Leader, a pilot service initiative organized by CDT Bolden following the directive by CDT Holland Pratt to involve the Corps of Cadets in community engagement and service. Trip OIC, Dr. Olivia Holloway (DFL), and the fifteen cadets performed demolition and construction on three houses in the Mamaroneck, NY community. They gutted floors that had been flooded during Hurricane Ida and hung sheetrock, forming new walls in family homes. They plan to organize future events to assist the Fuller Center in Mamaroneck and Peekskill.

West Point Leadership Center

Diversity Forum is grateful to each cadet, Officer, and civilian who comes out to our events and make them rich and memorable. We are also grateful to all of our followers and future followers. Thank you for caring enough to stop by! Have a safe and joyous holiday. -From Diversity Forum OICs and CICs

On the last day of the and Retreat, the cadets heard from LTC Derrick Peters, brother of our very own, Dr. Peters. He shared a personal story that tied the entire weekend together. He vulnerability made space for others to share during the mentor team take aways. We are very proud of our cadets who had the courage to share their personal and empowering stories, as they offered their own personal insight of what they will use in the future in their own lives and when they mentor others. Last, but not least, before heading out, Dr. Peters took the time to personally thank the cadet leadership and the officer mentors.
We are extremely thankful for everyone who took the time to come out or desired to come out this weekend, and we look forward to next year!"